Mary, Queen of the Universe, Orlando, Florida, United States

The roots for the founding of what was to become the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe go back to the very history of the settlement of central Florida.

Adventurous pioneers began homesteading the pine scrub and lake-studded wilderness of central Florida in the 1830’s and 40’s looking for land and a new life. Cattle and cotton became king. General farming was also practiced but a new era began in the 1870’s with the planting of orange groves. The coming of the railroads opened up the area to more and more settlers and visitors. As early as the turn of the century, the area was becoming a tourism destination with people arriving from all over the country and world.

Growth continued with the opening of more and more businesses and industries until that pivotal year of 1966 when a California businessman named Walt Disney bought land to open what was called Walt Disney World. Tourism was now becoming king. Thousands upon thousands of Catholics arrived in the area to visit all the new attractions that were opening. The question and concern quickly became: how does the Church minister to all these visitors?

In 1974 just before his departure to become Archbishop of Baltimore, Bishop William D. Borders appointed Father William Corry to open a mission in the Bay Hill area and to be responsible for Masses for tourists in Lake Buena Vista and the Disney community. Before this got off the ground Father Corry was reassigned in 1975, and under the direction of Bishop Thomas J. Grady Father, now Monsignor, Joseph Harte took on the service of growing a tourism/hotel ministry.

The planned Bay Hill mission became instead Holy Family parish and Monsignor Harte became its first pastor. His new parish became the center for the ministry. Under his committed and inspired leadership, the dedicated people of his parish tried to help visitors get to Mass on Sundays and they established a ministry in four hotels.

Bishop Grady came to the conclusion that the ministry could be more effective if there was a church conveniently located to Disney World and the theme park area. Because the diocese is consecrated to Mary the Mother of God, it was decided to name the proposed diocesan shrine church Mary, Queen of the Universe. The intention was also to honor Christ the King, to proclaim to the millions passing on I-4 that the kingdom of Christ is present in Central Florida.

Monsignor Harte spearheaded the project, committing his considerable vision and energy to its management. Such a huge undertaking required the purchase of land and funds with which to build a church, and so it began. By 1979, a 17-acre tract was purchased near I-4.

On December 8, 1984, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, enough funds had been raised to break ground for the first phase of construction. Within two years, the initial facility was completed and on November 23, 1986, the Feast of Christ the King, the first phase was blessed by Archbishop Pio Laghi, Papal Nuncio to the United States. Phase one included landscaping, a building to use as a church and offices, and a bell tower.

On August 22, 1990, the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ground was broken for a main church that would seat as many as 2,000 people. “We want the shrine to be a temple, a sacred place to give glory to God and honor our mother, said Bishop Norbert Dorsey. “Above all we want it to be a spiritual home, a real hearth.”

At long last, on January 31, 1993, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church.  And on August 22, 1993, the church was dedicated. Archbishop Pio Laghi was once again present. Bishop Dorsey proclaimed “a day of great rejoicing” and asked God’s grace upon all who would be drawn to the Shrine.