Parish History
Welcome to the Cathedral of the Risen Christ Church, the mother church of the Diocese of Lincoln.
A cathedral is always known as the spiritual home of its diocese. The title of our Cathedral of the Risen Christ exemplifies the resurrection of Jesus in its art and furnishings, and in this cathedral the Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle is the focus of silent, perpetual adoration.
To all persons who are Catholic, and to friends who are not, a most cordial welcome is given to visit and pray in this cathedral.
1926 to Today |
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| February 2022 | Monsignor Thomas Fucinaro appointed Pastor. Title of Rector changed to Pastor by Bishop James D. Conley to correspond more completely to the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Rector refers to a priest who is entrusted with the care of a church which is not a parish. As the Cathedral is also a territorial parish, it is more proper to refer to the priest in charge as the pastor. |
| October 2019 | Father Justin Wylie appointed Rector. |
| June 2017 | Father Joseph Nemec appointed Rector. |
| June 1999 | Father Robert Tucker appointed Rector. |
| June 1996 | Reverend Monsignor James Dawson appointed Rector. |
| June 1986 | Father Ivan Vap appointed Rector. |
| March 19, 1986 | Msgr. Clarence Crowley died - Vicar General Father James Dawson appointed temporary successor. |
| August 18, 1965 | Cathedral of The Risen Christ dedicated; Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Edigio Vagnozzi presided. |
| May 12, 1965 | First Mass offered in the Cathedral. |
| June 1964 | Joseph Cardinal Ritter of St. Louis Missouri officiated in laying the cornerstone. |
| June 20, 1963 | Groundbreaking for new Cathedral of the Risen Christ; Bishop James V. Casey and Msgr. Crowley presided. |
| October 1, 1959 | Perpetual Adoration was established. |
| April 1958 | Msgr. Clarence J. Crowley appointed Pastor of Holy Family Parish. |
| September 1954 | New church-school was dedicated at 35th and Sheridan. |
| June 1950 | Msgr. L. V. Barnes appointed Pastor. |
| May 1934 | Father Lawrence Obrist appointed Pastor. |
| June 1933 | Bishop Kucera blessed ground and Church of the Holy Trinity of the Holy Family Parish. |
| May 1933 | Sheridan and 35th site selected and purchased from Dr. George Farnham as permanent site for new parish. |
| August 28, 1932 | First Mass celebrated in a temporary chapel in small house near corner of Pawnee and 48th St. |
| 1932 | Father Joseph A. Kenney organized the new Holy Family parish. |
| February 3, 1926 | Bishop Francis J. Beckman and the Diocesan Consultors established a new parish in southeast Lincoln. |
For a full list of past priests assigned to Cathedral, please click here.
Artistic History
Cathedral of the Risen Christ is part of the historic boulevard district in Lincoln which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005. Cathedral parish serves our community through the beautiful historic campus, distinctive architecture and archival material, as well as supporting the humanities through musical, arts and cultural events.
In 1988 Pope John Paul II established The Pontifical Commission for the Conservation of the Artistic and Historic Patrimony of the Church. He directed the church to “show the utmost attention to artistic and historic treasures, from archive documents, manuscripts and printed volumes, as they are vehicles of culture and become an eloquent witness of the faith of the church.” At the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, efforts have been ongoing to preserve and showcase our cultural heritage and the history, artwork, and the beauty of the historic campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Cathedral of the Risen Christ church has been blessed with artists who have contributed to our parish, through various artwork, sculptures and design. A detailed history of the artwork available at Cathedral parish includes:
- The stained-glass windows on the sides of the church are the work of Max Ingrand from the Arte Fontana Studio in Paris. This studio and artist did work on Catherals throughout Europe including: Strasbourg, Notre Dame, and Tours. The Cathedral of the Risen Christ stained-glass windows are all free-form in design and depict scriptural scenes. One scene depicts Jesus as a gardener near the empty tomb, which is possibly the only window of its kind throughout the world. Over time, we have replaced the protecting plexi-glass with true glass. The windows still need to be resealed and parts of the lead frames need restored.
- The Stained-glass façade windows on the exterior of the vestibule were created with a spectrum of colors. It is the work of Rambusch Studios in New York.
- The Crystal Screen Cut-Glass Narthex (back of church) is one of the largest works of etched glass in the United States. Robert Harmon of Emil Frei Studio in Saint Louis designed the windows in 1964-5. The Craftsmen was August Wagner Studio in Germany.
- The Risen Christ Statue is a massive sculpture on the left side of our entrance, originally located on main altar. It is the work of Jorio Vivarelli of Florence, Italy. The all bronze statue is twelve feet tall and weighs 1,000 pounds. A copy of this original statue is located in the Church of Redentore in Tuscany, Italy.
- The Holy Family Mosaic Wall created by Hungarian artist Giovanni Hajnal, portrays the Holy Family of Nazareth aside of a modern Nebraska family planting a tree with the capitol in the background. The same artist also designed the bronze baptismal font in the entrance.
- The Sculpted Scene in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the two disciples at Emmaus is the work of Anelo Biancini of Faenza, Italy.
- The Pipe Organ was built by Casavant Freres Organ Company from Quebec, Canada and installed in 1964. In comparison, the Cathedral organ is one of the best in the city; the cohesive sound quality is not easily matched. The organ is electro-pneumatic and has 2,864 pipes, 41 stops and 51 ranks. The pipe organ is located behind the Sanctuary in our choir loft.
Additional Information:
Nebraska State Historical Society – A New Church for the Modern Age: Lincoln's Cathedral of the Risen Christ Presentation. Embedded above or viewable on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9MuvcSKSM
Nebraska State Historical Society General Collection – Cathedral Watercolor Painting: Catalog Number 7294-7682
A History Lover’s Guide to Lincoln by Gretchen M. Garrison.
Pre-Statehood History of the Catholic Church in Southern Nebraska by Sr. Loretta Gossen, C.PP.S.