Basilica of the Conception of Mary (Norfolk)
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The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception ( English Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception ) in downtown Norfolk in southeastern Virginia , United States is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Richmond . The church, built in the mid-19th century, is protected as a cultural monument in the National Register of Historic Places and has the rank of a minor basilica .
history
The parish began as the Church of Saint Patrick in 1791. It was founded by French Catholics who fled the French Revolution and were joined by some of the earliest Irish Catholic immigrants to the United States. St. Patrick's was the oldest parish in the Diocese of Richmond, 29 years prior to the diocese's foundation.
19th century
The first church building was built in 1842 but was destroyed by fire in 1856. The current building was completed in 1858 and was built in memory of Pope Pius IX in 1854 . proclaimed Marian dogma of the Immaculate Conception .
Because of its location in the southern states , the segregated Christian church was only intended for whites. Father Matthew O'Keefe initiated permission to allow African American Catholics to sit secluded in an assigned section of the choir loft. The local know-nothing movement of anti-Catholics threatened him unless the church instituted separate masses, which he refused. Thugs tried to intimidate white parishioners until P. O'Keefe received police protection. Diocese records indicate that local Catholic families believed the Know Nothings started the fire that destroyed St. Patrick's in 1856. The Assumption , a painting donated by King Louis-Philippe I and Queen Maria Amalia of France, fell victim to the flames.
The Josephite Fathers came to Norfolk from Richmond in 1889 . In September of that year, the separate black Catholic parish of Saint Joseph's was formed to meet the religious needs of the city's African-American community.
20th century
In 1961 the parishes were merged. After an extensive renovation and restoration program, the restored building was consecrated on November 1st, 1989. Today, ninety-nine percent of St. Mary's Catholic Church is African American.
Minor basilica
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the church on December 8, 1991, Pope John Paul II granted the Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception the rank of a minor basilica , the only one in Virginia and the only one with predominantly African-American parishioners. In his proclamation, the Pope said:
“The Church of the Immaculate Conception is the only one in Virginia and the only one with a predominantly African American parishioner: its black heritage enriches the church and makes its witness of universality more complete. The church really needs you as you need the church because you are part of the church and the church is part of you. "
Building
The church was built on a rectangular plan as a basilica with stuccoed bricks. It has a centrally located, three-tier tower with a spire. The parsonage is also located on the property. It is a three-story, rectangular brick building in neo-Gothic style. The church was inscribed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The associated Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery was added in 2001.
Web links
- Website of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Individual evidence
- ^ History. In: Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017 ; accessed on May 28, 2015 .
- ^ Adelaide Mena: Rebuilt from the ashes: The story of an American basilica. In: Catholic News Agency. Retrieved June 29, 2020 .
- ^ Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception on gcatholic.org
- ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff: National Register of Historic Places Inventory / Nomination: St. Mary's Church. In: Virginia Department of Historic Resources. March 1983, Retrieved June 29, 2020 .
Coordinates: 36 ° 50 ′ 49.9 ″ N , 76 ° 16 ′ 57 ″ W.