National Shrine to Christ the King Renewed: Old Landmark Receives New Life in Chicago

The Shrine of Christ the King is rising again from the ashes, but must complete Phase II before the wrecking ball is completely at bay.

CHICAGO — On a cold October day in the Windy City, as the first snow fell on the last shingle nailed to the new roof of the Shrine of Christ the King, the canons of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest held a Mass of thanksgiving.

The canons and the “Save the Shrine” coalition had completed Phase I of their mission to save the shrine since it had been gutted in October 2015 by a devastating fire and nearly condemned to the wrecking ball. And in a private ceremony, they enthroned the statue of the Infant King who had miraculously survived the flames.

Canon Matthew Weaver, project manager for the shrine restoration, told the Register the restorers are now moving on to the second key phase of making the shrine a permanent home for Christ and a place of national pilgrimage in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood: They must now build the interior, putting flesh on the church’s bones, so they can move to Phase III and beautify the building for lasting generations of public worship.

“We are praying now our Blessed Mother will turn it into a home for the Divine Infant Child and our King,” he said.

continue at NCRegister

Cassock wearing priest shredding ice in Chicago to save National Shrine

Chicago Shrine of Christ the King Launches "Shelter the Shrine" Restoration Campaign

Details at: shrinelandmark.org/donate/

via Orbis

Chicago Christ the King Shrine to begin masonry work on fire damaged building this week

Happy Easter to all our benefactors, supporters, and friends!

You are cordially invited to view a new video on the Shrine, giving an overview of the direction and progress of the work done so far. This video is part of Landmarks Illinois' "People Saving Places: Stories About the Importance of Place" video series, produced in partnership with Kennedy-King College Media Communications Department.

Thanks to Divine Providence, this mild winter has allowed some important work to be done on the Shrine's tower. On April 12, field inspection was performed on the concrete pours in the bell tower that were done this winter. The fire had caused structural damage to the limestone and concrete lintel as well as the concrete slabs at each level of the tower. The lintels were replaced with new concrete lintels and the floor was spot patched to ensure structural integrity.

The warmer weather of May makes it possible for construction teams to proceed with the work prepared by our team of engineers, construction companies, and architects during the winter season. Construction crews will begin masonry work this week!

continue at GoFundMe

Chicago Archdiocese Deeds Woodlawn Building and Property to the Institute of Christ the King!

Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO, IL (February 28, 2016) - The Archdiocese of Chicago today announced that it has deeded the Shrine of Christ the King in Woodlawn and the land on which it stands to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The members of the apostolic institute have confirmed that they have received sufficient funds for the immediate stabilization of the historic Shrine building, ravaged by fire in October, 2015, and determined to be in hazardous condition. The Institute has committed itself to promptly remedying the dangerous condition created by the fire and then following through with the full restoration of the building.

“We express our deep gratitude to all the individuals and organizations whose most generous and timely donations helped bring us to this moment. We are mindful of the dangerous condition of the Shrine and will begin stabilization immediately with funds already collected,” said Reverend Canon Matthew L. Talarico, Provincial Superior for the Institute in the United States. “We are grateful to the Archdiocese for its partnership throughout our ministry in Woodlawn, especially during this difficult time. Since the day of the fire the collaboration with the Archdiocese has been remarkable: frequent communication, hard work and prayer.”

ICKSP statement

The Coalition to Save the Shrine welcomes the news of the transfer of the Shrine of Christ the King to the Institute.

“This is wonderful news! The Coalition is delighted that the Archdiocese was able to find such an innovative solution to save the Shrine,” said Emily Nielsen, a member of the Coalition and Shrine congregant.

