Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

Nestled on 35 acres in rural Niagara County, the Barnabite Fathers’ Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is a destination for pilgrims, art enthusiasts, and tourists of all kinds. But the Italian-run basilica dedicated to a Portuguese miracle only exists because of a Polish-born laborer.

In 1953, Reverend Gino Andreani arrived in America with a dream to establish a Barnabite seminary in North America, and little else. Father Gino made his way to Niagara Falls where St. Joseph’s on Pine Avenue became his base of operations. In 1954, while traveling the back roads of pastoral Lewiston looking for a spot to establish his school, Reverend Andreani found the perfect tract of land for his need. Andreani asked around and discovered Walter Ciurczak, a parishioner at Holy Trinity, was the owner. Reverend Gino visited Ciurczak at his Falls Street home and laid out his dream for the 15 acres the Pole owned. Finally Andreani asked, “How much for your land?” Walter replied by holding up single finger and saying, “One silver dollar.”

Walter Ciurczak was born in Poland in 1893. While he was still a child, Walter and his family immigrated to America and by 1903 settled in Niagara Falls. By age 25, he was married to Helen Polewicz and after having a few different jobs began working at Dobbie Foundry and Machine Co. In that time Walter purchased a couple dozen acres that would have been William Love’s Model City. As his life progressed with his wife and children, Ciurczak suffered a stroke. On what he believed to be his death bed, Walter prayed fervently to Our Lady of Fatima for a miracle to get better. Ciurczak began to get better and by 1953 was fully recovered. When Father Andreani came knocking, Walter saw his opportunity to thank the Holy Mother by stipulating that after purchase, Reverend Andreani must erect a small shrine on the property to her.

When word of Ciurczak’s generous gift got around, more people began donating for the shrine and money began to pour in. Soon the construction of the shrine took precedence over the seminary. By the spring of 1956, the shrine which began with two simple statues, grew in to a half-million dollar project. Father Andreani brought on famed Polish American architect Joseph E. Fronczak, who came up with the layout for the outside shrine. Designed in the form of a cross surrounded by cypress trees, there would be an avenue of saints, a Shrine to Our Lady, one to St Ann, one to St. Mother Cabrini and finally altars with a large pool in the shape of a rosary. From Fronczak’s initial design, the shrine blossomed to include a glass-domed worship site, a number of grottos and shrines including one to Our Lady of Czestochowa, a cafeteria, and a seminary. In 1975, Pope Paul VI declared the site a basilica.

Around the time the shrine was becoming a basilica, Professor Joseph Slawinski was hired to create a sgraffito altar piece for the domed building. The Peace Mural he crafted depicts two outcomes for humanity. On the left is a world ravaged by war, surrounded by death, and consumed by conflict. On the right is one when the arts, sciences, education, and exploration are celebrated. In the center is the Holy Spirit looking down on a pregnant woman, flanked by the four races of the world. Her pregnancy is the representation of the peace that is not yet here, but ever possible. Keeping in touch with its Polish roots the shrine Polish Day every July that includes a special crowning of Our Lady of Czestochowa.