After masses for the 116 Catholics in Keetmanshoop were held in a dwelling house around 1912, planning began in June 1913 to build a chapel .

After the turmoil of the First World War, it was not until 1942 that the municipality resumed planning to build a cathedral.

At the time, Keetmanshoop was the only diocese in Southern Africa with a bishop but no cathedral.

Bishop Franz Esser consecrated the cathedral on June 20, 1956.

Eight years later in May 1964 the cathedral received its altar cross, made by the Austrian artist Josef Furthner.