Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude (Phoenix, Arizona)

The Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.

History
The parish was established by Bishop Daniel James Gercke on May 15, 1953, when it was still part of the Diocese of Tucson. The founding pastor was Reverend Paul Smith, a native of Ireland, who brought with him the Sisters of Loreto. Fr. Smith celebrated Masses in the Maryland School while a temporary church was built. It was dedicated on October 17, 1954. The current building was dedicated on December 11, 1966, and became a cathedral with the formation of the Diocese of Phoenix in 1969, elevated to cathedral status under Pope Paul VI.

The current rector is the Very Rev. Matthew Henry and the cathedral is overseen by the current bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, Bishop John P. Dolan. The Auxiliary Bishop is Bishop Eduardo Alanis Nevares (ordained July 19, 2010).

Adjacent to the cathedral is the Saints Simon and Jude Catholic School. Other buildings on the campus of the school include the Mary Ward House. Standing in front of the cathedral is a large cross over a dome-like structure that stood over the temporary altar where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass when he visited Phoenix.

In 2016, the Cathedral saw the installation of a new 51-rank pipe organ built by the Peragallo Pipe Organ Company, the first pipe organ to be installed at the Cathedral.

Rectors

 * Rev. Paul P. Smith, 1953–unknown
 * Rev. Michael McGovern, unknown–1987
 * Monsignor Richard Moyer, 1987–1990
 * Monsignor Michael O'Grady, 1990–2005
 * Rev. Robert Clements, 2005–2010
 * Rev. John Lankeit, 2010–2021
 * Very Rev. Fernando Camou 2021–2024
 * Very Reverend Matthew Henry 2024-

School
The school teaches pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and is staffed by the Sisters of Loreto.

The school was founded in 1954 by Bishop Daniel J. Gerke of Tucson and Reverend Paul P. Smith. On August 20, 1954, four Sisters of Loreto from the Order of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived from Navan, Ireland to staff the new school.

Historic visitors

 * Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral on September 14, 1987.
 * Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited the cathedral in May 1989.