Our Lady of Victory Basilica (Lackawanna, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Victory Basilica |
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The front exterior of Our Lady of Victory Basilica.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Diocese of Buffalo |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor Basilica, National Shrine |
| Leadership | Bishop: Michael W. Fisher Pastor: Reverend Monsignor David G. LiPuma |
| Year consecrated | 1926 |
| Location | |
| Location | 767 Ridge Road Lackawanna, New York, United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Emile Ulrich |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Groundbreaking | 1921 |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North |
| Capacity | 1,200 sitting |
| Dome height (outer) | 165 feet (50 m) |
| Dome height (inner) | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Dome dia. (inner) | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Spire(s) | 2 |
| Materials | Marble |
| Website | |
| www.ourladyofvictory.org | |
The Our Lady of Victory Basilica is a special Catholic church and national shrine located in Lackawanna, New York. It's a very popular place for visitors and pilgrimages. This is because of the many good things done by its founder, Father Nelson Baker. The basilica is part of the Diocese of Buffalo.
History of the Basilica
In 1916, a fire badly damaged St. Patrick's Parish Church in Lackawanna, New York. Father Baker was the priest in charge. He decided to build a new, much larger church instead of just fixing the old one.
On May 7, 1921, Father Baker held the last Mass at St. Patrick's. The old church was then taken down to make space for the new building. Construction on the basilica began in 1921. Father Baker wanted to build a shrine to honor the Blessed Mother.
Father Baker was well-known for his charity work across the country. This helped him get enough money quickly to start building. Thousands of people from all over the nation gave money. They often joined a special fundraising club by mail.
The basilica was designed by Emile Ulrich. It cost $3.2 million to build. Even with such a large cost, the church finished the project without owing any money.
By late 1925, the main part of the church, called the sanctuary, was finished. The first Mass was held there on Christmas that year. On May 25, 1926, a special ceremony took place to make the church official. Father Baker, Bishop William Turner, and Cardinal Patrick Hayes led the event. Thousands of priests, nuns, and believers came from all over the country.
Two months later, Pope Pius XI gave the shrine the special title of "Minor Basilica." This is a great honor in the Catholic Church. Father Baker continued to lead the basilica and its many charities until he passed away on July 29, 1936.
The basilica has only had two major changes to its original look. The first happened in 1941 during a strong lightning storm. The storm badly damaged the basilica's two tall towers.
Father Baker's first replacement, Monsignor Joseph Maguire, led the repairs. He replaced the original marble towers. The new towers are shorter, enclosed, and have copper domes. These are the towers you see today.
After a very cold winter in 2001–2002, the roof of the National Shrine was found to be in bad shape. Its copper had turned green from being outside for so long. This is like the Statue of Liberty. A new copper roof was then put on.
In 2001, the National Shrine celebrated its 75th birthday. A special Mass was held, followed by a dinner party. Hundreds of important people, church leaders, and friends came together. They celebrated the basilica and Father Baker's lasting impact.
The basilica complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024. This means it is a very important historical site.
Father Baker's Remains
In July 1998, Father Baker's remains were moved from a nearby cemetery. They were reburied inside the basilica. This move was ordered by a church group in Rome. It was a step toward declaring Father Baker a saint.
On March 11, 1999, Father Baker's casket was carried by six men he had helped raise. It was placed in a special stone coffin called a sarcophagus. This is inside the Grotto Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, which is at the southern end of the basilica. About 6,000 people came to the event that day to honor Father Baker. This reburial helped more people learn about Father Baker and his work. On January 14, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI declared Father Baker "venerable." This is another important step toward sainthood.
Architecture and Design
Exterior Features
The outside of the basilica was designed by a French church architect named Emile Ulrich. Father Baker wanted the very best materials and work. So, Ulrich stopped all other projects at his firm. He personally checked the work of artists in the United States and Europe.
Most of the outside of the shrine is made of pure white marble. This marble came from Tate, Georgia. Inside and on some parts of the outside, you can also find over 40 different types and colors of Italian marble.
The Great Dome
A very noticeable part of the basilica's outside is its large copper dome. The dome is 165 feet tall. When it was finished in 1926, it was the second largest dome in the U.S. after the U.S. Capitol building. Over the years, the copper on the dome has turned green. This is normal for copper that is exposed to the weather. Four copper angel statues, each 18 feet tall, are on the dome. They look like they are playing trumpets.
The Twin Towers
The basilica's original twin towers were also 165 feet tall when finished in 1926. They were made entirely of marble and had an open design. In 1941, a powerful lightning storm caused a lot of damage to both towers. They had to be redesigned and rebuilt. The new towers are enclosed and much shorter than the first ones. They have copper domes, similar to the main dome.
The Main Entrance
Two large rows of columns, called colonnades, stretch out from the main entrance. On top of each colonnade is a marble sculpture. It shows a group of children with a large angel watching over them. On the left side, a nun leads the children. This represents the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have worked at Father Baker's charities since 1856. On the right side, a priest leads the children. This figure is Father Baker himself. The architect Ulrich ordered this statue to honor Father Baker for all his work.
At the entrance, there is also a domed space, called a niche. It holds a 12-foot-tall, 16,000-pound statue of Our Lady of Victory. This statue is made from the best Carrara marble.
