Jeanine Theriault is now in the hands of the Lord, but she has put the future of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul firmly in her grasp. Her generous bequeath of nearly $1 million to the basilica should help ensure its glory is maintained for the foreseeable generations.

The basilica is one of Lewiston-Auburn’s cultural and community resources, an asset unique to the Twin Cities. Its towering spires are a testament to the faith and devotion of its parishioners, and is as much a symbol of L-A’s industrial past as any of the mills.

It looks like it should adorn a European postcard. The great cathedrals of that continent have become more than houses of worship today; now, many are tourist attractions, endlessly toured by enthralled onlookers. Visits to London or Paris, for example, are incomplete without strolling through St. Paul’s or Notre Dame.

Those great places, plus hundreds of others, have survived the centuries through the donations and dedication of their faithful. They are meticulously maintained because, for reasons of piety and economics, we just cannot build the cathedrals, basilicas and churches like we used to.

Once gone, they are gone. The basilica is a grand exception. And with her lavish gift to preserve its splendor, Theriault has made a tremendous gift not only to parishioners, but also to the entire community.