St. Francis Xavier Basilica (Dyersville, Iowa)

St. Francis Xavier Basilica (Dyersville, Iowa)

"Foreseeing the need for a much larger church, Father Kortenkamp worked with his assistant, Father Joseph Brinkmann, to plan and construct the present Gothic style church with twin spires towering over 200 feet, until recent years the largest church in the state. Three months after Father Kortenkamp’s death, the church was dedicated in 1889. In 1950 a north entrance was added and the church was consecrated in 1955. When Cardinal Konrad von Preysing of Berlin visited Dyersville to bless a school site in 1947, he was so impressed with the huge, stately Gothic church and the almost total Catholic population, that he said, “How wonderfully appropriate it would be, if this lovely church could be raised to a basilica.” Pope Pius XII granted the request in 1956. The Basilica of Saint Francis Xavier is one of 32 basilicas in the United States."

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Dyersville, Parish Profile #42, The Witness, September 27, 1987.

The Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.

Burback, Emily. Burns, Daniel. Gibson, Michael. Oberfoell, Carol. Waldmeir, Helen. Waldmeir, John.

Various primary and secondary sources.

English.

Loras College
Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"

Ca. 1837/1838-
History of the parish over the span of 181 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.

25th Anniversary of the Basilica (2 documents)
25th Anniversary Mass of Pope John Paul II
Annual Guide (1 document)
Buildings of Iowa (1993) (2 documents)
Centennial (2 booklets)
Dyersville Centennial Official History and Program (1 document)
History (9 documents)
Holy Ordination (3 document)
Hymn and Novena booklet (1 document)
Inauguration Program 1956 (3 documents)
Mission Cards (1 document)
News Release (1 document)
Pastor cards (1 collection)
Photographs (7 documents)
Polka Mass (2 documents)
Renewal/Mission (1 document)
Steeples (1 document)

Bandy, Judith. “Volunteers pitch in at Dyersville basilica.” The Witness, June 22, 2008.

“Francis Xavier, Dyersville dedicates its new addition,” The Witness, June 8, 2008.

Kueter, Dale. “Latin Mass draws 250 regulars,” Cedar Rapids: The Gazette, 1996.

Jerde, Lyn. “Old rite: Catholics celebrate Trindentine Mass,” Dubuque: Telegraph Herald, 1996.

Schmidt, Jeremy. “Peace and Happiness Found at the Basilica,” Herald of Truth, Vol. 1. Issue 1. January, 1997.