Father Hathaway Introduces and Blesses the Basilica’s New Museum
During the evening of Sept. 12, 2024, the Basilica of Saint Mary held an open house for invited guests to get a sneak peak of the Basilica’s new museum before the grand opening to the wider parish family on Sept. 15 after all the Masses.
In the video below, Virginia Nyce, the Basilica’s archival manager, expresses her appreciation for all the parishioners who helped collect and preserve the history of the Basilica. Father Edward Hathaway, the Basilica’s rector, expressed his gratitude, as well as the importance of Catholic history being shared to the wider community.
Father Hathaway also blessed the museum, with the help of Father Peter Clem, one of the parish’s parochial vicars, and he also cut a ribbon as a symbolic way to show that the museum was now officially open. The video below illustrates all that:
The Basilica museum is being housed in the Saint Joseph Room of the Lyceum Building, at 313 Duke Street. Starting on Sept. 16, 2024, it will be open during parish office hours: Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Note: the Saint Joseph Room will continue to be used for parish and apostolate functions; call or visit the parish office to learn of any schedule changes.)
The museum’s permanent exhibit narrates through word, image and object the history of the Basilica, beginning with the earliest experiences of Catholics in the New World. It will allow us to share the rich history of our church, and to make available the various historic objects belonging to the parish. The Basilica hopes to grow access and availability to our history with rotating temporary exhibits and with a museum website that offers more in-depth information. The current temporary exhibit shares about the persecution of Catholics in England during the time of King Henry VIII.
To learn more about the museum, to share parish-related photos, written or produced artifacts, or to schedule a group tour of the museum and the church, please contact Virginia Nyce at vnyce@stmaryoldtown.org.
