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 Catholic 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 officially opened in 1915. St. Mary's Basilica has a special look, mixing Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. It replaced an older church made of adobe from 1881.

For many years, Franciscan Friars took care of the church. Now, priests from the Diocese of Phoenix manage it. In 1985, Pope John Paul II gave St. Mary's the special title of a minor basilica.

St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic church in the Phoenix area. It was the only Catholic parish in Phoenix until 1924. Inside, you'll find Arizona's largest collection of amazing stained glass windows. It also has a huge pipe organ with 26 ranks of pipes, built by the Schantz Organ Company.

Church Design and Features
- Art and Craftsmanship Inside
- How the Church Was Designed
What Makes it a Basilica?
Who Leads the Church?
Gallery
See also

Church Design and Features

The church building has four large domes that stretch along its length. These domes are designed to help support the roof. They use a special method from Roman architecture to transfer the roof's weight to the pillars below.

The main dome, located where the central aisle meets the altar area, has stained glass at the top. It also has a small tower called a lantern. This lantern lets light shine down into the church. Another dome, right above the altar, has a cupola to bring light to that important area.

The two bell towers of the church have unique onion-shaped domes. This style is common in churches from Bavaria and Austria. The pastor at the time, Novatus Benzing, and the architect, Leonard Darscheid, were both from these 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 in the main part of the church and the side areas show popular saints. These saints represent the different cultures, like German, Spanish, and Irish, that were part of the community back then.

Art and Craftsmanship Inside

All the beautiful stained glass in the church was made by the Emil Frei Art Glass Company from St. Louis. The Stations of the Cross, which are a series of images showing Jesus's journey, are cast in high relief with a gold background. These were made by the Andrew Kaletta Company of St. Louis.

The church's woodwork and pews, which are the long benches where people sit, are all made of oak. They were crafted by Theodore Kuntz of Cleveland.

How the Church Was Designed

The design for St. Mary's Church was developed under the guidance of the Franciscan Fathers of the Sacred Heart Province from St. Louis, Missouri. Some people describe its architecture as Mission Revival with some Romanesque elements.

The first ideas for the church were Gothic Revival sketches by Pastor Novatus Benzing. Later, Franciscan Father Leonard Darscheid from St. Louis helped with the design. He added several features, including the plan for the baptismal font, to the Gothic ideas.

The detailed design was completed by a parishioner and architect named 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 considered special for its architecture, being "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 is a great honor for a church. Two years later, in 1987, the Pope actually visited Phoenix. During his visit, he came to St. Mary's and spoke to thousands of people from the balcony on the front of the church.

Inside the church, you can see two main symbols of its basilica status. One is the tintinnabulum, which is a large bell on a column. The other is the ombrellone, a big gold and red umbrella. These symbols are displayed in the sanctuary, near the altar.

St. Mary's was the 32nd church in the United States to become a basilica. It is still the only basilica in Arizona. The church is also considered one of the Phoenix Points of Pride, which are important landmarks in the city. It's located in downtown Phoenix, near the area known as Copper Square.

Who Leads the Church?

Until 2023, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Saint Barbara were in charge of St. Mary's Basilica. You can see their special symbols and coat of arms throughout the building. However, in September 2022, the Franciscans announced they would be leaving the basilica. This was because they had fewer priests and changes in their leadership structure.

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

Then, on October 15, 2023, Father John Muir from the Diocese of Phoenix was officially named the new rector of St. Mary's Basilica. Bishop Dolan installed him in this role. Father Muir also has other important jobs in the Diocese of Phoenix, serving as the Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General.

Because of its central location and long history, St. Mary's Basilica often hosts important religious events for the Diocese of Phoenix. These events are sometimes held at the basilica and sometimes at the Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude. The bishop of Phoenix usually leads these special services.

Gallery

Interior of St. Mary's Basilica
Bishop Thomas Olmsted celebrating Mass in the Basilica
Celebrations for the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe outside the Basilica on December 12
Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Mary's Basilica
Palm Sunday Mass taking place outside Saint Mary's Basilica
Holy Week/Semana Santa services at the Basilica
Pipes inside the Basilica Organ
Latin inscription on the bell dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Pope John Paul II visiting St. Mary's Basilica in 1987
The Basilica Rose Window
Pipe Organ, Choir and Rose Window