Even at the time that OLPH was founded in 1893, what was sought was a mission house with a church. But Bishop Loughlin. . . insisted that we [Redemptorists] take on parish responsibilities in the place where we would settle. The Redemptorist Provincial [Superior], Father Litz, went to Rome and finally got permission for a mission house, a church and a 'small parish.' Well, that's what it was in those days. The area was sparsely settled. But just in case. . . the Redemptorists had bought an entire city block the previous November. The cost was $40,000. Five thousand came from the [Redemptorist] St. Alphonsus community on Canal Street and West Broadway, and $20,000 from the [Redemptorist] Holy Redeemer Community on East Third Street. The territory of the parish was small, just a sliver of land from 54th Street on the North to 60th Street on the South and from Fort Hamilton Parkway on the East to the bay." (from the Centennial Journal, done in 1993).

On December 8th, 1893, the first parish Masses were celebrated in the wooden rectory, and 350 were present. A wooden frame church followed as the place of worship. There are two churches here now, Upper and Lower. For years the Lower awaited its crowning by the soaring Upper Church. The cornerstone of the Upper Church was laid in 1925. The Grammar School opened in 1903, with 449 pupils and seven Sisters of St. Joseph to teach them.

Why is OLPH called a basilica?

On Saturday, November 1, 1969, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church was inaugurated as a basilica. Bishop Francis J. Mugavero was the principal celebrant of the Mass. Father Joseph Manton, a native of the parish and a famous preacher, delivered the homily. This is most of it.

Two unusual distinctions bring themselves to our midst this morning, each of them all the way from Rome. Our church receives the rare title of Basilica, and our parish enjoys the almost equally rare distinction of a visit from the Superior General of all Redemptorists, the Most Reverend Tarcisius Amaral. We welcome warmly and we cherish each, but I am sure that Father General realizes that we have time to enthuse only about the first.

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help! How often you will hear that name after today! Remember then, that this extraordinary honor came all the way from the Tiber to the Narrows, from the Seven Hills of Rome to the little ridge that overlooks the bay, from the Vatican itself to your majestic temple of God. It is no small distinction. You might say that what a medal is to a soldier, what an honorary degree is to a famous alumnus, what the pennant of a flagship is to a vessel in the fleet, this is what the title "Basilica" is to a church.

You might say it, but you would not be saying nearly enough. Consider, for example, that across these broad United States there are more than one hundred and fifty cathedrals. In contrast, there are, as of this morning, only fifteen Basilicas. This makes you parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help members of a very exclusive club! How your forefathers would have marveled at this! How that little group of earnest faces who, almost fourscore years ago, looked up at the plain chalice lifted above the make-shift altar in that wooden house on Fifty-fourth Street, would be delighted to know that the small mustard-seed of their pioneering zeal has burst into this great and gorgeous flower! You have grown from a front parlor to a Basilica.

The traditional rubrics for an occasion like this state quite explicitly that there would be a simple sermon outlining the event and explaining the ceremony, as if to warn the preacher away from the ruffles and flourishes of oratory and nudge him to tell merely what is going on and why.

First then, the word "Basilica" as many of you perhaps have read in the advance publicity announcing this occasion, is a Greek term meaning the palace of a king. Basil means king, a Basilica is his palace. This made every Redemptorist who knew this church think of two things. He thought how appropriate that its glorious dome portrays Christ the King in colorful splendor! You might think it was waiting all these years to be recognized as a Basilica. And secondly, the Madonna after whom the church was names, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, is Greek in origin, and across it is written "Mother of God" in Greek letters.

According to a recent decree there are two kinds of Basilicas, patriarchal and minor. This is a minor Basilica. But do not let that dampen your pride, because there are only five patriarchal basilicas and they are all in Rome. In recent centuries (and the Catholic Church thinks in centuries) all the new Basilicas have been minor. So, of you hear the phrase "Minor Basilica" applied to this church, just remember it is still a major honor, a truly rare and extraordinary distinction.

Traditionally, a church, in order to rate the rank of Basilica, must meet three requirements. First it must soar up in impressive profile, a temple of regal grandeur. You have only to look up and look around at this church’s towering and radiant beauty to see this condition come alive. The little wooden house on Fifty-fourth Street was Bethlehem, but you, most generous parishioners, like the Three Kings of old brought your gifts, the polished marbles and the colorful mosaics, the many-splendored dome and the golden chalices and the rich vestments, to give the king of Kings this majestic palace, a residence so royal it can fittingly be called a Basilica.

The second requirement for a Basilica is that the church be the fireside, the spiritual hearth, of a large Catholic family, the sanctuary for a multitude of worshipers...

The third requirement for a Basilica is that there be venerated under the lofty arches some special treasure. Ours here, as everybody knows, is the shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and its well-known Wednesday devotions. For years upon years at that hallowed spot golden angels have climbed invisible Jacob’s ladders, carrying petitions up and bringing answers down, and proving that Mary is what the Basilica title proclaims, a Mother of Perpetual Help.

To balance its three requirements of imposing architecture, impressive crowds, and an important spiritual treasure, a Basilica is in turn granted three traditional emblems of honor. The first is called the Ombrellina. This is a scarlet and gold parasol, like that used by Emperors in the East...

To understand the symbolism of the Ombrellina we have to remember that only a Pope can designate a church a Basilica and, when he does so, that church becomes in a way his church. It is from then on a papal church. Ancient custom decrees that in such a papal church or Basilica, an ornate umbrella must always stand half-open as a symbol that the priests and people are eager to welcome His Holiness should he come to visit his church. In that happy event protocol prescribes that the Holy Father be escorted in with this colorful canopy held above him, to shield him from sun or rain or snow...

Opposite the Ombrellina on the other side of the sanctuary stands its slimmer, brother, the portable belfry. This, too, is purely ornamental, a tiny bell hanging in a carved gilded frame mounted on a tall staff. The miniature bell quaintly symbolizes the calling of the people to greet the approaching Pope—if he ever should approach... The red and gold of the Ombrellina may remind you of a Swiss guard, retired now, but on occasions proud to brush off his medals and march in a parade...

The third privilege of a Basilica is the right to display the papal insignia of the keys of St. Peter on the façade of the building and on its own coat of arms. That coat of arms in vivid colors should have a prominent place in the church. In humbler black and white it may be stamped on all parish documents, from baptismal certificates to graduation diplomas...

So much for the pageantry. But before we thank God in the Te Deum, may we thank you, the people of this parish, because it was you who reared this grand house of God and Shrine of Our Lady and made it such a thriving center of worship, a church so distinguished that it has won recognition even from Rome! It is to you and to the sturdy pioneers before you that this towering honor comes. The title of Basilica goes to the place, but the credit goes to the people. From now on you are an elite parish, chosen out of thousands...

May the Mother of Perpetual Help, the mother of us all, prompt us to repay this monumental honor with increased dedication and renewed devotion so that we may merit, as long as these walls shall stand, the blessing of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen