St. Adalbert's Basilica
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Saint Adalbert's Basilica, (referred to in Polish as Bazylika Swietego Wojciecha) is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo located in the East Side area of Buffalo, New York. It is a prime example of the Polish Cathedral style of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. Its status as a Basilica of the Roman Catholic Church has been disputed, however many Poles of Buffalo hold it in high regard. Built by Huber and Company in 1890-1891, it was built by Polish immigrants. The building itself is brick, its dimensions are 240 feet (73 m) long, 118 feet (36 m) wide, nave 70 feet (21 m) high, the two towers are 150 feet (46 m) high with a dome 40 feet (12 m) wide and soaring 125 feet (38 m) above the main nave. At that time it was the largest church in Western New York and cost $63,000 without the furnishings. The 36 Stained glass windows of the Basilica were produced by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany.
The St. Adalbert's Response to Love Center, run by Sister Mary Johnice, is located next to the Basilica and provides services for the poor of Buffalo, such as hot meals, a food pantry, toys and clothing for children, GED classes, and basic career-related computer training.
The last mass was scheduled for November 25, 2007 but has been put on hold due to the parish having filed an appeal to the Vatican. They have received notice from Rome stating that the merger is on hold and nothing can be changed until the decision is received from the Congregation for the Clergy and the as needed filing to an even higher court, the Apostolic Signatura.
In February of 2008 the Vatican's highest Canonical Court upheld Bishop Edward Kmiec decision to close the church. Due to technicality in canon law the appeal has yet to be finalized and is still on going.
