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| (Observer photos/www.thebasilica.org) |
Mass times are Sundays, 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon; Saturdays, 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.; Wednesday, noon.
Why to go: St. Josaphat Parish began in 1888 as an offshoot of Saint Stanislaus Parish and became the largest Polish parish in Wisconsin. The Poles were Milwaukee’s second largest immigrant group after Germans, only some of whom were Catholic. The first St. Josaphat Church burned to the ground in 1889 and the second soon proved too small. The community broke ground for a new church in 1896 and finished it in 1901.
The architect designed a church that was meant to be a smaller version of St. Peter’s in Rome, with a cross-shaped floor plan and huge central dome.
The plans were nearly complete when Father Wilhelm Grutza, the pastor, learned the Chicago Post Office and Custom House needed to be torn down. He bought it for $20,000. The Chicago building was dismantled and the salvaged material brought to Milwaukee in 500 railroad flatcars.
When it was finished, the basilical had a dome that in the U.S. was second in size only to the capital in Washington, D.C.
Despite using salvaged materials, cost overruns left the parish in debt. In 1910, at the request of the archdiocese, the Conventual Franciscan Friars took over administration of the parish, and the debt was retired in 1925.
Amenities: The basilica and visitor center are open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for visits and tours. There is also a tour every Sunday following the 10 a.m. Mass.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The basilica welcomes families.
Info: Address — The Basilica of St. Josaphat, 2333 S. Sixth St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
Phone — 414/645-5623 \
Website — www.thebasilica.org
— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story.
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org
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