St. Michael's Basilica
Encyclopedia
The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, is located on a hill overlooking the Miramichi River
in the Province of New Brunswick
, Canada
. It is the dominant feature of the former Town of Chatham, New Brunswick
and one of the largest churches in Eastern Canada. It is now included within the new City of Miramichi
.
, is among the largest churches in Canada, east of Quebec City. The sandstone neo-Gothic structure was designed by the same architect (P. Keely) as Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ste. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, Rhode Island and the Church of the Gesu in Montreal. St. Michael's Basilica is 15 feet taller than Holy Name in Chicago, somewhat narrower and about the same length, Holy Name seats about 300 more people ( 1,520 vs 1,200). Construction on the cathedral started in 1903 and finished in 1921. Italian marble with veined panels was used throughout the interior of the nave
and the sacristy
.It is visible for miles especially as Chatham is approached from the north, across the Centennial Bridge spanning the Miramichi River.
is a testament to the faith of the Irish Catholics many of whom immigrated to New Brunswick in the Great Famine and were assisted to settle into their new homes by the Acadian
Roman Catholics of Chatham. As late as the 1980s the parish was getting large numbers of people attending daily mass during Lent
. The Church was one of the ways that the new Catholic immigrants of all ethnic origins maintained their unique identity.
When the Irish Catholics came to Canada, unlike their counterparts in the United States, they were barred from public office and the professions. They were required in the early days to tithe to the Church of England
. These barriers were lifted during the 19th century, but the sense remained of Irish Catholics as a minority who needed to band together to protect their interests and St. Michael's helped bring them all together. The parish served by St. Michael's had a long history of providing priests for the area and sending others to the foreign missions or to Western Canada. By 1975, however, vocations to the priesthood from Chatham and area had essentially dried up.
of a once extensive Diocese of Chatham covering the northern part of the Province. The Diocese was relocated to the French speaking town of Bathurst in 1938.
Notable features of the Cathedral are a Lady Chapel
to the west, a tall single spire (once illuminated by the Canadian Air Force because of the proximity of a fighter base) a green copper roof and a matching Bishop's Palace to the southeast. Its great bells, whether tolling a funeral, sounding the Angelus
or joyously ringing in Easter or Christmas have long been a feature of life in the town. A fine stand of linden
trees, planted by Bishop James Rogers
, stands to the east of the basilica, in front of the palace.
in 1936, the church became a pro-cathedral
, as the bishop now resided in Bathurst, a predominately French speaking community some 45 miles north. Many years later, because of its beauty and position in the life of the people of the area, it was designated a basilica
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
in the Province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is the dominant feature of the former Town of Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
and one of the largest churches in Eastern Canada. It is now included within the new City of Miramichi
Miramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
.
Design
St. Michael's Basilica in Miramichi, New BrunswickMiramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
, is among the largest churches in Canada, east of Quebec City. The sandstone neo-Gothic structure was designed by the same architect (P. Keely) as Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ste. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, Rhode Island and the Church of the Gesu in Montreal. St. Michael's Basilica is 15 feet taller than Holy Name in Chicago, somewhat narrower and about the same length, Holy Name seats about 300 more people ( 1,520 vs 1,200). Construction on the cathedral started in 1903 and finished in 1921. Italian marble with veined panels was used throughout the interior of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and the sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
.It is visible for miles especially as Chatham is approached from the north, across the Centennial Bridge spanning the Miramichi River.
Congregation
St.Michael's BasilicaBasilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
is a testament to the faith of the Irish Catholics many of whom immigrated to New Brunswick in the Great Famine and were assisted to settle into their new homes by the Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
Roman Catholics of Chatham. As late as the 1980s the parish was getting large numbers of people attending daily mass during Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
. The Church was one of the ways that the new Catholic immigrants of all ethnic origins maintained their unique identity.
When the Irish Catholics came to Canada, unlike their counterparts in the United States, they were barred from public office and the professions. They were required in the early days to tithe to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. These barriers were lifted during the 19th century, but the sense remained of Irish Catholics as a minority who needed to band together to protect their interests and St. Michael's helped bring them all together. The parish served by St. Michael's had a long history of providing priests for the area and sending others to the foreign missions or to Western Canada. By 1975, however, vocations to the priesthood from Chatham and area had essentially dried up.
Features
With an austere beauty and pleasing lines, the Basilica was built as the cathedralCathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of a once extensive Diocese of Chatham covering the northern part of the Province. The Diocese was relocated to the French speaking town of Bathurst in 1938.
Notable features of the Cathedral are a Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
to the west, a tall single spire (once illuminated by the Canadian Air Force because of the proximity of a fighter base) a green copper roof and a matching Bishop's Palace to the southeast. Its great bells, whether tolling a funeral, sounding the Angelus
Angelus
The Angelus is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ The Angelus (Latin for "angel") is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus...
or joyously ringing in Easter or Christmas have long been a feature of life in the town. A fine stand of linden
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
trees, planted by Bishop James Rogers
James Rogers (bishop)
James Rogers was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and the 1st Bishop of Chatham, New Brunswick from 1860 to 1902.Rogers was born in Mount Charles, Ireland and emigrated with his family to Canada in 1831...
, stands to the east of the basilica, in front of the palace.
Designation
The church is somewhat unique in that it started as the cathedral of the Diocese of Chatham. When that diocese became the Diocese of BathurstRoman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst (Canada)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Moncton. It was renamed on 13 March 1938...
in 1936, the church became a pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
, as the bishop now resided in Bathurst, a predominately French speaking community some 45 miles north. Many years later, because of its beauty and position in the life of the people of the area, it was designated a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
Pastors
List of parish priests since the construction of the Basilica:- Monsignor Michael O'Keefe................1904-1934 died in office; very much the old school Irish priest
- Reverend Burns........... ..................1934-1946 died in office; a quiet man
- Reverend William J. Wallace............. 1946-1961; Chatham native who lived from 1899 to 1985. Lou Gehrig's Disease for last 26 years of his life
- Reverend Lynn McFadden..................1961-1975 deceased; formerly rectorRectorThe word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Thomas UniversitySt. Thomas University (New Brunswick)St. Thomas University is jointly a public and Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It offers degrees exclusively at the undergraduate level for approximately 3,000 students in the liberal arts, humanities, journalism, education, and social work....
when in Chatham. Originally from Bouctouche, New Brunswick - Reverend Bernard M.Broderick...........1975-1982 died 2006, active until close to the end; worked in the cooperative movement when younger. Originally from Kedgwick River, New Brunswick.
- Reverend Peter Bagley......................1982-1988 active ministry elsewhere
- Reverend Leon Creamer.....................1988-1993 active, semi retired; Miramichi native
- Reverend Leo Sullivan........................active ministry elsewhere; Chatham born
- Reverend Joseph Daley..................... 1993-1996 active ministry in Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest TerritoriesThe Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
; originally from Barnaby River - Reverend Paul Riley.......................1996-1999, originally of Saint Stephen, New Brunswick
- Reverend John Fraser...................... 1999- present
External links
- In The Wake of Dark Passage History of the Irish in New Brunswick