Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Syracuse

Coordinates: 43°03′07″N 76°10′45″W / 43.052079°N 76.179138°W / 43.052079; -76.179138

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Location 927 Park Avenue
Syracuse, New York
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website Sacred Heart Basilica website
History
Former name(s) Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
Dedicated October 3, 1999
Consecrated June 5, 1910
Architecture
Architect(s) Merrick and Randall
Administration
Parish Sacred Heart
Diocese Syracuse
Province New York
Clergy
Bishop(s) Most Rev. Robert Joseph Cunningham
Rector Rev. Andrew E. Baranski
Vicar(s) Rev. Stanislaw Kardas
Deacon(s) Richard Galloway, James Morse, Frank Timson

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Catholic parish church and minor basilica in Syracuse, New York. It is located at 927 Park Avenue in the Westside neighborhood. The building was designated a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on August 27, 1998 and dedicated on October 3, 1999.

History

The church was founded in 1892 as Sacred Heart Parish in the Westside, a neighborhood with a large Polish population, after the Polish community petitioned Syracuse's bishop for a parish of its own. The original church was located across the street from the current structure.[1] The first Mass in the new parish church was said on August 30, 1892, with the formal dedication taking place nearly a year later on June 11, 1893.[1]

The congregation outgrew the first church within a decade, and a decision was made to construct a new church. The foundations were built by parishioners in order to save money, and the cornerstone was laid in 1907.[2] Work was completed in three years and the church was completed and dedicated on June 5, 1910 by Polish Auxiliary Bishop of Chichago R. Rhode DD.[2]

Following the construction of the new church building, the old church building was converted into a parochial school. That structure burned in a fire in 1916 and was replaced by a larger brick school. The new building expanded again in 1926, to accommodate the continued growth of the parish, and further community buildings were added up to the 1940s.[1] A decision was made to close the parish school in 2002 because of declining enrollment.[3]

Architecture and notable features

The cruciform building was designed by Syracuse architects Merrick and Randall, and built in stone with a marble veneer in Gothic Revival style. With a capacity of 1,200, it is 162 feet (49 m) long and 105 feet (32 m) across at its widest point. Its two spires are 212 feet (65 m) high.[2][4]

The church features a series of fine stained glass windows from Munich, the Henry Keck Stained Glass Studio in Syracuse and from St Louis.[5][6] One stained glass window depicts Polish saint Maximilian Kolbe, who died at Auschwitz.[7] It contains a 1916 Möller organ, that was recently renovated.[8] The original asphalt-shingled roof was replaced in 2009 with slate and copper, in order to ensure longevity.[9]

Elevation to basilica status

Pope John Paul II issued a Papal bull to elevate Sacred Heart to a minor basilica in 1998. The formal dedication took place on October 3, 1999, with Syracuse Bishop James Moynihan reading the Papal bull and Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Costello acting as Celebrant.[1][10]

References

External sources

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