Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Pilar)

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Basilica with reflection in the Ñeembucú

The Basilica of Our Lady on the Pillar ( Spanish Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar ) is a Roman Catholic church in  Pilar , capital of the Ñeembucú department in southern Paraguay on the river of the same name . The church belonging to the diocese of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones is St. Maria consecrated and carries the title of minor basilica .

Origin of name

The place Pilar got its current name four years after it was founded in 1789 by a Spanish priest after the miraculous image of Our Lady on the pillar of the Basílica del Pilar in his hometown of Saragossa . The name of the church was chosen accordingly in the 19th century. The patronage is celebrated on October 12th.

history

Basilica with bell tower

The previous church was built in the mid-19th century at the time of Carlos Antonio López . Its bell tower from 1876 has been preserved and is a bit away from today's church.

In 1901 the foundation stone for the new building was laid. At the end of the 1920s, the old church was torn down and construction began. The old sacristy was used as a makeshift church. The Chaco War and changing pastors slowed down the work.

From 1939 onwards, the building of the church was pushed to the roof, and a carved main altar as well as two side altars and the first pews were soon added.

With the arrival of the Italian Redemptorists in 1951, a new plan began for the previously very sparse church. With the help of the Italian architect Banterle and materials donated from Europe such as red marble from the pre-Alps of Verona, the building was decisively redesigned. The entire extent of the facades and side walls are clad with travertine marble. The construction was then carried out by volunteer local workers under the guidance of a Spanish engineer.

In 1979, on the occasion of the city's 200th anniversary, Cardinal Antonio Samoré consecrated the church. After a decision by Pope John Paul II , the church was raised to the rank of a minor basilica .

The war heroes of the Triple Alliance War and the industrialist Paolo Federico Alberzoni (1889–1973), who supported the construction of the church, were buried in the crypt .

Web links

Commons : Basilica of Pilar  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar on gcatholic.org
  2. ↑ Basílica Menor de Pilar, una admirable obra arquitectónica on abc.com.py (span.)

Coordinates: 26 ° 51 ′ 20.1 ″  S , 58 ° 18 ′ 14.3 ″  W.