08Apr

Message from Archbishop Hebda Message for The Basilica’s Restoration

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The Basilica leads people to Christ and inspires lives of service.I’m praying for all who are supporting the restoration, and I certainly look forward to that time when we will be able to celebrate in a completely restored, Basilica of Saint Mary. -Archbishop Hebda

07Apr

Sealing the Bronze Doors for Restoration

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On Easter morning, Archbishop Bernard Hebda blessed and sealed the front bronze doors of The Basilica of Saint Mary, marking the beginning of a comprehensive interior restoration of the historic upper nave. This milestone is part of the Basilica’s $45 million capital campaign, Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope, a multi-phase restoration initiative to preserve and renew […]

13Mar

Video message: Beauty Reveals the Presence of God

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A Message from Fr. Daniel: Restoring the Heart of Our Parish The Basilica of Saint Mary is truly the beating heart of our parish. Every day, people come through these doors to pray, celebrate, find comfort, and experience the beauty of this sacred place. In the video below, I share why this church means so […]

12Mar

Liturgical Design for The Renewed Basilica

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Sacred spaces and experiences The restoration of The Basilica of Saint Mary is being guided not only by architectural plans and construction timelines, but by theological questions about how worship is shaped by space. Those questions fall largely to the Liturgical Design Committee, one of several specialized committees working under the Restoration Executive Committee to […]

08Mar

Interior Stone Cleaning and Tuckpointing

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Restoration crews have been carefully cleaning and tuckpointing the interior stone in the ambulatory aisles of the church, an important step in preserving the beauty and structural integrity of this historic space. At the same time, Basilica staff and volunteers are preparing for the next phase of the restoration by organizing the temporary relocation of […]

16Dec

Stone Cleaning

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The Basilica’s interior is faced with 4-inch-thick Mankato limestone. Throughout 2025, conservation crews cleaned the ambulatories in the church. The cleaning material is applied to the surface and once cured, peeled away, extracting embedded soot and particulate deposits that have accumulated over the past century.

01Dec

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Lord, Renew Your Church campaign

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Sustaining the Cathedral of Saint Paul & Basilica of Saint Mary | $30 Million The Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary are vital to the Church’s identity and unity, serving as beacons of faith and community. They provide continuity and stability, fostering a sense of belonging across generations. Essential renovations and […]

13Nov

Audio Enhancements

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From the 2025 Fall Basilica Magazine One of the pillars of The Basilica Restoration Plan is enhancing the sacred experience by improving acoustics and upgrading audio equipment.

01Oct

Exterior Tuckpointing

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Throughout 2025, crews from American Masonry Restoration have been performing exterior tuckpointing on the church as part of a comprehensive building envelope stabilization effort. This work is required to ensure the structure is fully watertight prior to the start of interior restoration. The process includes a detailed assessment of the stone masonry, identification of compromised […]

13Jan

Exterior Lighting

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From the 2025 Basilica Magazine Spring On a brutally cold night in December, a group of staff and parishioners ventured out with the lighting company guide to discuss and evaluate lighting improvements for The Basilica’s exterior.

01Dec

Restoration Preparations

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From the 2024 Fall Basilica Magazine Send me workers skilled in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving…” — 2 Chronicles 2:7

08Jul

America’s First Basilica

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The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Minnesota is the FIRST Basilica in the United States, and was named a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1926. Construction on the basilica began in 1907 and was completed in 1915, with interior work not finishing until 1925. The basilica is considered a fine example of Beaux Arts architecture […]

08Jul

Statues with Provenance

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Fun Fact: The marble statues surrounding the Sanctuary depict the apostles. Carved in Italy, they are half size copies of those in St. John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome.

08Jul

The Parish is Over 150 Years Old

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The Basilica Cathedral building finished construction 100 years ago, but the parish was formed over 150 years ago, and recently celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2018. From its humble beginnings, the parish sought to inspire the community, even if the building’s initial stature was less grand.

05Jul

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

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We are embarking on a very exciting time at The Basilica of Saint Mary where we begin the process of restoring the beauty of our historic church – America’s first basilica. The arrival at this day has been years in the making and has been accompanied by the challenges of a global pandemic and the […]

28Jun

Interior Trial Mockup

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Interior Restoration Trial Underway As The Basilica of Saint Mary plans for future interior restoration, crucial design and restoration techniques are being tested on various elements such as plaster ceilings, stone walls, stained glass windows, and lighting. These techniques are undergoing what is commonly known as a “mock-up” phase. These full-scale mock-ups play a vital […]