Building Our Cathedral
The CDMF holds three funds that help fulfill the diocesan mission of teaching through the chair (cathedral) of the Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, through support of the Cathedral Parish and funds set aside for a future Cathedral. Click below to learn more about the different ways to support this mission.
Cathedral Parish
The Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Madison, consists of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, St. Patrick
Catholic Church and the former St. Raphael Cathedral.
When the Diocese of Madison was formed in 1946, St. Raphael Church was chosen as the Cathedral. The
Cathedral Parish has a long history of community support, including opening its basement as a shelter for
the homeless. It continues to be a hub of stewardship in the diocese.
In 2005, the St. Raphael Cathedral was lost to an arson fire. After the fire, the three parishes around
the Capitol Square were linked under the care of a single pastor.
A gift to the Cathedral Parish of St. Raphael Endowment supports the Cathedral Parish with assistance to
parish life and capital maintenance.
Pope Saint John Paul II Cathedral Fund
In 2005, an arsonist set the St. Raphael Cathedral afire and the blaze spread from the choir loft throughout
the church. The church was torn down because of the extensive damages. Until funds for the new
Cathedral are secured and construction begins, the Bishop of the Diocese of Madison utilizes larger parish
sites for various diocesan events. A new Cathedral will be designed to accommodate the large
congregations at diocesan celebrations.
A gift to the Pope Saint John Paul II Cathedral Fund helps provide financing for the construction,
improvement, and maintenance of the future Cathedral for the Diocese of Madison. The fund is fully
expendable.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino Memorial Fund
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, 4th Bishop of Madison, passed away Saturday, November 24th, 2018.
A fund was established to memorialize the legacy of the late Bishop Robert C. Morlino, with a primary
intention of erecting a chapel and crypt within the future Diocese of Madison cathedral building. The
crypt would be intended to represent the architectural design envisioned by the late Bishop Robert C.
Morlino, suitable for a cathedral building, and house his tomb along with any past or future Bishops of the
Diocese of Madison.
A gift to the Bishop Robert C. Morlino Memorial Fund helps provide financing for the construction of a
bishops’ chapel and crypt within the future Cathedral for the Diocese of Madison.
