Faith
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The first church on this site, designed by Adrien de Pauger, was erected from 1724 to 1727 and was destroyed in the great fire of 1788. A second church, a gift of Don Andres Almonester y Roxas and designed by Gilberto Guillemard, was begun in 1788 and was dedicated as a cathedral on Christmas Eve 1794. It served until it was enlarged and essentially rebuilt from 1849 to 1851 from designs by architect J.N.B. de Pouilly. It was designated the metropolitan church of the archdiocese of New Orleans in 1850. On December 9, 1964, Pope Paul VI bestowed on it the rank of Minor Basilica. It was dedicated on May 1, 1966, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of New Orleans and in commemoration of 175 years of service by the diocese, established April 25, 1793.
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New Orleans, Louisiana · United States
