History
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.
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.
Read more about this topic: Our Lady Of Victory Basilica (Lackawanna, New York)
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