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History of the Basilica
2007 On Tuesday, February 20 – Mardi Gras – the first Mass in the new Lower Chapel was celebrated at 7:00 pm. An “Open House” and celebration on the occasion of the return of the lower church to parish use was held. It made 100 years from the time the first Mass in the lower church was celebrated.
2005 Official celebration of the conferral of the title of Basilica on May 22, 2005. Basilica Celebration Events included concerts, festive liturgies and other special events, May 18 – May 22, 2005.
2004 Title of Minor Basilica conferred by Holy See on October 4, 2004.
2002 Dedication of the new altar, June 9, 2002. Campaign for renovations of the lower church started.
1991 Restoration of the upper church started. Completed in 2002.
1986 The Dominicans left after 105 years of service. Administration of the parish returned to the Diocese of Portland.
1983 Saints Peter and Paul church placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Federal Department of the Interior on July 14, 1983. Second largest church in New England.
1938 Dedication of the Saints Peter and Paul church on October 23, 1938.
1936 The Upper church of Saints Peter and Paul was completed on July 18, 1936.
1933 Diocese of Portland give permission to finish the Upper church.
1907 The parish growth was so rapid the Diocese of Portland asked the parish to subdivide the formation of Saint Mary's parish and again in 1923 for the formation of Holy Cross and Holy Family parishes. Each time, Saints Peter and Paul's building fund was also split.
1906 The basement of the new church completed in December 1906.
1905 The first Saint Peter's church was demolished. The structure was too small to accommodate the nearly 10,000 parishioners.
1902 Saints Peter and Paul parish subdivided to form Saint Louis parish in Auburn.
1899 The Dominicans published their Album Historique in which they referred to the parish as S. Pierre S. Paul de Lewiston, Maine.
1881 Dominican Fathers of Lille, France and the Province of Canada took over the administration of the parish.
1873 Dedication mass for Saint Peter's church.
1872 Cornerstone of Saint Peter's church was laid.
1871 Saint Joseph's Chapel overcrowded.
1870 French congregation moved from the basement of Saint Joseph's church to Saint John, a storefront chapel. The first mass of the new French parish at Saint John's was celebrated on July 2, 1870.
1869 Basement of Saint Joseph's church unable to accommodate the 1,000 Canadians.
1857 Diocese of Portland sent a French speaking priest to serve the French Catholics in the basement of Saint Joseph's church.
1850 In the late 1850s, French-speaking Canadians arrived daily into Lewiston
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