The plight
of this religious community on Chicago’s South Side has taken a wide swing of
turns since the blaze that nearly destroyed its church building on October 7,
2015. In the last week or so, news has emerged that the Institute of Christ King Sovereign Priest is now revisiting the possibility of saving the church
building with the Archdiocese of Chicago [1]. Hearing this, I felt obliged to share
my experience from visiting the Institute shortly after the fire last year.
You can help support the Shrine's commitment to bringing their community back to their historic church in Chicago by contributing through their GoFundMe campaign.
“Succisa virescit.”
"What
was cut down, grows back stronger and flourishes.”
- St.
Benedict
The Institute of Christ King
Sovereign Priest has made a habit of helping bring old churches and
neighborhoods from the brink. Oftentimes this involves moving into
otherwise-closed churches and breathing life into these neighborhoods. St. Francis de Sales Oratory in St. Louis and St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee are examples
of this. The Institute in Chicago is a staple in the Woodlawn neighborhood on
the South Side. Less than two miles from the Chicago home address of President
Barrack Obama, the Woodlawn neighborhood has long been in various states of
economic and social transition. The church building itself has
changed designations as St. Clara, the National Shrine to St. Thérèse Liseux,
and St. Gelasius before the Archdiocese first considered demolishing it in the
early 2000s. Despite the weak Catholic presence surrounding a beautiful worship
space, the Institute appealed to take over use of the church in 2003.
Restoration began shortly after and continued at a blistering pace as the
Institute blossomed in the neighborhood for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
At the same time a restoration of
Woodlawn began to move with more steam, in both religious and secular terms.
The canons, as the priests are officially referred to at the Institute, have made
available the Shrine and themselves for the betterment of the community. Before
the fire, the church served as the monthly meeting location for the Woodlawn
Residents Association. On a regular basis, the church also hosted a series of
free concerts and other cultural events open to the general public. In recent
winters, the canons have appeared on local ice skating rinks where they mix
casual evangelistic outreach with hockey. Canon Michael Stein, known by some
from the skating rinks as “Father of the Hood,” has played a major role with
his fellow canons in the conversion of some local residents to the Catholic
faith as well. In the meantime, with the influence of the nearby University of
Chicago and the growing influx of Catholics visiting the Shrine from other
parts of Chicagoland, the economic and social climates in Woodland have
gradually improved.
“…our Good Friday began with fire.”
In the hours before sunrise on
October 7, varnish rags used in the Shrine church’s restoration combusted into
flames. The damage sustained in the ensuing blaze destroyed much of the
interior, windows, and the roof. However, key to limiting damage at the Shrine
was the help of roughly 150 firefighters from Chicago’s Fire Department. Their
gallant efforts contained the fire and led to saving some of the Shrine’s most
priceless possessions, including the tabernacle containing the Body of Christ
and an 18th Century statue of the Christ Child. Through the conflagration, much
of the Shrine’s efforts to restore its home were brought back to the drawing
board.
The
pulpit, still standing, can be seen near the lower right-hand corner amid the
rubble.
As damaging as the fire has been
physically and emotionally for the parish and community, this is also a time
where the Woodlawn community has emerged in solidarity with the parishioners
at the Shrine. Within hours of the fire, folks from all over
Woodlawn and Chicagoland came to the Shrine in solidarity for the Institute in the
form of a prayer rally. Local hockey players, business owners, and ordinary
neighborhood residents, all touched by the work of the Institute, took part in
support of their Catholic neighbors.
Barely a month after the fire, the
Shrine moved into an interim home thanks to the generosity of the neighboring
First Presbyterian Church. My photos come from visiting the Institute at the
formal opening Mass at “The Upper Room,” as the current worship space is known
among the local faithful. Check back soon for more photos from the opening Mass
highlighting the help the Shrine received from all across the Midwest!
Shrine of Christ King Sovereign
Priest
Additional Source:
*Quotes
within the article come from Canon Matthew Talarico’s homily at the Inaugural
Ceremony and High Mass in The Upper Room on November 15, 2015.
**Special
thanks goes to the canons, staff, and volunteers at the Shrine, who invited me
to visit and offered much of the information and access at the Shrine
that allowed this post to come to life.
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