St. Adalbert's Basilica, Buffalo

Saint Adalbert Basilica
Saint Adalbert Basilica
	42°53′50″N 78°49′52″W / 42.8972759°N 78.8311436°W
Location	212 Stanislaus Street, Buffalo, New York
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	saintadalbertbasilica.org
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1886
Architecture
Functional status	"Active"
Architect(s)	Raymond Huber
Style	Romanesque
Completed	1890
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)	Rev. James Monaco

Saint Adalbert 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. A rare and special designation bestowed on the parish occurred in 1907, when the Vatican proclaimed St. Adalbert a basilica, the first in the USA. The proclamation, as well as its English translation, can be viewed to this day in the basilica's museum room.

History

Built by Huber and Company in 1890, 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.^[1]

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. In 2016, St. Adalbert's former rectory was transformed into the Mother Teresa Home, a haven for pregnant women operated by the Diocesen Office of Pro-Life Activities.

Current status

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, with St. Adalbert's remaining open for worship. The final weekly 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. St. Adalbert Basilica remains open to this day for four yearly special masses plus weddings, funerals, baptisms, tours, and other occasions.

Gallery

Saint Adalbert Basilica
Saint Adalbert Basilica, rear view
Former school at Saint Adalbert Basilica
Inscription over door of former school at Saint Adalbert Basilica: "Come, Holy Spirit."
rear of the church
Response to Love Center (behind church)
rectory
sign to the left of the front entrance