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Donor Profile: The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
by Rev. Dwight D. Schlaline ‘00
The parishioners of the nine parishes of the Adams Deanery of the Diocese of Harrisburg provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Delone Catholic High School each year. The oldest of these parishes is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also known as the Conewago Chapel, which recently underwent an extensive restoration of the church interior.
About 400 years ago, Catholics seeking religious freedom and a better life embarked on a journey to a new world. Two ships, the Ark and the Dove, left the stormy shores of England and eventually arrived in the Chesapeake Bay. These English Catholics sought a place to live out their faith. Eventually, their dream was realized.
The Catholic faith spread northward to disputed territory --- was it Maryland or Pennsylvania? With the religious tolerance of William Penn, an extension of the Maryland Jesuit missions began in 1741 at what is now called the Conewago Chapel. So many of the parishes in our area were daughter parishes of their mother, Conewago Chapel, also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, including the other eight parishes of the Adams Deanery, which support Delone Catholic High School.
Since 2021, the parish has engaged in an effort to restore the historic beauty of the interior of the church. It began with the restoration of the Italian artist Filippo Costaggini’s 1887 painting of the apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary. Then, the historic wall art - which enraptures congregants in the mysteries of our faith, was painstakingly restored. Parishioners had to tolerate months and months of scaffolding, but once the scaffolding was removed, the inconvenience was forgotten quickly as the love of the Sacred Heart shined brightly from the apse. Recently, the grand finale of the project, the restoration of pews and hardwood floors, was completed.
The parishioners appreciate all the support that enabled the church to reach this point. So many donated time, talent, and treasure, recognizing the vitality of the mission—for the parish to continue to live the Catholic faith in freedom just as the Catholic pilgrims hoped for while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago.
Restoration Work May 2023
