Victoria community celebrates ‘Basilica of the High Plains’

Bishop Edward Weisenburger addresses parishioners at Victoria's St. Fidelis Basilica celebratory mass Saturday. — Bishop Edward Weisenburger addresses parishioners at Victoria’s St. Fidelis Basilica celebratory mass Saturday.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

VICTORIA — Hundreds gathered at the Basilica of St. Fidelis on Saturday morning to celebrate their faith and the recent declaration from the Vatican naming the historic church the first minor basilica in Kansas and the 78th in the United States.

Bishop Edward Weisenburger of the Salina Diocese told parishioners St. Fidelis was erected in 1911, “stone upon stone, love upon love.”

“We find ourselves today standing in the footsteps of those noble, good, for the most part, German-speaking immigrants, who loved God and loved his church well enough that they would build what has become a legacy,” Weisenburger said.

The Knights of Columbus line the aisle as the Bishop and priests enter St. Fidelis Basilica. — The Knights of Columbus line the aisle as the Bishop and priests enter the Basilica of St. Fidelis.

Galen Schmidtberger, Victoria, said he was there to honor those before him for their faith and dedication in building the historic basilica.

“The most important thing this means to me is just to remember my grandfather and grandmother,” Schmidtberger said looking toward the sky, “and everybody of course in the parish — their grandmothers and grandfathers — who dedicated all their time, all their work, to build a beautiful church in times when it was very very difficult.”

Former St. Fidelis pastor, Capuchin Father Jeff Ernst, traveled from Lawrence, to attend the celebration and received applause during the Mass for starting the minor basilica application process last August.

According to current Basilica of St. Fidelis pastor, Father John Schmeidler, the application process involves lots of paperwork and pictures to prove a church meets the requirements to be named a minor basilica.

The Vatican considers such details as a church’s architecture, artwork, historical importance and parishioner participation before bestowing a church as a minor basilica.

St. Fedelis Balisica celebration Saturday morning. On the bottom right hand corner is the red and gold umbraculum, a papal symbol meaning a church has been elevated to a basilica. — On the bottom right hand corner is a red and gold Umbraculum setting on a table, a papal symbol meaning a church has been elevated to a basilica.

Schmeidler said the day was a special one.

“This day is a celebration of faith. It just helps us to know those who came before us and how devoted they were in making sure we have a beautiful place to worship and be in God’s presence,” he said.