St. Adalbert's Basilica, Buffalo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Adalbert Basilica |
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| 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 |
| 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 |
The Saint Adalbert Basilica is a very old and beautiful Roman Catholic church in Buffalo, New York. It's on the city's East Side. In Polish, its name is Bazylika Swietego Wojciecha.
This church is a great example of a special church style called "Polish Cathedral style". This style is known for being very grand and fancy. Something really special happened in 1907: the Vatican (the main place for the Catholic Church in Rome) called St. Adalbert a "basilica." This was the first church in the whole United States to get this important title! You can still see the official paper from the Vatican about this in the church's museum room.
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History of the Basilica
The Saint Adalbert Basilica was built by Polish immigrants. It was finished in 1890 by a company called Huber and Company. The church is made of brick.
It's a very large building. It is about 73 meters (240 feet) long and 36 meters (118 feet) wide. The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 21 meters (70 feet) high. The two tall towers reach up to about 46 meters (150 feet). There's also a large dome that is about 12 meters (40 feet) wide and rises about 38 meters (125 feet) above the main area.
When it was built, Saint Adalbert Basilica was the biggest church in Western New York. It cost about $63,000 to build, and that didn't even include the furniture inside! The church has 36 amazing stained glass windows. These windows were made by a famous company in Germany called Franz Mayer & Co.. The beautiful decorations inside the church were done by an artist named Jozef Mazur.
Community Help at St. Adalbert's
Right next to the Basilica is the St. Adalbert's Response to Love Center. A kind nun named Sister Mary Johnice runs this center. It helps people in need in Buffalo.
The center offers many services, like hot meals and a food pantry. They also give toys and clothing to children. For adults, they have classes to help them get their GED (a high school equivalency diploma). They also offer basic computer training to help people find jobs.
In 2016, the old house where the church's priest used to live was changed into the Mother Teresa Home. This home is a safe place for pregnant women who need support. It is run by a group from the local Catholic area.
Current Use of the Basilica
For a while, there was a plan to close the church for regular services. The last weekly mass was celebrated on September 18, 2011. This marked the end of a year-long celebration of the church's 125th birthday.
Even though weekly masses no longer happen, Saint Adalbert Basilica is still open and used today! It hosts four special masses each year. It's also a popular place for important events like weddings, funerals, and baptisms. Many people also visit for tours to see its beautiful architecture and learn about its history.
Gallery
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Saint Adalbert Basilica
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Saint Adalbert Basilica, rear view
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Former school at Saint Adalbert Basilica
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Inscription over door of former school at Saint Adalbert Basilica: "Come, Holy Spirit."
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rear of the church
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Response to Love Center (behind church)
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rectory
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sign to the left of the front entrance
See also
- Buffalo, New York
- East Side, Buffalo, New York
- Jozef Mazur
- Polish Cathedral style
