From the Archives – Tabernacle Doors, c. 1895-1920

Displayed in our new Basilica of Saint Mary Museum are two beautiful bronze-and-marble tabernacle doors that once adorned ornate side altars in the church sanctuary.

On the northern side of the altar of sacrifice (main altar) stood a smaller altar installed under the pastorate of Father Louis J. Smet (1915-1927). It supported the statue of Saint Joseph, found in the sanctuary today. This side altar’s tabernacle door bears a large cross. The second side altar, on the southern side of the main altar, was donated by the Young Men’s Sodality in 1895, in memory of Father Denis J. O’Kane, S.J., the last Jesuit pastor of the parish (1872-1891). It held the statue of the Mary as the Immaculate Conception, also still displayed in the Basilica sanctury. The door from this side altar’s tabernacle is decorated with a styled IHS monogram, symbol of the Jesuit order. Both side altars were removed in the 1970s; their tabernacle doors were found stored in the Lyceum basement before being installed in the museum.

See these and other historic artifacts when you visit The Basilica of Saint Mary Museum at 313 Duke Street (use the Parish Office entrance on right side of the building). The museum is open Monday — Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on days the parish office is closed.

— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series. An archive of the features is located here.