WINDOW RESTORATION project

For Brett Swiatek, owner of Clarence, N.Y., -based Swiatek Studios, handling the process of restoring the stained-glass windows at OLV National Shrine & Basilica is a dream come true!

“Our family company is three generations old.  And, since my grandfather’s time, it's been a goal of ours to work at the Basilica,” says Swiatek. “It has always been an inspiration to our community, an inspiration to our faith, and because of this, our work is of the utmost importance.”

With all of the Basilica’s stained-glass windows showing varying levels of deterioration, the restoration process is well underway. The current phase includes work on all of the windows in the basement level and those in the side chapels, the naïve above the Stations of the Cross, and the vestibule. The restoration work is not limited to the glass itself, though, as many of the original steel frames are either worn down or have fallen apart completely.

Once those areas are taken care of, Swiatek's team will proceed to the windows above eye level, the Shrine’s clerestory, transepts, and bell tower.  

A special thank you goes to our friends at the National Fund for Sacred Places for providing funding for this crticial work.


Stay updated...

It is our commitment to keep the community up to date as this exciting project gets underway and continues for the next several weeks. 

  • If you have any questions or concerns at all, just call the Rectory at (716) 828-9444. 
  • We will also be communicating through the parish bulletin and parishioner robocalls and our social media channels ... if you don’t already follow us on social media, now is the perfect time to do so!

Support our Shrine!

Click below to support these ongoing preservation efforts to ensure OLV National Shrine & Basilica is able to remain a point of pride for our Western New York community. Every gift makes a big difference!