Old St. Patrick Basilica - New York

 

    In December 2019, Jennie and I made a quick trip to New York for Christmas.  One of the great things about travelling with a Catholic religion teacher is she puts a premium on visiting beautiful Catholic churches wherever we go.   On our last day in the city, we made our way to the Basilica of St. Patrick, the original cathedral for the Diocese of New York.

    

    Construction on the church was completed in 1815 and the dedication of the church took place on the Feast of The Ascension, May 4, 1815.  In 1817, the Sisters of Charity, founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, sent 3 sisters to the church to staff an orphanage.  In 1822, the sisters started the parish school that continues in existence today, some 200 years later.  There was a nice statue of St. Elizabeth in the church, along with a plaque describing her work.

In1866 a fire destroyed all of the original church leaving only the outside walls.  The Diocese made the decision to rebuild the church and that was completed in 1879 and was dedicated as just a parish church.  Archbishop McCloskey moved his Cathedra to St. Patrick's Cathedral, located on Fifth avenue.  From that point forward, Old St. Patrick was dedicated to serving the members of the community.  In 2009, a six year celebration began culminating in 2015 with the 200th anniversary of the completion of construction.  Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan made an announcement that he was seeking basilica status for St. Patrick's. 

    That status was granted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.  We found the Ombrellino (little umbrella) during our visit.  The Ombrellino is a distinctive symbol used in basilicas throughout the world.  Designed with stripes of yellow and red (traditional papal colors), the silk canopy is a symbol of the Pope’s authority.  During the Middle Ages, the Ombrellino would be carried above the Holy Father during processions. Once placed, the Ombrellino remains partially open in as a symbol of readiness to welcome the Holy Father.

    I love to see Catholic churches that look like Catholic churches, complete with old-fashioned hand carved wooden confessionals and a beautiful altar.  If you find yourself in New York, take time to visit both the magnificent St. Patrick's Cathedral, as well as St. Patrick's Basilica.