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Official Pilgrim Site for the Diocese of Buffalo during the Jubilee Year 2025
Pope Francis has granted the Plenary Indulgence to pilgrims visiting designated pious places such as the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Olean, NY.Enjoy our peaceful setting --so conducive to prayer and reflection-- in the tranquil valley surrounded by the Enchanted Mountains of rural Olean, NY (USA)
Our doors are open for anyone, regardless of their faith affiliation, to come in to pray, light a candle, and spend time in silent reflection in the splendor of this historic spiritual gem in the Southern Tier.Pilgrimage Guidelines:
The faithful, pilgrims of hope, will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence granted by the Holy Father if they undertake a pious pilgrimage:
to any sacred Jubilee site: [like the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels] by devoutly participating in Holy Mass; a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation or the Anointing of the Sick; or any of the following: a celebration of the Word of God; the Liturgy of the Hours (office of readings, lauds, vespers); the Way of the Cross; the Marian Rosary; the recitation of the Akathist hymn; a penitential celebration, which ends with the individual confessions of the penitents
...by visiting the Cathedral or other church or sacred place designated by the local Ordinary [like the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels]...
The faithful can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, individually or in a group, they devoutly visit any Jubilee site and there, for a suitable period of time, engage in Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations to Mary, the Mother of God, so that in this Holy Year everyone "will come to know the closeness of Mary, the most affectionate of mothers, who never abandons her children" (Spes non confundit, 24).
Self-Guided Tours
If you want to tour the basilica on your own, we offer two ways to take a self-guided tour using your mobile device:
1. INTERACTIVE TOUR MAP - (requires internet connection)
2. VIRTUAL TOUR—56-minute video (requires internet connection)
You are welcome to use your headphones connected to your mobile device to listen to the video while in the basilica. The interactive tour map also has three short videos imbeded in it if you wish to listen to those. These virtural tours are an educational and enjoyable experience.Free Guided Tours
Guided Basilica tours are 45-minutes to an hour long and include art, architecture and history. Anyone is welcome to sit in on these tours. Our guided tours are always free and open to the public. Reservations are not needed but appreciated for scheduled tours. Guided Tours take place three Fridays per month 1:00-2:00 pm (after the 12:15 pm Mass). We do not offer tours on First Fridays due to scheduled Eucharistic Adoration in the sanctuary. Yes, you may arrange for a private tour for other days/times (see below for details).Book a private tour
You may arrange a free private guided tour for your group.
We look forward to your visit to our beautiful jewel in this rural corner of the State. If you are
* driving a distance to get here or
* are coming as a group,
we ask that you please call the parish office 716-372-4841 Mon-Fri 9 am-2 pm. That way we can ensure to the best of our ability that your visit won't conflict with a funeral, wedding rehearsal or other events or liturgical celebrations going on. We want to be sure you get the most out of your experience here at the Basilica.
Booking a private tour for your group is a 2-step process:
1) call 716-372-4841 or E-mail [email protected] to check that the date you want is open. Following your phone call to confirm your date works on the parish calendar,
2) please fill our our Tour Request Form at the link below:TOUR REQUEST Form
This online form goes directly to the tour coordinator who will call you to review details of your tour and confirm your date and time.You will also find it helpful to read through our FAQ about our tours before you begin planning.
We cater to bus tours with easy parking along the east side of the basilica where your bus may remain during the duration of your visit. That side of the basilica (pictured below) gives visitors closest access to handicap ramp as well.
Dining Options --If you choose to bring your own box lunch, we offer a free dining facility in our parish hall in the lower level of the basilica which can be accessed by elevator or stairs. If you choose to dine at a local restaurant, we have terrific restaurants that are a walkable distance to downtown Olean. We can assist with that booking. We also recommend the popular landmark, Sprague's Maple Farms and Pancake House Restaurant, in Portville which caters to large groups.
Shopping Options -- During regular business hours, our parish office is point of sale for all of our religious goods and books unique to the basilica. These are the items we offer under the "Shop" tab of this website.
Sacramental Options--All are welcome to join us during our regularly-scheduled Mass or Confession times. If your group wishes to have a private Mass, you would need to bring your own clergy. If your group would like to have the Sacrament of Reconcilliation offered, our clergy might be able to accommodate that.
All minor basilicas throughout the world offer the Plenary Indulgence, whether it is a pilgrimage year or not. The Papal document, Domus Ecclesiae, spells out the specific privileges granted to a minor basilica. The most important is the Plenary Indulgence which Catholics may receive who devoutly visit the basilica and participate in any sacred rite "or at least recite the Lord's Prayer and the profession of faith."
In addition, those seeking a plenary indulgence at a minor basilica must fulfill the usual conditions which are:- Be in a state of grace (and not excommunicated or in schism)
- Be detached from sin: have a sincere intention of gaining the indulgence and be completely detached from all sin, even venial sin
- Confess sacramentally (within 20 days before or 20 days after your visit, but preferably during your visit)
- Pray for the intentions of the Pope.
You can receive one plenary indulgence per day.Unique Plenary Indulgence Days for this Minor Basilica- June 29 on the anniversary of the dedication of this Basilica
- June 29 Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (ALL minor basilicas throughout the world are entitled to offer a Plenary Indulgence this day).
- August 2 on the feast day of the name of this Basilica--Feast of St. Mary of the Angels
- October 4 Feast of St. Francis--a day chosen by the local bishop for this Basilica.
- February 14 on the anniversary of the granting of the title of this Basilica
- once a year on a day freely chosen by the each of the faithful. For example, the day that you make your visit to the basilica may be your chosen day for the year.
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Why these days are designated for this minor basilica
June 29 combines two important celebrations for any minor basilica: the day it was consecrated (ours was consecrated on June 29, 1919) and the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul which signifies our unique bond with the Holy Father and his Petrine ministry to the universal Church. So both Plenary Indulgence days fall on the same day for our minor basilica.
August 2 is the traditional Franciscan feast day of Saint Mary of the Angels. Minor basilicas all over the world are given the priviledge of offering the Plenary Indulgence on the basilica's patronal feast day. Our original church was placed under the patronage of Saint Mary of the Angels by the Franciscan priest, Rev. Pamphilus daMagliano in 1858 upon the blessing of the cornerstone of the new church he was building on the very lot our basilica rests today!
October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Because our parish began as a mission church of the Franciscans in 1856 and continued under their care until 1876, our local Ordinary, Bishop Richard Malone, chose this as a day our basilica may offer the Plenary Indulgence. He exercised his priviledge to choose the extra Plenary Indulgence day as granted by Domus Ecclesiae. St. Mary of the Angels is a Franciscan name for a church as it was the name of the church most beloved by St. Francis himself. The little church in Assisi is the veritable cradle of the Franciscan Order.
February 14 - On this day in 2017, Pope Francis granted the title of Minor Basilica to St. Mary of the Angels Church. The original document, framed and affixed to the pulpit, was signed by Robert Cardinal Sarah, the Prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments who oversaw the application process. In celebration of this spiritual/historic event, the Church grants the basilica the privilege of offering the Plenary Indulgence.
Read about gaining a Plenary Indulgence for these days.