There are few words that adequately describe the wonders of Niagara Falls. The power and majesty of the falls are a clear and earthly manifestation of God’s great glory, and they have been attracting visitors to this region for decades.
It is perhaps no small coincidence that the first “tourist” to the region was a Belgian monk, Father Louis Hennepin, who documented the falls in the 17th century. While the falls still appear largely the same as they did to Father Hennepin hundreds of years ago, this region of western New York has since been touched by many other acts of God’s good grace over the last 200 years, boasting two magnificent shrines honoring Our Lady and the parish where St. John Neumann, the first American male to be canonized, served as pastor for four years.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls — long known as the “honeymoon capital of the world” — is certainly one of the most awe-inspiring sites in all of the United States. The rush and sheer natural splendor of the falls is one of the most magnificent reflections of God’s beauty and majesty. There are so many different ways to experience the falls — from riding the “Maid of the Mist,” traversing the wooden walkways known as the “Cave of the Winds,” journeying behind the falls, or viewing them from on high — either through the observation deck of the Skylon Tower, the Sky Wheel, the many elevated restaurants overlooking the falls, or even a helicopter ride over them. In addition, both the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls are chock-full of family-oriented attractions sure to please the little ones, from the unique funhouses and museums of Clifton Hill to the Aquarium of Niagara and the Butterfly Conservatory.
National Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux, Niagara Falls, Canada
Amid the fun and excitement of Niagara Falls is a hidden Catholic gem: a beautiful Carmelite convent made of stone situated on the cliffside just beyond the Horseshoe Falls. You will need your passport, as it is on the Canadian side, but it is well worth the trip across the border. The convent’s traditional chapel is open to the public and inside is the National Shrine to St. Therese of Lisieux, with a precious reliquary displaying relics of the “Little Flower” available for veneration. The 12-acre grounds are also nice to explore, and the convent has a gift shop on site.
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Leaving Niagara Falls, N.Y., it is about 20 minutes to Youngstown, where one of the most magnificent Marian shrines in the eastern United States is located: the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.
The shrine’s grounds, chapels and church re-tell the miraculous story of the apparition of Our Lady to the three shepherd children of Fatima in 1917, through various statues and a replica of the first chapel built in Fatima at the site of the apparition. Operated by the Barnabite Fathers and established in 1963, the shrine’s extensive grounds offer numerous options for prayer and reflection, including a large pool designed in the shape of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, lined by a giant rosary (one of the largest outdoor rosaries in the world) and the “Avenue of Saints,” lined with over 100 life-size statues.
The basilica church consists of a large plexiglass dome with an image of the northern hemisphere painted on it. Visitors can climb to the top of the dome, underneath the large 13-foot statue of Our Lady of Fatima for panoramic views over the shrine. The interior of the basilica includes a side chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration and a separate chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the statue in this chapel was hand-carved in Fatima and blessed by the Bishop of Fatima.
The shrine is located in Youngstown, N.Y., which is also home of the historic Old Fort Niagara. This is a preserved fortress, originally built by the French, dating back more than 300 years. It also played a significant role during the War of 1812. It offers a step back in time to life in an old garrison, with a wonderful living history program and well-preserved 18th-century military buildings.
The town of Lewiston is less than five minutes away and also has a well-preserved main street and some interesting attractions of its own, including the opportunity to visit the New York Power Authority’s Niagara Power Vista, with fascinating exhibits and interactive attractions at one of the largest hydroelectric powerplants in the world.
National Basilica of Our Lady of Victory
The other grand Marian shrine in the region is the National Basilica of Our Lady of Victory, located about 30 minutes south of Niagara Falls in the southern suburbs of Buffalo.
The basilica was built to rival many of the great churches of Europe. It is one of the most ornate European-style churches in the United States today, with its bronze doors, a nine-foot marble statue of Mary, and a domed altar with mosaics depicting seminal events in the life of Our Lady. The basilica was built over the site of an earlier church which was destroyed by fire in 1916.
