Sacred Heart Cathedral's architecture references the rural character of Northwestern Kansas and relates it to the Eucharistic aspects of the Catholic Church. Concrete
grain elevators dot the landscape and contain the area's primary crop, wheat. The sides of the exterior of the cathedral are rounded and mimic the grain elevators and symbolize the Church as God's granary from which people are nourished by the Eucharist. The cathedral's bell tower is also round and reflects the shape of a farm
silo. As farm animals gather to be nourished at the silo, so people gather within the church building for their spiritual nourishment from Christ, the Good Shepherd. The main entrance into the cathedral features a procession of the faithful in a
bas relief. The figures represent a farm family, priests and religious who assist the bishop in carrying the cross. A
Capuchin friar kneels before the cross in adoration. The panel carries a quote from the Bible, "He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." The interior features a large baptismal font in the shape of the cross in the gathering space. Nearby is a
triptych containing icons of the cathedral's patron the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the diocese's primary patron
Our Lady of Perpetual Help and
St. Francis of Assisi, who is its secondary patron. The
nave of the cathedral is lined with pillars that are around. At the base of the bell tower is a room that was formerly used as a baptistery. It now contains a shrine to
Our Lady of Guadalupe. The statue in the chapel was from a small parish that closed in 1965. A bas relief of the Sacred Heart is featured on the back wall of the cathedral with a Latin phrase on its base,
Cor Jesu, inflama cor nostrum amore tui (Heart of Jesus, inflame our hearts with your love). Twelve crosses with candles line the walls represent the
Twelve Apostles and are where the walls were consecrated with
Sacred Chrism when the cathedral was consecrated. The fourteen
Stations of the Cross are etched into the east wall. A tall
crucifix dominates the sanctuary area. The circular canopy around the crucifix contains three
Latin phrases:
Cor Jesu, spes in te morientium (Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you);
Domus Dei et porta coeli (House of God and gate of heaven); and
Cor Jesu, omni laude dignissimum, salve in te sperantium (Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, salvation of those who hope in you). The marble legs of the
Altar were taken from the former
communion rail and it contains the relics of
St. Boniface and
St. Clement. The
Blessed Sacrament is housed in the chapel of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The
stained glass windows in the cathedral were designed by Anton Wendling from
Aachen, Germany, and were assembled by Erhardt Stettner in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The high windows depict various saints and cost $2,240.00 each. There are five smaller windows above the confessionals that cost $1,000 each. ==Pipe organ==