Following a severe fire in the fall, the Archdiocese of Chicago, which owns the church, commissioned a report by an engineering firm which concluded that the church had to be secured or demolished within a short period of time. After the Archdiocese applied for a demolition permit in late December, the Coalition formed and has worked to raise support for restoration of the church. It has raised more than $650,000 in pledges made to Preservation Chicago and collected more than 2,000 signatures on a petition to save the Shrine, located at 6401 S. Woodlawn Ave. in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

“This is great news, but it means that the Coalition’s work has only just started,” said Gabriel Piemonte, a member of the Coalition and Woodlawn resident. “We have said all along that the Institute is a part of the Woodlawn family. If they are staying and taking on this challenge, we will all take it on with them. We are happy to help the Institute and its congregation with their new responsibilities.”

Coalition to Save the Shrine statement

The Archdiocese of Chicago is supportive of the Institute’s efforts to maintain its presence in the Woodlawn community and continue its ministry there. The Archdiocese wishes the Institute every success.

Archdiocese of Chicago

Chicago Tribune: Fire-ravaged Woodlawn church saved from wrecking ball

Needless to say this is amazing news!

HT to many of you

Christ the King Shrine in Chicago area in immediate peril after archdiocese secures demolition permit

Have been gone so haven't had a chance to post on this.

I want to start with an interesting fact:

Q. WILL THE ARCHDIOCESE HAVE TO PAY FOR TEARING DOWN THE SHRINE?

A. Yes. The cost of tearing down the Shrine will be at least $250,000. As a point of comparison, the recent teardown of St James on Wabash in 2013 cost $900,000. These costs will have to be borne by the Archdiocese, which has recently announced that it is closing nearly 100 parishes due to financial concerns.

That said, Roamin Catholic Churches visited the condemned community.

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.

continue for story at Roamin Catholic Churches

Also a post on a visit to the Institute's temporary accommodations in Woodlawn 

A few weeks ago: Anonymous donors pledge $450,000 in effort to save Woodlawn church

Miller said his organization is accepting pledges on behalf of the Coalition to Save the Shrine, which includes parishioners and neighbors as well as historic preservation and community groups.

"We are amazed by the pledges that have come in, in large dollar amounts, for the shrine," he said. "It's just something we've not seen at Preservation Chicago since our founding."

As of Feb 22 of this week: City issues demolition permit for Shrine of Christ the King

The City of Chicago has approved a request made by the Archdiocese of Chicago to demolish an historic Chicago landmark church. The church, the Shrine of Christ the King, is a 1923 Renaissance Revival landmarked structure by one of Chicago’s leading architects. After a fire destroyed its newly insulated roof in October 2015, the Shrine has become the focal point of joint efforts to save it by neighborhood groups, parishioners and prestigious historic preservationist groups on both the local and national level. These groups have formed a Coalition which has quickly raised pledges in excess of $650,000 – enough to stabilize the structure and begin work on the renovation it requires.

The Coalition is urgently appealing to the public to support its petition on 

www.savetheshrine.org.

Chicago Tribune: Parishioners, community members scramble to save historic Woodlawn church
Hyde Park Herald: Coalition questions speedy church demolition

With the legion of parish closings in the archdiocese, it will certainly feel pressure to not play favoritism in one way or another.  But it seems shocking if they would literally pay a quarter million dollars to demolish the structure when funds have already been raised to stabilize the church.  Dioceses cannot continue to abandon inner city parishes and opt for building new churches in affluent suburban areas.  Struggling neighborhoods need nearby Catholic parishes much more than rich suburbs.

Massive overhaul slated for Chicago Archdiocese; "as many as 100 churches could close over the next 14 years"

A radical overhaul in the nation's third-largest Roman Catholic archdiocese could shutter many of the Chicago church's houses of worship by 2030 as it reckons with decaying buildings and an expected shortage of priests, the church's chief operating officer confirmed Friday.

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich told priests and advisers in meetings in recent weeks that the shortage — an estimated 240 priests available in 2030 for the archdiocese's 351 parishes — could necessitate closings and consolidations. The archdiocese governs parishes in Cook and Lake counties.

Based primarily on those projections and on future capital needs, the priests who attended the meetings say a large number of churches could close over the next 14 years. Several of those priests who attended the sessions with the archbishop shared details about the reorganization process with the Tribune, some requesting anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussion and because they didn't have permission to speak on behalf of the archdiocese.

