6.29 St. Francis Xavier Basilica

This would be the first church to be built in Dyersville, IA back in 1862. Hard to believe that the cost to the parishioners, back then, would be $100,000. One-hundred years in the future a new south entrance would be constructed to accommodate the handicap. The cost of this build would be $130,000.


Even as the church was being build it had to be modified twice to accommodate the increasing number of Catholics coming to this area. Currently the parish counts approximately 1800 families or about 5000 parishioners. As you can barely see, the church has three alters.


In 1956 the church was elevated to a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII. This floor marking reaffirms that credential. This is the Papa; insignia of the Tiara and Keys, This will make this church a Papal Church. The construction of this church was built in the Ruskinian Gothic Revival architecture. One of the primary requisites to be honored as a Basilica is to be Debt-free. The parish was able to maintain this debt-free status almost from the beginning.


In 1935 the parish decided to build a rectory toward the back of the church. It would incorporate fourteen rooms. The church also offers the Tridentine Mass at twelve noon on Sundays, according to the 1962 Rite. This is the Altar of St. Joseph. The wood used in the construction of this altar was created using Bavarian wood.


Carla always enjoys the architecture in the ceiling. The church has 64 stained glass windows. This is the alter on the left of the main altar is the Altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary.



The two steeples reach as high as 212 feet high.  The seating capacity of the Basilica is 1000 people. At the time the church was dedicated it was only one of 12  Basilicas in the United States.