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 transition of parish leadership. I commend our parish leaders who have prepared for this important moment by careful planning and preparation. I also thank those, who through their generosity of spirit or generosity of resources, have helped us begin this journey of restoration and renewal. The ongoing assessments and preparations have yielded positive results and provide a basis for hope that a successful restoration of our The Basilica is an attainable reality.

The theme of our work is Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope. I invite you to explore at this new website which includes the work that has already been done or is in process to prepare for the full restoration of our historic church. We have been blessed indeed by a talented and committed group of parish leaders and staff which has been assembled to help shepherd our parish through this exciting and important time. In addition, The Basilica has also assembled a stellar group of professional partners who will help us with every facet of our restoration project. That such a fantastic group of parish leaders, staff, and professional partners has come together to help us realize our dream of restoring the beauty of our church and renewing our community gives me great hope for the successes of this endeavor.

When I think of The Basilica of Saint Mary, my mind goes immediately to our beautiful liturgies and music, our generous outreach to those in need, and the unique and amazing events that are hosted by The Basilica. The restoration of our historic church and its beauty will strengthen our mission by providing an inspiring temple of God’s presence where we are formed, fed, united, and sent into the world to live as disciples of faith and hope – lifting a broken world and serving others as Christ has served us. This important time in the life of our parish invites us to call and rely on the Spirit moving within in our midst and to work together as a community of faith – where all generously share their gifts for the restoration of our church and the renewal of our parish.

Lastly, what can you do to help us realize our dream of a fully restored Basilica of Saint Mary? First, I encourage you to learn more about those who are leading this effort, the important work done throughout the history of The Basilica, and the work that has been done in preparation for the restoration of the church. Secondly, I believe very much in the power of prayer – including though the generous intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, the patroness of our parish. Please pray the prayer found on this site for the success of our restoration project and the renewal of our parish. Third, watch for the mockup reveal and results this fall as we prepare for the broader restoration of the church. Finally, prepare to generously support this once in a generation effort to restore the beauty of America’s first basilica and inspire the hope of our community to follow the call of Jesus to announce the joy of the Gospel to everyone.

Gratefully,

Fr. Daniel Griffith

Pastor and Rector