St. Mary's Basilica (Phoenix) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica in 2021
Location	Phoenix, Arizona
Country	United States
Denomination	Catholic Church
Tradition	Latin Church
History
Dedication	Mary, mother of Jesus
Dedicated	1915
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Leonard Darscheid; R. A. Gray & George Gallagher
Style	Mission Revival/Spanish Colonial Revival
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Phoenix

St. Mary's Basilica is a beautiful and historic church in Phoenix, Arizona. Its full name is The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You can find it in downtown Phoenix at 231 North 3rd Street.

This church was built between 1902 and 1914. It has a special look, combining styles called Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival. It officially opened in 1915. Before this building, there was an older church made of adobe bricks built in 1881.

For many years, the church was cared for by a group called the Franciscan Friars. Today, priests from the Diocese of Phoenix manage it. In 1985, Pope John Paul II gave St. Mary's a special title: a minor basilica.

St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic parish in the Phoenix area. It was the only Catholic church in Phoenix until 1924. Inside, you'll find Arizona's largest collection of amazing stained glass windows. It also has a large pipe organ built by the Schantz Organ Company.

Exploring the Church's Design
What Makes it a Basilica?
Who Leads the Church?
Gallery
See also

Exploring the Church's Design

The church has a unique design with four large domes. These domes help support the roof. They are built in a way that transfers the weight of the roof to strong pillars, much like ancient Roman buildings.

Domes and Light

The main dome, located in the center of the church, has stained glass windows at the top. It also has a small tower called a lantern. This lantern lets light stream down into the main part of the church and the area where the altar is. Another dome, right above the altar, has a small cupola to bring in more light.

Bell Towers and Windows

The two bell towers on the church have onion-shaped domes. This style is common in churches from Bavaria and Austria. The church's pastor, Novatus Benzing, and the architectural helper, Leonard Darscheid, were both from those regions. The towers hold four bells that ring every day.

The large windows high up in the church show scenes from the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The lower windows feature images of popular saints from the Franciscan Order. They also show saints important to the different cultures that made up the community at the time, like German, Spanish, and Irish people.

Art and Craftsmanship

All the beautiful stained glass in the church was made by the Emil Frei Art Glass Company in St. Louis. The Stations of the Cross, which are a series of images showing Jesus's final journey, were made by the Andrew Kaletta Company. They are carved in high relief with a gold background. All the wooden parts, including the pews, are made of oak and were crafted by Theodore Kuntz of Cleveland.

Architectural Style and History

The design of St. Mary's Basilica was developed under the guidance of the Franciscan Fathers of the Sacred Heart Province. Its style is mainly Mission Revival, with some features from Romanesque buildings. The first ideas for the church were actually Gothic Revival sketches by Pastor Novatus Benzing.

Later, Franciscan Father Leonard Darscheid helped add more features, like the design for the baptismal font. The final detailed design was created by local architects George Gallagher (architect) and his partner R. A. Gray (architect). A contractor named W. J. Ripley helped build parts of the church, including its basement.

In 1978, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. It was noted as the "largest, earliest, and most impressive Mission Revival structure in Arizona."

What Makes it a Basilica?

In 1985, Pope John Paul II gave St. Mary's the special title of a minor basilica. This happened two years before he visited Phoenix in 1987. During his visit, he came to St. Mary's and spoke to thousands of people from the balcony.

Being a basilica means it has special symbols. You can see the tintinnabulum, which is a large bell on a column, and the ombrellone, a big gold and red umbrella, displayed inside the church. St. Mary's was the 32nd basilica in the United States and is still the only one in Arizona. It's also considered one of the "Phoenix Points of Pride" because of its importance to the city.

Who Leads the Church?

Until 2023, the church was led by the Franciscan Friars. You can still see their symbols throughout the building. However, in September 2022, the Franciscans announced they would be leaving. This was because they had fewer priests and changes were happening in their organization.

On July 1, 2023, the Diocese of Phoenix officially took over leadership of St. Mary's. The Franciscans handed over the keys to Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.

On October 15, 2023, Father John Muir from the Diocese of Phoenix became the new rector (leader) of St. Mary's Basilica. Bishop Dolan officially installed him. Father Muir also has other important roles in the Diocese of Phoenix.

Because of its central location and long history, many important church events for the Diocese of Phoenix are held at St. Mary's Basilica. These events are often led by the bishop of Phoenix himself.