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The statue of Jesus at the base of the lower level of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston is one of seven large exterior statues welcoming parishioners.

Celebrating the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

In one of the Basilica’s niches, high above Bartlett Street, is the statue of a female saint wearing a crown of flowers and holding a cross. She is visible to the eye but better seen close up by drone. Is it St. Rose of Lima or St. Catherine of Siena? Both female saints were Third Order Dominicans, fit to be included among the Basilica’s exterior artistic motifs.

The July 1, 1935, Lewiston Evening Journal confirmed her identity as that of St. Catherine. The newspaper’s brief article also featured a close-up photograph of the Virgin Mary statue pending installation in a front niche, as construction of the church was rushing toward completion.

The article noted: “Statues of St. Joseph, St. Dominique and St. Catherine of Sinne are already in place. Others to be installed along with that of Mary when the front of the building is completed are those of St. Peter and St. Paul. There will be still another, probably St. Jean Baptiste, but there is nothing definite about this choice.”

The seventh statue eventually selected to grace what would come to be called the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was that of Jesus the Good Shepherd, located at the entrance to the lower church.

St. Peter and St. Paul were ultimately located in the church’s front facade at the upper church level. St. Peter holds the key to heaven and a scroll representing the Gospel; St. Paul holds a sword, representing the sword of the spirit and also his martyr’s death.

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The statue of St. Joseph is visible when standing on lower Bartlett Street. Holding a carpenter’s square in his right hand, Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers. The lily in his left hand symbolizes purity.

The final statue, difficult to see even within the monastery garden on the Blake Street side of the Basilica, is St. Dominic. Wearing a cassock, the founder of the Dominican order holds a book in his left hand and carries a lily in his right. The book represents his great learning and the lily symbolizes the purity of his life.

The symbolic emblems accompanying each statue, such as the lily or the sword, add to the beauty and significance of each statue. Although our fast-moving lives and ever-growing trees may get in the way of seeing and appreciating the statuary, these close-ups reveal them to be relatively unchanged since their 1935 installation.

The statue of St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, overlooks the garden on the west side of the Basilica as seen from College Street.
St. Peter, holding a key to heaven and scrolls of the Gospel, overlooks the main entrance to the Basilica on Ash Street.
St. Paul, holding a sword representing his indomitable spirit and his martyr’s death, also overlooks the main entrance.
The statue of St. Catherine of Siena, a Third Order Dominican holding the cross, can be seen from Bartlett Street.
The statue of St. Joseph at the rear of the Basilica, facing College Street, can be seen holding a carpenter’s square.
The statue of Mary, her hands clasped in prayer, is located on the front facade of the Basilica, high above the main entrance.
The statue of Jesus, a lamb in his arms, is located at the base of the lower level of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston.

The statue of St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, overlooks the garden on the west side of the Basilica as seen from College Street.

Share your memories

To help celebrate the Basilica, we’d like to hear from readers about their memories of the Basilica. Please contact writer Julie-Ann Baumer at  [email protected] or call her at 207-353-2616.

Celebrating the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

ABOUT THIS SERIES: The Sun Journal is celebrating the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston, which was completed in 1936-1937. For a year, we are taking a close look at the iconic structure, its history and even some of the people who built it. We will explore rooms behind the high altar, crawl along the catwalk, explore the cellars and rooftop carvings, and peek into drawers and cabinets in the sacristy. We’ll show you historical photos and compare them with current images of the basilica. We’ll also speak with basilica experts and comb through historical documents to uncover some of the 80-year-old church’s enduring myths and mysteries. The entire series is being archived at sunjournal.com/basilica.