Basilica Tour

If you've ever visited campus, you know that Notre Dame has a slew of impressive buildings and beautiful views. However, few of these vistas are as iconic at the University's Main Building, also know as the Golden Dome, accompanied by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. While the group had the opportunity to visit the Main Building one of their first days on campus, they didn't explore the Basilica till a few weeks later. Some group members had attended mass on campus, and some had wandered independently through the impressive doors of the Basilica. Yet, it wasn't until Jeremy Dela Cruz, a seminarian at Notre Dame's Old College, provided a tour that the Brazilian teachers were able to get a full grasp of the rich history and significance of this religious site.

 

The Basilica, which replaced an earlier church that was erected by University founder Father Sorin in 1840, was built in 1870. The mother church for the Congregation of Holy Cross in the United States, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart houses the largest collection of French stained-glass of its kind in the world, and has become a beacon of religious tourism. It is the heart of the University of Notre Dame, and it's easy to understand why as one walks through its impressive arches and columns that line the wooden pews of this old church.

The group was also lucky enough to visit Notre Dame's Log Chapel, located near the Basilica. Although the original chapel burnt down, the Log Chapel is a memento of the earliest days of the University. Built in 1831, the original chapel was a headquarters for missionary activity in the area. The rebuilt chapel is used frequently for mass and offers a more interpersonal religious experience.

 

Special thanks to Jeremy Dela Cruz for the wonderful tour he provided for the Brazil group. Dela Cruz is in his third year of religious formation. Originally from California, Dela Cruz speaks Portuguese fluently and has spent time working in schools in Brazil. He is a member of Notre Dame's Brazil Club that was so welcoming and kind during the experience of the Brazilian teachers.