St Finnan's Designated a Minor Basilica by Rome

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall was recently informed that St. Finnan’s Parish, formerly the Cathedral for the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, has been designated a minor basilica by Pope Francis. St. Finnan’s becomes only the third basilica in the Archdiocese, the other two being Notre-Dame Basilica Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Basilica, both located in downtown Ottawa. 

A basilica is a church that has been given a special designation by the Pope. There are four major basilicas in the world, all located in Rome, and just over 1,800 minor basilicas located throughout the world. As a point of reference, there are more than 221,000 Catholic churches in the world. 

With this designation, St. Finnan’s joins the ranks of such prominent minor basilicas as Our Lady of  Guadalupe in Mexico, St. Francis of Assisi in Italy and Notre-Dame in Paris.

Click here to read the article by Todd Hambleton of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder.

What is a basilica?
Basilica
The word “basilica” is Latin, and has three distinct meanings.

In the times of Ancient Rome, a basilica was essentially a city hall.

When the Roman Empire adopted Christianity, it became common for major church buildings to be con-structed with the same architectural plan* as the basilicas of the past.

Lastly, “basilica” is also used as an honorary title that is bestowed upon a Roman Catholic church. It is an im-portant Catholic church that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope. Once the title is bestowed upon a basilica, it may never be taken away.

*Today, “basilica” is still used in an architectural sense to describe rectangular buildings with a central nave and aisles, typically with a high transept from which an apse projects.

Major Basilica
There are four major basilicas, all located in Rome and known as the four great papal churches of Rome. They are St. Peter’s, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Minor Basilica
Just over 1,800 of the more than 221,000 Catholic churches are minor basilicas. There are several privileges that go with the status of minor basilica. They include a certain precedence before other churches, the right of the conopaeum, the tintinnabulum (a small bell) and the right to display the papal symbol (the crossed keys of St. Peter.)

The conopaeum is an historic piece of the papal regalia and insignia, once used on a daily basis to provide shade for the pope. Today it is a symbol of the Catholic Church and the authority of the pope over it. It is found in the contemporary Church at all the basilicas throughout the world, placed prominently at the right of their main altars.

Chronology of Important Dates in the History of St. Finnan’s
1832    
The Right Reverend Alexander Macdonell, Bishop of Upper Canada, agrees to establish a Mission church in Priest’s Mills (the area that would late become Alexandria.) As a Mission church it did not have full status as a parish church and it would be supported by St. Raphael’s.
 
1833 
On December 25, 1833, the Catholic faithful of Priest’s Mills celebrate Mass in their new church.
 
1840 
St. Finnan’s is raised to the status of Parish church.
 
1879 
Fr. Alexander Macdonell is named the new pastor of St. Finnan’s Parish. One of his first tasks is to oversee the construction of new church building given the growing population of the area.
 
1883 
On September 22, 1883, the $35,000 contract for the building of the new church is awarded to Messrs. John R. Chisholm & Sons of Lochiel. Stone was brought in from the Ottawa area by floating it down the Ottawa river on barges to Hawkesbury. From Hawkesbury it was conveyed by wagon and sleigh to Alexandria.
 
1885 
The new church is dedicated to the Worship of God by Bishop James Cleary on March 15, 1885.
 
1890 
In early 1890 (January 23rd), Rome announces the establishment of the Diocese of Alexandria. On October 28, 1890, Fr. Alexander Macdonell is ordained in St. Finnan’s as the first bishop of this new diocese. In addition, he chooses St. Finnan’s as his Cathedral.
 
1903
The statute of St. Finnan, which was purchased by the League of the Sacred Heart, is raised to its niche over the front entrance of the Cathedral.
 
1907 
A new pipe organ is installed, a gift of Archie M. Chisholm, mining magnate of Duluth, Minnesota, and native of the Alexandria area.
 
1909 
A Montreal firm is commissioned by the Right Reverend William Macdonell to supply a white marble altar to replace the original wooden altar. The new altar is consecrated on January 15, 1909.

1910 
Bishop Rosario Brodeur hires Renard Panzironi to completely redecorate the interior of the church.
 
1965 
Following changes effected by the Second Vatican Council, Bishop Brodeur, his clergy and the laity celebrate Mass at the Cathedral in the vernacular for the first time on January 14, 1965.
 
1983 
In accordance with directives from Rome, the sanctuary of the Cathedral is to be renovated and updated. Changes will include removing the canopy above the bishop’s chair.
Parishioners vote against the proposed changes for now.
 
2012
On a beautiful Labour Day weekend, September 2, 2012, Bishop Marcel Damphousse is ordained as the 8th bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall. This is the first episcopal ordination of a bishop at St. Finnan’s Cathedral in 106 years.

2020
On May 6, 2020, Pope Francis decrees that the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall and the Archdiocese of Ottawa are to be amalgamated. With this change St. Finnan’s is returned to the status of parish church.
 
2021
On February 19, 2021 Cardinal Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and th e Discipline of the Sacraments, on behalf of Pope Francis signs a decree raising St. Finnan’s to the status of Minor Basilica. The decree is officially read to the people of Alexandria by Archbishop Marcel Damphousse on April 11, 2021, Divine Mercy Sunday.