[3] Many of the contributions were just five or ten cents from poor immigrant families who couldn't afford more, but wanted to support the church.

Built in the Victorian Gothic style, the permanent brick-and-stone church was dedicated on August 26, 1860, in a ceremony celebrated by thirteen bishops.

John Bernard Fitzpatrick, Bishop of Boston, celebrated the mass, and Peter Kenrick, Archbishop of St. Louis, preached the sermon.

[4] Over the next twenty years, fifteen more buildings were added to the grounds, creating the religious center Damen had dreamed of.

[5] Additionally, Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, owners of the cow rumored to have started the fire, were parishioners at Holy Family.

With the approval of Lane's Jesuit superior, Father Provincial Robert Wild, the community created the Holy Family Preservation Society and launched an effort to save the 100-year-old building.

Firefighters used infrared technology to track the conflagration moving through the basement, enabling them to extinguish it just before the blaze would have entered the sanctuary space.

The church was spared and continued as a community parish, establishing strong ties with the alumni of Saint Ignatius College Prep next door.

[7] A pastor for both parishes will say Masses in both locations but be based out of Notre Dame, and Holy Family will still be available for special events and weddings.

[5] The organ is surrounded by an "orchestra" of angels, carved by 19th century sculptor Charles Oliver Dauphin, a French-Canadian artist.