About Our Church

History Of Our Church

Founded in 1857 by Bishop (now Saint) John Neumann, our parish has served the Lord for 157 years. Although the original church was built in 1857, the present Gothic church building dates from 1900. Eighteen successive pastors have led us and in 1974, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops designated our parish church as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A portrait of our Blessed Mother, as she appeared to the Aztec Indian, Juan Diego, has been placed over a side altar and a Mass in her honor is celebrated each year on or near December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

To learn more about our church, please go to our History