St. Adalbert's Basilica, Buffalo

Saint Adalbert's Basilica
42°53′50″N 78°49′52″W / 42.8972759°N 78.8311436°W / 42.8972759; -78.8311436
Location 212 Stanislaus Street, Buffalo, New York
Country  United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website Saint Adalbert Basilica
History
Founded 1886
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status "Active"
Architect(s) Raymond Huber
Style Romanesque
Completed 1891
Construction cost US$63 thousand
Specifications
Length 240 feet (73.2 m)
Width 118 feet (36.0 m)
Height 151 feet (46.0 m)
Materials Brick
Clergy
Pastor(s) Thaddeus Bocianowski
The basilica of Esztergom, Hungary is also called St. Adalbert's Basilica.

Saint Adalbert's Basilica, (referred to in Polish as Bazylika Swietego Wojciecha) is a historic Roman Catholic church located on Buffalo, New York's East Side within the Diocese of Buffalo. It is a prime example of the Polish Cathedral style of church architecture in both its opulence and grand scale. Saint Adalbert's was designated America's first basilica in 1907. While its status as a Basilica is disputed, many Poles of Buffalo hold it in high regard.[1]

History

Built by Huber and Company in 1890-1891, it was built by Polish immigrants. The building itself is brick, its dimensions are 240 feet (73 m) long, 118 feet (36 m) wide, nave 70 feet (21 m) high, the two towers are 150 feet (46 m) high with a dome 40 feet (12 m) wide and soaring 125 feet (38 m) above the main nave. At that time it was the largest church in Western New York and cost $63,000 without the furnishings. The 36 stained glass windows of the Basilica were produced by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany. The interior was decorated by Jozef Mazur.[2]

Community

The St. Adalbert's Response to Love Center, run by Sister Mary Johnice, is located next to the Basilica and provides services for the poor of Buffalo, such as hot meals, a food pantry, toys and clothing for children, GED classes, and basic career-related computer training.

Uncertain future

The last mass was scheduled for November 25, 2007, but had been put on hold due to the parish having filed an appeal to the Vatican. In February 2008 the Vatican's highest Canonical Court upheld Bishop Edward Kmiec's decision to close the church. An appeal was made by the "Save St. Adalbert" committee, and the process was delayed. Again revisited, The Vatican Congregation for the Clergy has upheld the decision to merge St. Adalbert Parish into St. John Kanty Parish. The final regularly scheduled Mass at St. Adalbert’s was celebrated on Sept. 18, 2011, marking the end of the yearlong observance of the 125th anniversary of the parish.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ culturalniagara.com. "St. Adalbert Basilica". Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  2. ↑ Forgotten Buffalo. "SAINT ADALBERT'S BASILICA - 212 Stanislaus Street". Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  3. ↑ WKBW Programming (January 29, 2011). "Will Saint Adalbert Basilica Be Saved?". WKBW eyewitness news. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
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