Our Cathedrals

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is blessed with two Cathedrals: 

• St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston
• Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Downtown Houston

The Diocese of Galveston was established in 1847 and St. Mary Cathedral was dedicated on November 26, 1848.

With the growth of the city of Houston, Pope John XXIII designated the city of Houston to be an episcopal city in 1959. Thus the Diocese of Galveston was henceforth to be known as the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. This did not change the status of the city of Galveston as an episcopal city established in 1847, the first such city in the state of Texas.

In 1979,  Pope St. John Paul II elevated St. Mary Cathedral to the status of a minor basilica.

With the elevation of Sacred Heart Parish to a Co-Cathedral, it became co-equal in rank with St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston.

With this designation, an episcopal chair was also installed in Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral. Full episcopal ceremonies could then be celebrated in Houston, as well as in Galveston.

The original Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral was dedicated in 1912. The new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was built to offer an appropriate space for the growing Archdiocese and was dedicated on April 2, 2008.