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Hamilton Bishop Crosby standis in front of the ombrellino, a historic piece of papal regalia that would shield the Pope from the sun should he visit the church — at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton. The church was formally recognized as a minor basilica with a celebration June 23.
Hamilton Bishop Crosby standis in front of the ombrellino, a historic piece of papal regalia that would shield the Pope from the sun should he visit the church — at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton. The church was formally recognized as a minor basilica with a celebration June 23. Photo courtesy of the diocese of Hamilton

Hamilton cathedral recognized as minor basilica — eight decades later

By  Tony Gosgnach, Catholic Register Special
  • July 2, 2013

HAMILTON, ONT. - Although the wheels of administration are known to often turn slowly at the Vatican, all involved acknowledge that it was a particularly long process when, more than 80 years after the subject was first broached, the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton finally received its designation as a minor basilica on Feb. 25 this year.

Hamilton Bishop Douglas Crosby celebrated a Mass of recognition of the new designation on June 23.

It was on June 6, 1931 that the fifth bishop of Hamilton, John T. McNally, had an audience with Pope Pius XI and sought to name the building which had begun being constructed that year “the Basilica of Christ the King.” He is said to have longed to construct a noble church that would signify God’s grace and attract the faithful to a greater devotion to Christ.

The designation seemed to be a fait accompli, with Franz Mayer and Co. of Munich, Germany, being commissioned to produce a stained glass window depicting Pius XI giving such permission to McNally. The window was installed at the back of the choir loft and remains there to this day.

However, for reasons still unclear, a decree was never issued and the process languished for several decades, being revived unsuccessfully for a time by Bishop Paul Reding. The outgoing rector of the cathedral, Msgr. Edward House, brought up the matter again more recently and then personally delivered the required paperwork, signed by Crosby, to the Congregation for Divine Worship. That culminated in the official designation finally being issued shortly thereafter by then-Pope Benedict XVI.

“It had been known really by parishioners and people throughout Hamilton as ‘the basilica’ for years and years. Now we know that is formally correct,” said Crosby.

“It was a beautiful day for the parishioners and it was a joyful event for the diocese,” he said of the Mass. “I was grateful we finally brought to completion the hope of Bishop McNally from 1931.”

The designation is basically an honorary one, said Crosby, adding that it recognizes churches having a particular importance for liturgical and pastoral life and a particular link to the Church and the Pope. To emphasize that communion with the Pope, the basilica is to celebrate with particular care the Feast of the Chair of Peter on Feb. 22, the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul on June 29 and the anniversary of the current Pope’s election or inauguration.

The status of minor basilica bestows three main privileges on the cathedral. An “ombrellino,” a historic piece of papal regalia that would shield the Pope from the sun should he visit the church, has been erected. It is embroidered with the coats of arms of Benedict XVI, the diocese of Hamilton and the new basilica itself.

The “tintinnabulum” is a bell that would be carried in a procession ahead of the clergy should the Pope celebrate Mass in the basilica. And the “mozetta” is a special cape that the rector of the basilica may wear.

The cathedral joins 21 other churches across Canada, including Notre Dame de Quebec Cathedral in Quebec City (the first basilica in North America), the Oratory of St. Joseph of Mont-Royal in Montreal and St. Paul’s Basilica in Toronto, in the category of minor basilicas.

“This cathedral basilica is a beacon in the City of Hamilton, made even more so by the light placed in the bell tower last year,” said Crosby during his homily at the June 23 Mass, in a cathedral filled to capacity. “It is a gathering place, a home, a place of worship for parishioners, for the entire diocese and for people of all creeds or none, anyone who might stop in here as pilgrims on this journey of life.”

He added the basilica designation is an honour the church has deserved from its earliest days and he paid particular tribute to House for helping bring it about.

“We are honoured by this designation. We are all being made into God’s holy people — a people who know Him and love Him and serve Him and never more than when we attend to the least brother or sister of His.”

(Gosgnach is a freelance writer in Hamilton, Ont.)

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