Restoration of San Antonio’s Basilica: Winter 2021
Greetings in our Lord Jesus Christ!
As the year begins to wind down, we give thanks to God for the many ways He has continued to bless our community, even in the midst of the trials our families, nation, and world have been experiencing. May the coming year bring Christ’s healing to our community and to our world.
Working with Douglas Architects, Post Oak Preservation, and Project Control of Texas, we have made much progress in our Basilica restoration process during 2021. With your loving support, donations, and prayers the friars have adopted a master plan for the Basilica, monastery, and the entire campus. The adoption of this master plan is an important step towards the realization of the Basilica’s restoration.
After completing the engineering studies, programming, and master planning, we are now moving into the next important step. We are depending on your faithful support to help us begin the design phase. Moving forward in design will provide us with documents for Phase One, which involves stabilizing the Basilica and monastery, as well as restoring the interior of the Basilica.
Our progress during 2021 would not have been possible without your generous support of our efforts. We still need your help! Please consider supporting our work towards the restoration of this National Shrine of our beloved Little Flower of Jesus. By your contribution, you can form part of the “army of little souls” St. Thérèse desired to lead in her Little Way to make God’s merciful love known and loved to the four corners of the world. This is the mission we strive to continue at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower.
I ask you now to make this mission your own as well. As we complete our 95th year as a parish community, please reflect with us on the relevance of Thérèse’s message, which is still seen today. Notably, even UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, is preparing to mark the 150th anniversary of her birth, recognizing the significance of St. Thérèse and planning to highlight her during 2022/2023. Your gift towards the restoration of Little Flower Basilica will help us spread devotion to this remarkable woman of faith whose life still promotes the values of peace and culture.
May God’s blessing be with you and all your loved ones. You are remembered daily in the prayers of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of San Antonio.
Fr. Gregory Ross, OCD
Pastor and Rector
To learn more about the Restoration Project contact executive director, Susana Cantu: scantu@littleflowerbasilica.org
You can help preserve Little Flower Basilica for another hundred years and know future generations will experience the beauty of Carmel. Support the Restoration Project by clicking here.