Interior Design
The Great Dome and Ceiling
The biggest artwork inside is the decoration of the Great Dome. It is 80 feet across. It shows the Assumption of Mary, which is Mary going up to heaven, and her Coronation as Queen. Around the edge of the dome, you can see the 12 apostles and three archangels. Higher up, angels carry Mary towards heaven. At the very top of the dome, 120 feet above the floor, a white Dove of Peace looks down from Heaven.
From the Great Dome to the back of the church where the choir sings, the ceiling has five huge murals. These paintings show Mary as Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of the Apostles, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the Prophets, and Queen of the Martyrs. The two side walls of the basilica have large paintings. They show scenes from the Gospels, like the Massacre of the Innocents, the Flight into Egypt, and the Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem.
The Main Altar
The main altar has a 9-foot-tall, 1600-pound statue of Our Lady of Victory. This statue was made in Italy and blessed by Pope Pius XI. Father Baker placed a painting of the pope on the altar in return.
Next to the altar are four twisted marble columns. They are made of rare red marble, like those in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. There's a story about this marble. During World War I, some soldiers from Buffalo were in Spain. They found this unique red marble. They immediately thought of the basilica Father Baker was building back home. They talked to the Spanish farmer who owned the land. After hearing Father Baker's story, the farmer agreed to give away the "useless rock." The marble was then sent to Lackawanna for the basilica's altar.
The main altar stands under a bright blue dome. This dome shows the Holy Spirit in beautiful colors. On the ceiling above the altar, a long panel shows "Queen of All Saints." Among these saints are Mary Magdalene, St. Anthony, St. Elizabeth, St. Anne, and St. Theresa.
Papal Symbols
Near the altar, you'll see an umbraculum. This is a special canopy or umbrella. It is kept half open until the Pope visits the basilica. When the Pope visits, it is fully opened. At the other end of the pews, there is a tintinnabulum. This is a small gold bell on a pole. It is used to lead the procession when the Pope celebrates Mass in the basilica. These two items, along with the Pope's personal coat of arms above the main bronze doors, show that the shrine has the special title of Basilica from the Catholic Church.
Stations of the Cross
Along the sides of the shrine are 14 marble Stations of the Cross. These show Jesus' last hours before his death. Each Station was carved from a single block of marble. The figures are life-size. The Italian sculptor Pepini spent 14 years creating them.
The station called "Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother" was one of Father Baker's favorite spots. When he was in his 80s and the basilica was finished, Father Baker was often found leaning on the pillar closest to this Station. He would be meditating and saying prayers.
The Organ
The original organ in the choir loft was custom-made but eventually broke down. A new, specially designed 54-rank pipe organ was put in its place. It was built by the Delaware Pipe Organ Co. and installed in 1981. The organ has three mahogany pipe towers, each shaped like a half-circle. They represent the Holy Trinity. There are 51 pipes in the towers, with the rest hidden behind them. The pipes are made of metal and wood, and they range in length from six inches to 18 feet.
The Grotto and Father Baker's Remains
Father Baker's remains are in a special stone coffin, called a sarcophagus. This is inside the Grotto Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes. You can find it at the southern end of the basilica. The Grotto is carved from black lava rock that came from Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Father Baker, who died in 1936, wanted a building material that was "untouched by humans." He wanted it to remember the vision of the Blessed Mother to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France.
Other Interesting Areas
Sculptures and Artwork: The inside of the basilica has many religious paintings, sculptures, and mosaics. They all show devotion to the Blessed Mother. It is thought that there are between 1,500 and 2,500 angels in the basilica's artwork and sculptures. Father Baker wanted to put an angel in every possible place you could see. This was to remind visitors that even though the basilica is for Our Lady of Victory, its main purpose is to praise God.
Pews and Aisle: The basilica's pews are made of rare African mahogany. They can seat over 1,200 people. The floor and aisle of the shrine gently slope down. This makes sure that everyone has a clear view of the main altar.
Altars: There are five unique altars along the back wall behind the main altar. These altars are dedicated to: St. Patrick, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Mary Immaculate, St. Anne, and St. Vincent de Paul. St. Vincent de Paul's work with the poor inspired Father Baker.
Baptistery: Next to the main altar is the baptistery. It has a marble baptismal font. There are also many paintings on the walls and ceiling with religious symbols and figures.
Father Baker Museum: In late 2009, work began to create a small museum. It tells the story of Father Baker's life and the history of the Our Lady of Victory Institutions. It is located in the basilica's basement. This is where the chapel and Father Baker Rooms used to be. The museum displays photos, official papers, old newspapers, and Father Baker's personal items. You can see his desk, books, clothes, and furniture. The museum also has photos, information, and memorabilia from the Our Lady of Victory Institutions. These include the Infant Home, Orphanage, Protectory, and the basilica itself. On this floor, there is also a remodeled gift shop. It sells religious items like rosaries.
Gallery
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Artwork on the ceiling of the basilica.
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Engraving on top of entrance reading "Our Lady of Victory".
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The interior of the basilica.
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Welcome sign for Fr. Baker's basilica and parish.
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A close up of The Pieta, one of the 14 Stations of the Cross.
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One of five saints altars lining the wall behind the Main Altar.
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One of several statues of Mary inside the basilica.
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A side view of the Great Dome exterior.
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A close-up view of the Great Dome exterior.
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A front view of the basilica's twin towers.
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The main altar.
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Murals on the interior ceiling.
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One of the tabernacles.
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Another of the tabernacles inside the basilica.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Victoria (Lackawanna) para niños
