The Spanish Renaissance Revival style church was built in 1908 as St. Philomena's Cathedral. It served the Diocese of Omaha as its cathedral church until St. Cecilia's Cathedral was substantially completed in 1916. The church was designed by Omaha architect Thomas Rogers Kimball. The name of the church was changed in 1958 to honor the first American citizen to be canonized a saint, Frances Xavier Cabrini. It was named an Omaha Landmark in 1979 and it was added to the National Register in 1980.