0018 Our Lady of Victory Basilica Series

by Michael Frank Jr

Title

0018 Our Lady of Victory Basilica Series

Artist

Michael Frank Jr

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

A very, VERY, VeRy beautiful church and story behind it. A building of which I recommend any and all
to visit if they ever come into Buffalo, or Lackawanna and I can surely guarantee you of NO
disappointment. Make sure to read about Father Baker and all the good he done, starting at such an
early age...to have such love for life and everything in it...for everyone, regardless, of age, sex, color,
status...I could only wish and pray that people nowadays, could learn...appreciate and demonstrate what
this man did for others.
Hoping my pix can encourage people to see what I have seen...hope you enjoy.
Thank you. :)

HISTORY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Victory_Basilica_(Lackawanna,_New_York)

Construction on the Basilica began in 1921 after Father Baker unveiled plans for a shrine paying homage
to the Blessed Mother before a routine parish council meeting. Because of Baker's influence in the community
and well-known charitable reputation across the nation, construction began almost immediately. Baker sent out
calls of support for his project, and thousands from across the nation contributed funding both large and small,
mostly through a direct-mail fundraising club. The basilica was constructed at a cost of $3.2 million, but the
project was completed without going into debt.[1]
By late 1925, construction on the sanctuary of Our Lady of Victory was complete and the first mass was held
there on Christmas of that year. On May 25, 1926, a consecration ceremony took place presided over by Father
Baker, Bishop William Turner of the Diocese of Buffalo, and Cardinal Patrick Hayes. Thousands of priests, nuns,
and believers from across the nation attended the event. Two months later, Pope Pius XI designated the shrine
the honorable title of "Minor Basilica" via an apostolic decree. Baker was in charge of the Basilica and the
parish's various institutions of charity until his death on July 29, 1936.
Throughout the years, the Basilica saw only two changes to its original design. The first came in 1941 during
a violent lightning storm that caused significant damage to the basilica's original twin towers. Baker's first
successor Monsignor Joseph Maguire, took charge of the efforts to refurbish the structures, replacing the
original marble towers with the lower, enclosed, copper dome-tipped towers that can be seen on the basilica
today. The second change came during the harsh winter of 2001-2002. The roof of the National Shrine was
significantly deteriorated, turning the original shiny copper to a greenish hue due to overexposure to the
elements (a similar chemical effect as seen on the Statue of Liberty), hence a new copper roof had to be
installed.
In 2001, a celebration of the National Shrine's Diamond Jubilee and basilica's 75 years in the making was
held at the Our Lady of Victory Parish. On May 26, a special mass was followed by a dinner party, at which
hundreds of dignitaries, clergy members, and friends came together to celebrate the Basilica and Father
Baker's legacy.

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March 31st, 2014

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