About Basilica of the Immaculate Conception · Waterbury, Connecticut
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in downtown Waterbury, Connecticut, administered by the Archdiocese of Hartford. The parish traces its origins to 1847, and the present Italian Renaissance-style limestone church—designed by the Boston firm Maginnis & Walsh and modeled on Rome's Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore—was dedicated in 1928. On February 9, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI elevated it to the rank of Minor Basilica, making it one of a small number of churches in the United States to bear this title. Today it serves as the mother parish of the Waterbury Catholic community, hosting a wide range of Masses, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, faith formation, and outreach ministries including the Bl. Michael McGivney Center for Renewal.
- Established
- 1847
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Very Rev. James M. Sullivan (Rector)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the mother parish of downtown Waterbury, a 1,500-seat historic landmark with a daily Mass schedule and almost constant pastoral activity—including perpetual Eucharistic adoration split across four six-hour shifts. Visitors and parishioners are drawn by the extraordinary architecture (a limestone Italian Renaissance basilica modeled on Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome), one of the busiest programs of devotions and faith formation in the Archdiocese of Hartford, and a deep outreach ministry through the Bl. Michael McGivney Center for Renewal—which welcomes those struggling with mental illness, addiction, or trauma with breakfast, prayer, case management, and daily discussion groups. Whether you come for the Basilica Choir's 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, the monthly Children's Rosary, the Walking with Purpose women's Bible study, the RISE young adult community, or simply to sit in quiet adoration, this is a parish that treats the historic main church, its mission churches, and its outreach to those on the margins as one body.
Mass times at Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Basilica)
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Basilica, only weekend morning)
- Sunday: 7:15–7:45 AM, 9:15–9:45 AM, 11:15–11:45 AM & 5:15–5:45 PM (until Oct 25 only)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in the Basilica
- Coverage organized in six-hour shifts: 6 AM – 12 PM (Carmen F., 203-568-5523); 12 PM – 6 PM (Rosemary H., 203-982-5948); 6 PM – 12 AM (Luis E., 203-530-6990); 12 AM – 6 AM (John W., 203-509-3506)
Parish History
From a mission station of Hartford and New Haven (with the earliest priests being Father James Fitton of Hartford and Rev. James McDermot of New Haven), the community grew into a parish canonically erected on November 1, 1847, under the patronage of St. Peter, with Rev. Michael O'Neil as first resident pastor. The second pastor, Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, renamed the parish in honor of the Immaculate Conception in 1857—the first church in the United States to bear the title after Pope Pius IX's 1854 definition—and went on to become the first Bishop of Providence in 1872. By the early twentieth century successive pastors had built St. Mary's School (1888), St. Mary Hospital (1907), and Waterbury Catholic High School (1926), and Father William McGurk shepherded the construction of the present limestone basilica, dedicated by Bishop John J. Nilan on May 20, 1928. The current rector, Very Rev. James M. Sullivan—a Waterbury native—has served since January 2019.
- 1845 — Catholics rent Washington Hall at Exchange Place and West Main St.
- 1847, Nov. 1 — Parish erected as St. Peter's; Rev. Michael O'Neil first pastor
- 1857, July 5 — Cornerstone of new Gothic red-brick church blessed; parish renamed Immaculate Conception
- 1863 — Old church becomes St. Mary's school
- 1869 — Congregation of Notre Dame arrives; Notre Dame Academy founded
- 1872 — Hendricken named first Bishop of Providence
- 1888 — St. Mary School dedicated (Father John A. Mulcahy)
- 1907 — St. Mary Hospital cornerstone blessed (Father William J. Slocum)
- 1924 — Ground broken for present church
- 1926 — Waterbury Catholic High School opens (Father McGurk)
- 1928, May 20 — Basilica dedicated; consecrated May 15, 1962
- 1983, Aug. 3 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2008, Feb. 9 — Pope Benedict XVI confers title of Minor Basilica
- 2019, Jan. — Very Rev. James M. Sullivan appointed Rector
Clergy and Staff
The Basilica is led by Very Rev. James M. Sullivan, Rector, and is assisted by two parochial vicars, two senior priests in residence, three deacons, and a lay pastoral team. Msgr. John J. Bevins, the pastor under whom the church was elevated to a minor basilica in 2008, continues to serve as Senior Priest in Residence. The parish also lists deacons Tony Caraluzzi, Dan Mathews, and Aurora Daly, Director of Music Mrs. Emily Santopietro, Pastoral Associates Peter Ryan (Religious Ed, Youth & Young Adult) and Nicole Plasky (Evangelization & Faith Formation / Executive Assistant to the Pastor), and Pastoral Outreach staff running the Bl. Michael McGivney Center for Renewal.
