What might be the last regular Sunday mass at Saint Adalbert Basilica was held September 11 at the 125-years-strong East Side parish. Over 350 attended the 125th Anniversary celebration held afterwards. A typical Sunday mass brings well-over 100 parishioners. With these numbers, many out-of-town supporters and a well-kept religious campus that also provides some rental income, the Catholic Diocese's order to close the church makes little sense.
Painting for Preservation is an initiative aimed at drawing attention to distressed, at-risk, and under-utilized historic locations through on site art making. The results of the various art-in events will be on display during the National Trust for Historic Preservation conference next month.
The artists of Painting for Preservation gathered at the Basilica and were warmly welcomed by the many parishioners with live music, homemade baked goods and roast beef sandwiches. There were twenty artists, many newcomers, and the effort was profiled in The Buffalo News in "Preserving memories of St. Adalbert's."
Leaders of Saint Adalbert Basilica parish have developed a strong and creative campaign to urge Bishop Kmiec to have a change of heart and allow the Church to remain as active as it already is.
With abandoned churches across the region, Painting for Preservation as artists and preservationists fully supports Saint Adalbert Basilica's cause. Having just hosted an Art-In at St. Mary's-on-the-Hill at Niagara and Vermont Streets, the now empty lot is an only too real a reminder how quickly a center of life in the community can literally fall apart.
The Art-In at Saint Adalbert Basilica was the last gathering planned by Painting for Preservation for the 2011 painting season. Please email P4Partist@gmail.com or post on our Facebook page to suggest sites for next year.
That's great to see a large turnout. Shame that closing is inevitable. Hopefully this can become a historical landmark. I mean they wouldn't demolish such a beautiful building? Another use would be made of it?
At the moment the Church is not designated as historic. It has special consideration because it's a Basilica through the Catholic church, but that doesn't seem to be helping the parish much. In general, the Catholic church is way behind in adapting their urban churches to current needs.
Please support Saint Adalbert Basilica by writing to Bishop Kmiec and/or your local news outlet. More information here: http://saintadalbertbasilica.org/?page_id=510.