Cathedral building toward renovation of Mercy Center

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has launched a $3.5 million capital campaign to fund the renovation of the historic Mercy Center, a building at the heart of parish life since 1941.

Originally constructed as the convent for the Sisters of Mercy, the building housed the women who taught at Bishop John Carroll Catholic School for more than 70 years. Beyond their work in the classroom and parish, the sisters operated a food pantry out of the convent and regularly hosted school board meetings, confirmation retreats, piano lessons, and other gatherings. During the school renovations of the 1990s, the Mercy Center even served as temporary classroom space, continuing its long tradition of supporting Catholic education and formation.

For generations, the Mercy Center has been a place where parish ministries flourished, creating a sense of community, fellowship and prayer that is woven into the identity of the cathedral.

Today, the building continues to support a wide array of ministries, including youth ministry, TNTT, the BAT/Vietnamese Culinary Ministry and several parish programs. However, after decades of use, the structure has deteriorated, space has grown tight, and safety concerns have limited accessibility. As ministries continue to expand, parish leaders determined a comprehensive renovation is essential to sustain current needs and welcome future growth. The cathedral formally launched the campaign as 2025 draws to a close.

Of the $3.5 million project cost, the cathedral begins the public campaign with $1 million already secured. This seed funding comes from the sale of land jointly owned by the cathedral and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The remaining $2.5 million will be raised through donor commitments over a five-year pledge period.

Planned renovations address several longstanding needs. The former living quarters of the Sisters of Mercy will be redesigned into larger, more functional meeting rooms. A new meeting hall will be added to the southeast side of the building, and the entire north wing will be expanded to increase classroom and ministry space. An early childhood education addition will house programs for pre-K 3 and Mother’s Day Out.

Crucially, the renovation will correct the building’s accessibility challenges. The current structure has only one stairwell, no elevator, and just two single-use restrooms. The north addition will include two new stairwells, an elevator, and restrooms on both floors. Further improvements will create dedicated areas for religious education, youth ministry, and a variety of Vietnamese ministries. Asbestos abatement will also be completed to ensure long-term safety.

The Mercy Center’s legacy is perhaps felt most deeply by the young people who have grown up within its walls.

“We have so much fun spending time here, both on weekends and weekdays,” said Tony Huynh, co-leader of TNTT and a member of the Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Choir. “To me, the Mercy Center has so much to offer and has immeasurable value to so many people. I love the history that it holds and look forward to it being renovated for the cathedral ministries and generations to come.”

Though modest in appearance, a two-story brick building on the southeast corner of the campus, the Mercy Center has been an irreplaceable part of the cathedral’s spiritual, communal and educational mission.

For more than eight decades, the Mercy Center has touched thousands of lives. Through this renovation campaign, the cathedral hopes to ensure that it continues to form disciples and strengthen the faith of generations to come. To learn more about the Mercy Renewed Capital Campaign visit, cathedralokc.org/mercy-renewed.


Photo: Mercy Center convent. Photo provided.