Sacraments and Faith Formation
Faith formation is coordinated from the parish office, with Religious Education classes on Sunday mornings 9:00–9:50 AM for grades K–10 and a two-year Confirmation program beginning in the fall of 9th grade. Adults seeking initiation (or unbaptized adults seeking full communion) are served by the RCIA, which meets on the first Sunday in October. Pastoral staff help arrange Baptisms, First Reconciliation and First Communion, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and funerals.
Religious Education & RCIA
Sunday-morning Religious Education is offered for grades K–10 in the parish; Confirmation is a two-year program for teens starting in ninth grade. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized adults seeking Confirmation and Eucharist, and those preparing for Christian marriage, with Dan Matthews as the contact person ([email protected]).
- Religious Ed: Sunday mornings 9:00–9:50 AM, Grades K–10
- Confirmation: two-year program starting fall of 9th grade
- RCIA: classes begin first Sunday of October
Sacraments
The full range of Catholic sacraments is celebrated regularly: Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders (by referral), and the Funeral Rites. Couples preparing for marriage, families requesting Baptism, and families needing funeral arrangements should contact the parish office to begin the process.
Ministries and Outreach
Outreach is the ministry most distinctive to the Basilica. The Bl. Michael McGivney Center for Renewal, named for the Knights of Columbus founder who grew up in this parish, offers guests breakfast, prayer, video and reflection, daily support groups on coping and virtue, case management for housing, rehabilitation, and entitlements, plus weekly Bible study, music, and art. Other ministries include Perpetual Adoration, the Parish Pastoral Council (advisory council to the Pastor), the Children's Rosary (first Saturday 3:15 PM), a Pro-Life ministry, Walking with Purpose women's Bible study, the RISE Young Adult group, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bringing the Eucharist to the homebound.
Blessed Michael McGivney Center for Renewal
Open Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, the Center is a pastoral outreach serving neighbors struggling with mental illness, addiction, and/or trauma. Director of Pastoral Outreach Nicole Plasky and staff welcome guests for a light breakfast (coffee, fruit, bagels, pastries, cereal), a shared prayer intention and prayer, video-based discussion (e.g., Matthew Kelly's 'Becoming the Best Version of Yourself'), daily support groups covering anxiety, depression, gratitude, virtues, and respect, and case management connecting guests to housing, rehabilitation, employment, education, and substance abuse treatment. Speakers, testimonials, Bible study, music, and art are offered weekly.
- Location: in the parish campus off West Main Street
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM – 12 PM
- Contact: [email protected] | (203) 707-3109 (text)
- Director: Nicole Plasky
Prayer, Devotions, and Young-Adult Life
Beyond Sunday liturgy, the parish sustains a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration program with four lay coordinators covering each six-hour shift, a monthly Children's Rosary on the first Saturday at 3:15 PM, Walking with Purpose women's Bible study, the RISE Young Adult Group ([email protected]), and the Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Michael McGivney printed in regular worship aids.
