Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

For Remembrance Day 2020, a video from Alan Doyle, in thanks for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. It features our own Jacinta Mackey Graham, one of the Basilica Cathedral's well known cantors at Daily Mass. https://youtu.be/Olb5GJ4kBW4

FEAST OF ALL THE SAINTS OF IRELAND November 6th Today, we celebrate the Feast of all the Saints of Ireland. ... Renowned as being the land of Saints and Scholars, Ireland has over 300 Saints, one for almost everyday of the year. Yet, only 4 Saints - St Malacy, St. Lawrence O’Toole, St. Oliver Plunkett and St. Charles of Mount Argus - have been formally canonised. All other Irish Saints, including St. Patrick and St. Brigid, are Saints by acclamation of the local Church. Here in the Basilica-Cathedral, three lovely windows in the nave at the clerestory level depict Sts Patrick, Bridget and Columba, all of whom are buried in a common grave at Downpatrick. Pope Benedict XV beatified Oliver Plunkett in 1920 and also during his papacy the Feast of All the Saints of Ireland was instituted. The same Pope also granted Ireland the honour of having a litany of its native Saints approved for public recitation. Only four Saints, St Malachy (1094-1148), St Lawrence O'Toole (1128-80) and St Oliver Plunkett (1625-81) and St Charles of Mount Argus (1821-93), have been officially canonised. All the other Irish Saints, such as Saints Patrick and Brigid, are Saints as it were, by acclamation of the local Church. The scope of this feast, while it includes canonised Saints, is wider. It also includes those who had a reputation for holiness and whose causes for canonisation have not yet been completed, such as Blessed Thaddeus MacCarthy, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice and the Servant of God Matt Talbot and people like Legion of Mary envoys Edel Quinn and Alfie Lamb, whose causes have already been introduced. But it also includes those whose lives of sanctity were known only to their families, friends or members of their parish diocese or religious community. OUR WINDOWS, OUR STORY Here is the Basilica-Cathedral of St John the Baptist, three lovely windows by Louis Lichtenfeldt-Koch of Beauvais, France, in the nave at the clerestory level depict the three principal patron Saints of Ireland-Sts Payrick, Bridget and Columba (or Columbcille). All were donated in 1891 by neighbours from Rawlins Cross in St John’s Mrs Catherine Walsh and Mrs Johanna Ivory. If these windows could talk, what a story they would tell, connecting our past and our present, and pointing the way to our future. They tell the stories of the saints and events that they depict; they also tell the stories of the community who chose the subjects, and commissioned the windows. These windows also give us glimpses into the remarkable stories of their makers. It is obvious that many of our magnificent window are in need of some tender loving care and skilled restoration. If you are interested in becoming part of the ongoing story of the Basilica by donating to our Stained Glass Window Restoration Project, contact John FitzGerald, Executive Director of the Basilica Heritage Foundation by e-mail at [email protected] Photo by Robert and Lynn Young, 2019.

At 7:30 pm on 29 October, the Rosary will be said from the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, Newfoundland with Archbishop Peter Hundt, Fr. Raymond Earle, and members of the Archbishop Howley Council and the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Watch at https://youtu.be/XazQVCNB3c0

Special Archdiocesan All Soul’s Day Mass Monday November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Since March 2020, four people have died of COVID-19 in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. As well, during that time period there have been many other deaths from other causes in our province. The restrictions and regulations put in place to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus pandemic has affected how the friends and loved ones of all these deceased were able to celebrate their fune...rals and mourn their loss. In the Catholic Church, All Souls Day, November 2nd, is a day especially dedicated to the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed. It is a day both for remembering those whom we love who have died and for praying for the repose of their souls. This year on Monday November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. a special Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. It will be offered for the repose of the souls of all those who have died in this province since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and for the consolation and healing of all those who are struggling with the pain and grief of the death of loved ones. Those who wish to do so, can preregister for attendance at this Mass on the Basilica website (www.thebasilica.church) or by email ([email protected]) or by phone (709-754-2170), or you can participate virtually either via live stream on the Basilica Heritage Foundation website (www.thebasilica.net) or the Basilica Parish website (www.thebasilica.church) or by viewing the celebration when it is posted on the Archdiocese’s website (www.rcsj.org). See more

OUR WINDOWS, OUR STORY Today is October 7, the Feast of the Holy Rosary. The window depicting Our Lady as Queen of the Holy Rosary in our Basilica-Cathedral is situated in the centre of the east transept, and was crafted by William Warrington in 1859. William Warrington is perhaps best known as Queen Victoria’s favourite glassmaker, and the best examples of his work are to be found in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The seven Warrington windows in our Basilica Cathedral, and tw...o additional Warrington’s next door at Presentation Convent, constitute the best example of Warrington’s work on this side of the Atlantic. This window was presented by the ladies of the Society of the Holy Rosary. The centrepiece of the window is the crowned Virgin Mary, holding a crowned Christ Child. At the top of the window we see St. Munchen (7th century), first bishop and patron saint of the city of Limerick (Bishop Mullock’s home town) and St. Aidan (6th century), first bishop of the Diocese of Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland. If these windows could talk, what a story they would tell, connecting our past and our present, and pointing the way to our future. They tell the stories of the saints and events that they depict; they also tell the stories of the community who chose the subjects, and commissioned the windows. These windows also give us glimpses into the remarkable stories of their makers. It is obvious that many of our magnificent window are in need of some tender loving care and skilled restoration. If you are interested in becoming part of the ongoing story of the Basilica by donating to our Stained Glass Window Restoration Project, contact John FitzGerald, Executive Director of the Basilica Heritage Foundation by e-mail at [email protected] Photo by Robert and Lynn Young, 2019.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Here are some tips

OUR WINDOWS, OUR STORY Today is October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Sr Francis is patron of ecology, and one of the co-patrons of our Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The beautiful window depicting St Francis is found at the clerestory level, in the eats transept. Crafted by Charles Leveque in Beauvais, France in 1885, it was donated in memory of Irish immigrant, politician and philanthropist Peter Brennan. Peter Brennan is buried in Belevedere Cemetery,... and his headstone tells us that he was "an expert bonesetter," and that he died "a centenarian and a celibate." Photo by Robert and Lynn Young, 2020. If these windows could talk, what a story they would tell, connecting our past and our present, and pointing the way to our future. They tell the stories of the saints and events that they depict; they also tell the stories of the community who chose the subjects, and commissioned the windows. These windows also give us glimpses into the remarkable stories of their makers. It is obvious that many of our magnificent window are in need of some tender loving care and skilled restoration. If you are interested in becoming part of the ongoing story of the Basilica by donating to our Stained Glass Window Restoration Project, contact John FitzGerald, Executive Director of the Basilica Heritage Foundation by e-mail at [email protected]