Restoration of San Antonio’s Basilica: Summer 2021
After nearly a year of having our new community of Discalced Carmelite friars in place here at the Basilica, I am pleased to be able to offer you an update on our restoration efforts:
Since hiring Douglas Architects of San Antonio in October of 2020, a lot of work has been done “behind the scenes” in our restoration project. The friars have been working closely with Douglas Architects, Project Control of Texas (our project managers), various engineering firms, historical preservation experts, and a capital campaign consultant to develop a master plan for the Basilica Complex that will help us to realize our mission: to seek union with Jesus Christ and to make Him known and loved in the spirit of St. Thérèse and the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel.
To this end, we have been working to determine how best to develop our current facilities to meet the needs of our mission – how to best serve pilgrims to the shrine, our parishioners, and of all those served by the friars and the Basilica. Drawing upon all our previous investigations and steps taken in the past, we are developing a plan to better make our buildings, grounds, and the Basilica itself, a place to encounter God and to be inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower.
This work involves planning for “brick and mortar” construction and renovation, as well as for developing landscaping that will beautify our grounds and make them more conducive to contemplation and prayer. It has also involved collaboration between the friars, parishioners, and the Secular Carmelites, to develop programs at the Basilica which will serve the spiritual needs and aspirations of those who wish to know and love Jesus as St. Thérèse did and she teaches us to do.
It is through the Basilica’s generous donors from our 2019 Cornerstone for the Future Gala, as well as other donors, grants from various foundations and Bexar County, that we have been able to fund this planning work. We hope to unveil our master plan for the Basilica campus this summer and to soon begin a multi-pronged capital campaign to bring this plan to fruition.
Stay tuned!
In the meantime, we ask for your continued prayers for our efforts to restore St. Thérèse’s beautiful shrine and to continue to serve all those inspired by her life and teachings. May God’s blessing be with you all, and may the prayers of St. Thérèse accompany you each day.
Fraternally,
Fr. Gregory Ross, OCD
Pastor and Rector
To learn more about the Restoration Project contact 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.