Music and Liturgy
The Basilica's liturgical music program is built around the Austin pipe organ installed in 1928 (Opus 1522), with four divisions behind decorative wood panels flanking the gallery. The Basilica Choir sings at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass under Director of Music Mrs. Emily Santopietro. The instrument received a new console in 1970, restoration by Foley Baker in 1980, and a further engagement with the Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, CT in 2013 to complete its restoration.
Architecture, Art, and Organ
The Maginnis & Walsh–designed church houses the Austin organ behind decorative wood panels flanking the gallery. Its 27 ranks on three manuals are divided across four divisions, with ongoing stewardship by the Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, CT. Decorative stained glass and furnishings from Trinity Episcopal Church (the former parish center) were distributed to other Connecticut parishes in 2018.
Heritage and Visiting
A contributing property of the Downtown Waterbury Historic District (added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 1983, NRHP #83001280), the Basilica is one of the most-photographed pieces of sacred architecture in central Connecticut. The 170-foot-long, 1,500-seat limestone building is widely regarded as the visual anchor of the Waterbury Green. Visitors are welcome at all public Masses; tours can be coordinated through the parish office ([email protected]).
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Phone: 203-574-0017; Fax: 203-756-8748
- Email: [email protected]
- Parking: behind the Basilica via Prospect St.; free municipal lot across from parish lot
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Fitton1830s
First priest recorded to visit Waterbury Catholics, based in Hartford.
- Rev. James McDermotuntil 1837
From New Haven; said Mass in the home of Cornelius Donnelly; transferred to Lowell in summer 1837, after which Waterbury became a mission of St. Mary's, New Haven.
- Rev. James Smythc. 1837–1847
Served Waterbury as a mission priest for roughly the next ten years; on first arrival found his usual lodging closed to priests and said Mass at Michael Neville's house on East Main Street.
- Rev. Michael O'Neil1847–1855
First resident pastor; canonically erected the parish on Nov. 1, 1847 under the patronage of St. Peter; opened the converted Episcopal church on East Main Street on Christmas Day 1847; in 1854 the church suffered an extinguished fire; in 1855 was sued (and fined $150) for trespass by the Protestant husband of a Catholic woman to whom he administered last rites—famously refused to reveal what she said in confession.
- Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken1855–1872
Irish-born priest brought to America at Bishop Bernard O'Reilly's request; hired Patrick Keely to design the 1857 Gothic red-brick church; renamed the parish Immaculate Conception (first U.S. church so named after the 1854 dogma); opened a parochial school in 1863; brought the Congregation of Notre Dame from Montreal in 1869 to found Notre Dame Academy; purchased land for St. Joseph's Cemetery; named first Bishop of Providence in 1872. His pastoral influence shaped Blessed Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus.
- Rev. John A. Mulcahyafter 1872
Built St. Mary School, dedicated September 4, 1888 by Bishop Lawrence S. McMahon and staffed by the Sisters of Charity.
- Rev. William J. Slocumearly 20th century
Organized the initiative to build St. Mary Hospital in 1907; cornerstone blessed September 22 by Bishop Michael A. Tierney.
- Rev. William McGurkc. 1920s
Chaired the citywide committee of Catholic clergy and laymen to build Waterbury Catholic High School (opened 1926); led planning and construction of the present Italian Renaissance basilica, dedicated May 20, 1928, by Bishop John J. Nilan.
- Msgr. John J. Bevinsearlier 2000s–2010s
Under his pastoral care, Pope Benedict XVI conferred the title of Minor Basilica on February 9, 2008; he remains senior priest in residence at the parish.
- Very Rev. James M. SullivanJanuary 2019–present
Current Rector. Born in Waterbury; attended St. Hedwig School (Naugatuck) and Kennedy High School (Waterbury, class of 1978); Providence College (B.A. in Economics); career in construction with Sullivan Brothers; ordained a deacon in 2008, ordained priest May 17, 2014 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph; pastor of the Church of the Assumption, Ansonia from October 2015; appointed Rector of the Basilica in January 2019.