Parish History

We welcome you to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Our parish is a Catholic community of about 4,000 families located in Tyler, Texas. The parish features two churches, the Cathedral itself (423. S Broadway) and the Chapel of Sts. Peter & Paul (1435 ESE Loop 323).

The parish is dedicated to and named for the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Immaculate Conception.  The common and constant teaching of the Christians through all ages, formally declared by Pope Pius IX, is that “…the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.”

Immaculate Conception Parish – Founded 1878

The parish of The Immaculate Conception Church remembers more than a century of living with the earliest memories go back to the 1870’s when the railroads came to Tyler, bringing with them a small band of Catholics. To serve these first settlers and the steadily growing Catholic faithful, missionary priests were sent and traveled the territory between Nacogdoches and Palestine, by horseback. In 1878, this community was no longer considered missionary and The Immaculate Conception Parish was established as part of the Diocese of Galveston. By 1880, the Catholic population exceeded 200 and property was purchased at the corner of West Locust Street and North College Avenue where a small wooden frame church was built.

The population of The Immaculate Conception Church continued to thrive and involve itself in the wider Tyler community. There were times of adversity and misunderstanding regarding their Catholic identity in East Texas. Irish, German, Lebanese and other immigrants continued to establish themselves as responsible citizens of Smith County in the best tradition of the American dream.

As the flourishing Catholic community outgrew its humble wooden structure, Fr. Patrick J. F. O’Beirne, pastor from 1914 to 1927, campaigned for the funds for the construction of a new church. Before twenty years had passed, the discovery of oil produced an influx of people to East Texas, including more Catholics, in search of employment and opportunity. With this societal boom, the pious desire to build a larger church soon became a necessity. 

In 1927, Fr. Sebastian A. Samperi became pastor. After repeated attempts to repair the old church for continued use, he redoubled the original efforts to build a new one.  He and the parishioners corresponded with Bishop Joseph P. Lynch of Dallas regarding plans to sell the current property and purchase new property at Front Street and South Broadway for the construction of a new church. Several years of negotiation followed before approval was finally received. Through great sacrifices of wealth and energy, the new Immaculate Conception Church was dedicated on March 17, 1935. In 1949 and then again in 1978, it was renovated and re-decorated.

The structure, which was designed in the Spanish style, is reminiscent of the Spanish heritage of Texas. It stands with nobility and warmth at the corner of one of the busiest intersections in Tyler. Since its dedication, the Church has stood as a symbol of those first courageous people who gave so totally of themselves so that we might experience and share their Catholic roots and traditions.

In June 1978, the parishioners of Immaculate Conception celebrated the 100th anniversary of the parish. Three days of festivities were held during which the people continually gave thanks to God and to those who had gone before. Remodeling of the parish offices was completed in September of 1984 when new offices, a library and a large meeting room were added. In December of 1986, the basement of the church was dedicated to Fr. Samperi in honor of his leadership during the construction of the Church.

In 1987, recognizing the explosive growth of the Catholic population in East Texas, the Holy See created the Diocese of Tyler from portions of the Dioceses of Dallas, Beaumont and Galveston-Houston. Immaculate Conception Church was designated as the chief church of the new diocese and thus became the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Since that time, the Cathedral parish has continued to expand. In the early ‘90s, the Cathedral Center was built, featuring meeting and banquet rooms for parish activities.  In 1994, with thousands attending Masses every weekend at the Cathedral, there became a need for an additional site for the celebration of the Mass.  St. Paul’s Chapel was created as a temporary facility in the Chancery Office while a permanent location was planned. The patience of the parishioners was rewarded on December 8, 2011, when the Chapel of Sts. Peter & Paul was dedicated by Bishop Alvaro Corrada.

The Catholic community in Tyler continues to grow, serving as a beacon for the Christian faith in East Texas.