BUFFALO, N.Y. — As restoration work continues at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna, Rev. Msgr. David LiPuma shared the news that the national shrine is now officially on the national and state register of historic places.
"Everybody I think is kind of surprised because they thought we were already on these registers, but this is something we've been working on for the last few years," he said. "It's all the result of the centennial and realizing that there's so much more we can do in partnership now that will help us to continue to take care of these buildings both sides of the streets."
The designation is for the Basilica itself, plus 12 other buildings on the campus that Father Nelson Baker built. That includes six schools and the home of OLV Human Services.
"He did it because he wanted to take care of people. He wanted to take care of children, he wanted to take care of mothers, he wanted to take care of people of all walks of life," LiPuma said. "He wanted to make sure that they had a safe place to come and change their lives for the better."
Thousands of visitors of all faiths visit the Basilica every year. It's been undergoing a major facelift, as crews prepare for the conclusion of its centennial celebration.
"We're doing roof repair, roof replacement. Gutters, you name it. The whole infrastructure," LiPuma said. "We're going to continue on the inside. We finished the floors and the pews, but after the outer envelope is completed then we'll go in and do all the plaster work that needs to be done. We want for 2026 to have a glorious and grand celebration of the consecration that Father Baker did 100 years ago."