#154 Book "The Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul"

A yearlong, weekly series produced by the Sun Journal newspaper in Lewiston that focused on the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston is now available in a new book.

The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is a 112-page book that features dozens of stories on the basilica’s history, mysteries, and place in the community. The stories appeared in the Sun Journal between November of 2016 and October of 2017. The book also features additional unpublished stories and includes nearly 200 glossy photographs of the basilica. The book’s foreword was written by Bishop Robert P. Deeley.

The book is described as a celebration of Lewiston’s glorious ‘lunch pail’ church and the determined faithful who made it a reality. Since 1938, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul has stood as an architectural wonder and a testament to the faith and sacrifice of the French-Canadian immigrants who ensured its completion. It was raised to the status of a “basilica” by the Vatican in 2004. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, it is one of less than 60 churches in the U.S. to have received the distinction of basilica.

“I offer my sincere thanks to the many people who researched the stories and offered reflections in the book,” said Bishop Deeley. “This book chronicles an important part of our past and describes a community spirit that will carry the Catholic faith into Lewiston’s future.”