St. Mary Basilica Archives History And Accomplishments

St. Mary Basilica Archives Committee which evolved out the Religious Education Committee was founded on 24 October 2005. After completion on an inventory of sacred objects by James E. Guercio, chairman, Father David O'Connor asked the committee to inventory and organize the archival material stored in the basement of the rectory.

The committee meets in the dining room of the rectory every Tuesday. Members are: Father Aaron Williams; James E. Guercio, chairman emeritus; Mary Eidt, chairman; Jack Aubic; Annette Burns; Karen Foley; Betsy Holleman; Gigi Johnson; Michael Murphy and Patricia Murphy. Former members are; Ann Allmand, Barbara Aucoin, Kate Cole, Gayle Guido and Ann Tillman.

Bishop Gunn built a vault in 1921 and Father O’Connor updated it during his first tenure as pastor (1986–1991). Betsy Holleman computerized the hand written directory that Ann Almond had kept in the early years. The committee continues to organize the massive amount of historical documents and place them in acid free boxes. Michael Murphy developed a website (stmarybasilicaarchives.org) and he maintains articles and photographs documenting the history of the church.

The committee has accepted gifts of prayer books, rosaries, holy cards, medals, statues, pedestals, a faldstool and a monstrance. These artifacts and articles from the first sevens bishops of Natchez make up a collection worthy of exhibition in the future Catholic Cultural Center. The committee is grateful to all who have returned historical artifacts to St. Mary and donated religious articles and papers which help to document the history of catholicism in Natchez at St. Mary.

Summary of projects include:

• Historical timeline of catholicism in Natchez from 1714 until present.

• Bishop John Chanche’s “homecoming,” (exhumation in August 2007 and re-interment in January 2008).

• Transfer of Bishop Chanche’s marble monument from Baltimore Cathedral Cemetery to St. Mary Bishops Garden.

• Conservation of artifacts found in Bishop Chanche’s coffin.

• Historical timeline of the life of Venerable Cornelia Connelly in honor of the anniversary of her 200th birthday in April 2009.

• Received The Mary Postlethwaite Award from the Historic Natchez Foundation in 2010.

• Historical accounts of deceased parishioners added to the annual All Souls Day Rosary Procession in the Natchez City Cemetery.

• Research to declare The Immaculate Conception Shrine (c. 1846) the oldest existing in the United States (until proven otherwise).

• Research the 1839 Presbytery, its history and usage until present (now houses Catholic Charities).

• Displayed photographs of the pastors of St. Mary, located on the staircase in the rectory.

• Placed donor labels on all wooden sanctuary furniture.

• Upgraded the Bishops Prayer Garden with information plaques, a bench dedicated to the unborn, statues and a grave cover stone.

• Developed a booklet to commemorate the opening of the Family Life Center.

• Promoted restoration of the crucifix in the FLC.

• Compiled and organized information for historical plaques in the FLC.

• Promoted the instillation of photographs of bishops (1967- present) in the FLC.

• Indexed Civil War Diary (1862-1865) of Bishop William Henry Elder Bishop of Natchez.

• Developed obituary albums of deceased parishioners.

• Promoted restoration of two historical paintings: The Head of Christ and a portrait of Bishop Gerow.

• Refurbished a photograph of Bishop Gunn.

• Developed and published the Natchez Catholic Heritage Tour brochure and directed a tour and reenactment to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Catholicism in Natchez in 2016.

• Compiled a photographic inventory of rectory art and artifacts.

• Placed a plaque listing all members of the Ladies Altar Society in the sacristy.

• Placed a plaque listing all organists in the choir loft.

• Promoted restoration of Birth/Baptismal Register (1822-1834) and Death Register (1842-1873).

• Research the corbel heads in the basilica.

• Promoted restoration of the crypt.

• Promoted restoration of the processional cross.

• Exhibited artifacts for various church events and provided guided tours for special interest groups.

• Donated angel statues in grotto of Bishop’s Prayer Garden in honor of James G. Guercio.