The pastor at the time, Venerable Father Nelson Baker, was committed to rebuilding the parish with this grand basilica as a way to pay tribute to Our Lady of Victory. He started out with no funds, but was somehow able to bring the best artisans and suppliers together to build this magnificent work of art in Lackawanna, having the basilica completed by 1925 and fully paid off.
Father Baker developed a devotion to Our Lady of Victory after visiting the famous shrine in Paris. This devotion originated in medieval France, when King Louis XIII credited Our Lady’s intercession with unifying his country during a series of three uprisings initiated by the minority French Protestants. In the 19th century, this devotion was given universal attention through the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, who credited Our Lady of Victory with the healing of her childhood illness.
In addition to his work building this splendid church, Father Baker was renowned for his charitable efforts among the city’s orphans, unwed mothers and many others struggling to make ends meet in turn-of-the-century Buffalo, even drilling for natural gas that led to a well used to heat the homes of 50 nearby families in need. His cause for canonization is being investigated and visitors are able to pray at his tomb and visit a museum on his life at the basilica.
For football fans visiting the basilica, take note that Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park — the home of the Buffalo Bills — is less than eight miles south of the church.
Buffalo
Buffalo — the “city of good neighbors” — serves as a convenient gateway to Niagara Falls. It is New York’s second city, with a strong Catholic heritage from the Polish, Italian, German and Irish immigrants who settled the city to work in the region’s steel and grain mills. There are many sights and sounds in this all-American city to experience. You can also try Buffalo’s many unique culinary treats that range from sampling the original Buffalo Wing at the Anchor Bar to Buffalo-style pizza, sponge candy, charcoal broiled hot dogs and “Beef on Weck” sandwiches.
Within downtown Buffalo, the main attraction for families revolves around the city’s riverfront. Located at the foot of Main Street is the revitalized waterfront district Canalside, which was once the terminus of the Erie Canal. Here you can rent kayaks or water bikes and go skating or ice-biking in the winter months. Adjoining Canalside is the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, with two decommissioned World War II-era battleships and a submarine that can be toured, in addition to various aircraft and armored vehicles.
Not to be overlooked in this district is the interactive and entertaining Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Children’s Museum. Further up the banks of the Buffalo River is the newly rehabilitated RiverWorks, an old industrial complex now housing an arcade, Ferris Wheel, rock climbing and even a zip line strung between old grain elevators.
While in the downtown core, be sure to visit St. Anthony of Padua Church, located just behind the historic Buffalo City Hall. The church was founded by the Scalabrini Fathers in 1891 and boasts a baroque interior lined with statues of Italian saints donated by the early Italian immigrants to the city. This was long considered the mother church of the Italian community in western New York and the great American missionary and patroness of immigrants, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, taught at this church while she was in Buffalo.
In the northeastern part of the city are two popular attractions: the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historical Site. This is where President Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. It is set in a nice neighborhood close to the hospital campus and is easily accessible off of Main Street.
The northern and eastern suburbs
In Tonawanda, just north of Buffalo off of I-290, is the Church of St. John the Baptist; the Redemptorist missionary St. John Neumann was the church’s first resident pastor in 1836, when he was stationed in western New York to minister to the rapidly growing frontier community that had been opened up by the construction of the Erie Canal that connected the Great Lakes to Manhattan. He remained here until 1840, travelling widely across the region. Visitors to the church can visit the museum and shrine to St. John Neumann.
A few miles south of the church, in Delaware Park, is the Buffalo Zoo. Also in the park is the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Buffalo History Museum. To the north of Tonawanda, on Grand Island, is the Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World. This is a smaller and family-oriented amusement park, which is ideal for younger children.
Finally, to the east of Buffalo, just off of Interstate 90 in Cheektowaga, is the Church of St. John Gualbert. The church houses the diocesan Shrine of the Holy Relics of the Saints, prominently located to the right of the sanctuary. It is a collection of over 1,100 relics, including those of all 12 apostles and a piece of the veil of Mary.
From Cheektowaga, you can end your time in Buffalo-Niagara by jumping back on Interstate 90 for the 30-minute drive east to Six Flags Darien Lake, the largest amusement park in western New York.
Masson is editor of the Catholic Concierge travel blog. This article was republished with permission.
