The Diocese of Alexandria had a great honor bestowed on it my Pope Benedict. That is one of the most nation's most historic Catholic Churches was named a minor Basilica. What is a minor Basilica you ask?
Minor Basilica is a title
assigned to a church that
enjoys ‘the privilege of
honorific character” -- which
are not always clearly
defined. The title is usually
given to a church that enjoys
rare historical significance or
great spiritual value.The only
other basilica in Louisiana is
the St. Louis Cathedral in
New Orleans.
The Diocese of Alexandria has a wonderful Catholic paper and it came out today. Here is the PDF
Before we get to the story as usual these papers has a ton of interesting items. Be sure to check out the story on the Catholic High School they are building in Avoyelles Parish. Impressive!!! To the old there is a great story with tons of history about a old Catholic school that served Black Catholics that is being restored.
On the story. This part of Catholic Louisiana played a huge part in American Catholic history. This area is in North Louisiana but in a sort of a Catholic bubble. Lots of intrigue happened here in the early days.
On the front page of the paper you can see the Church. The article is on on page 17. I shall reproduce it here. By the way this is a web page that gives their Mass Schedule. For Latin mass fans!!! that wish to pray the mass of the ages in hisoric wonder Father Ryan celebrates Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass) ion Tuesdays at 8am and Sundays at 4pm
Immaculate Conception designated a Minor Basilica
Bishop Ronald P. Herzog announced April 7 that Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches
has been designated a Minor Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.
“This is indeed a historic moment for the diocese,” said Bishop Herzog. “This beautiful
church served as the first cathedral in our state outside of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. It
remains the mother church for all North Louisiana and is a true spiritual icon in the state and
surrounding region.”
According to Father Scott Chemino, coordinator of the project, the entire process took
seven months and multiple trips to Natchitoches for documents, photographs and consultation.
“Documentation that detailed every aspect of the sacramental ministry of the parish and church
structure had to be researched and assembled,” he said.
Photographs and documentation of every sacramental appointment inside the church had
to be presented including the entrance doors, aisles, altars, confessional, baptismal font,
ambo, presider’s chair, tabernacle, statues, stained glass windows, and every imaginable detail concerningthe celebration of sacred liturgy that are celebrated within the church.
A history of the parish detailing its sacramental records and archives, as well as the recently
catalogued Bishop Martin Museum collection was also included.
Once all the information was gathered and assembled into a 100- page document, it was presented to Bishop Herzog, who presented it to officials in Rome.
“I think the fact that I hand delivered it to Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, (Secretary of the
Congregation for Divine Worship) while I was in Rome, expedited the process,” said Bishop Herzog.
“A similar request from a diocese in Mississippi took almost two years to complete,” said the
Bishop, “so we were fortunate to receive approval so quickly.”
Basilica status will make Immaculate Conception a center of spiritual life within the diocese.And, because of its basilica designation and deep, rich history, it could become the destination of
many pilgrimages in the future.
When the Diocese of Natchitoches was established on July 29, 1853, the church was designated the Cathedral by Bishop August Marie Martin. When the Diocesan See was transferred to
Alexandria in August of 1910, the church's status reverted to a parish.
The Diocese of Alexandria will celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2010. Events are planned for each area of the diocese with the opening event being the dedication of Immaculate
Conception as a Minor Basilica on January 10, 2010.
“In planning for the centennial celebration, Bishop Herzog recognized that the origin of our
diocese began with Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches in 1853,” said Father Chemino. “It
was the Bishop’s enthusiasm and committment to the process that has
brought us this blessing.”
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