St. Augustine Cathedral

St. Augustine Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo and a vibrant parish at the heart of the city. Located on West Michigan Avenue, it anchors Catholic life in Southwest Michigan through worship, education, music, and service. The present church was completed in 1951 in the Gothic Revival style and later designated the cathedral when the Diocese of Kalamazoo was created in 1970. 

History

The history of Catholicism in Kalamazoo dates back to the arrival of the first Catholic settler, Dennis Talbot, in 1832, with the first recorded Mass said in his home by Father De Seille. Catholicism continued to grow and a regular Catholic mission was established in 1843, overseen by Father Sorin, founder of Notre Dame University. In 1852, the first Catholic church is built on West Kalamazoo Ave and officially established as a parish in 1856 when Father Anthony Label was appointed as pastor of St. Augustine Parish. By 1865, a new larger church was built on Kalamazoo Ave and remained the home of St. Augustine Church until the current brick building on West Michigan Avenue was consecrated in 1951. The Diocese of Kalamazoo was established in 1970 and St. Augustine became its cathedral. 

The cathedral campus has grown alongside the parish, including St. Augustine Cathedral School founded in 1872 and other facilities that have supported worship and community life throughout the years. 

The Seat of the Diocese

As the cathedra’s home—the bishop’s chair—St. Augustine is the liturgical and administrative heart of the diocese. Major diocesan celebrations, ordinations, and rites are held here, expressing the unity of the local Church with its bishop and people. Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1970, selecting St. Augustine as the cathedral church. 

Architecture & Recent Renewal

Built in 1951 and associated with the office of noted ecclesiastical architect Ralph Adams Cram, the cathedral’s interior was renewed in 2019–2020 to heighten its liturgical clarity and beauty. The project introduced architecturally appropriate marble work, a new baldacchino, and refined finishes while respecting the original Gothic character; the cathedral was re-dedicated in December 2020. 

Sacred Music & the Organ

Sacred music is central to the cathedral’s prayer. The current pipe organ, built by Nichols & Simpson in 2002, incorporates materials from the original 1951 Casavant instrument and presents 34 stops across 42 ranks, voiced to support congregational singing, choral repertoire, and concert literature. It has been featured in national organ programming.

Charitable Works & Parish Life

From daily worship to formation and outreach, St. Augustine serves the wider community through parish ministries, school partnerships, and collaboration with diocesan agencies such as Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Kalamazoo providing housing, health, and hope to neighbors in need. Parish giving sustains these ministries so they can reach further and serve more. 

Significance to the Local Area

Beyond its architectural presence, the cathedral is a civic and cultural landmark: a venue for major liturgies, sacred concerts, and educational initiatives, and a stabilizing force for charitable service downtown. As the bishop’s church and a welcoming parish, St. Augustine continues to shape the spiritual and communal life of Kalamazoo.