The reorganization process will kick into high gear next week when auxiliary bishops begin meeting with parish leaders and staff in their regions to discuss solutions.

Priests who spoke to the Tribune said, based on the expected priest shortfall and future infrastructure needs, as many as 100 churches could close over the next 14 years.

continue at Chicago Tribune

also WSJ: Archdiocese of Chicago Facing Parish Closures
also Crux

In an interesting related development, I received this email over the weekend.

Knowing that you had earlier covered the Shrine of Christ the King, I thought you would be interested to learn that there is still hope of saving this Renaissance Revival masterpiece by architect Henry Schlacks.

Preservation Chicago has received pledges to cover the cost of stabilizing the Shrine of Christ the King in Woodlawn, a Chicago Landmark threatened with demolition by the Archdiocese since early January. The Archdiocese has said that rebuilding the church, which lost its roof in an October fire, would be “cost-prohibitive.”

To announce this wonderful news for a Chicago Landmark, the Coalition to Save the Shrine, the group which has been advocating for its preservation, will hold a Press Conference in front of the Shrine at noon tomorrow, Monday, February 8th. The announcement will be made by Ward Miller, the Executive Director of Preservation Chicago. Also confirmed in attendance in support of #SaveTheShrine are Bonnie McDonald and Lisa DiChiera, the President and Director of Advocacy for Landmarks Illinois and Jack Spicer, the Preservation Director of the Hyde Park Historical Society.

Photo

Chicago Shrine of Christ the King building to be demolished after fire, ICKSP considers rebuild or relocate

Shrine of Christ the King Status Report

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest has received a letter from the Archdiocese of Chicago summarizing the results of their substantial efforts to ascertain the best course of action for the Shrine building after the devastating October fire. Based on extensive engineering and other evaluations the Archdiocese has concluded that the church building has significant structural issues and to restore the building to its state before the fire and to bring it up to current City of Chicago building code standards is cost prohibitive. The Archdiocese is predominantly self-insured and therefore there is no resort to an insurance claim with an external insurer.

Therefore the Archdiocese is moving without delay to demolish the remnants of the structure. The Archdiocese has offered the Institute the opportunity to propose a plan for rebuilding a new church on the same site. The Institute is carefully considering this as a first option, mindful of its pastoral dedication and the Shrine’s important place in the Woodlawn and Hyde Park communities. As another option, the Archdiocese has offered a South Side church which is now available for occupancy.

The Institute remains committed to its daily mission at the Shrine of living the truth in charity for the good of souls and the benefit of the local community. Thus, the Archdiocese will renew its lease with the Institute for our continued use of the rectory and parking lot. The Institute is deeply grateful for the prayers and generous support of the Shrine faithful and friends, particularly at this challenging time of discernment.

GoFundMe: Shrine Fire Restoration

Does anyone know the location of the other proposed site on the South Side?  I just don't see a way to raise the kind of money needed to rebuild a church, especially of the stature of the existing building. My understanding is that the Institute's general strategy has been to take historic churches no longer in general use and restore them.

Update: I didn't realize this but after reading Father Zed, I see Msgr. Pope mentions this in his recent and thought provoking article at NCReg.

If you want to read the details, the story is available here: Church to be Demolished.[some good info in here] For the purposes of this article, though, simply note that the church in question suffered a rather devastating fire. The particular church was home to the Traditional Latin Mass community and was rented from the diocese. The community was permitted to undertake renovations, but given the fact that the parish had closed there was no insurance on the building. Further, as a general rule, dioceses are “self-insured,” which is a way of saying that it is really the diocese (or a cooperative of dioceses), not some huge insurance company, that must pay the damages.

It is a tragic loss, both historically (it is a one-hundred-year-old building) and for the community.

HT Rorate

Doing marriage ministry right

Adult Baptism and Confirmation followed by Sacramental Marriage
Posted by Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest on Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Chicago Christ the King Shrine repair costs estimated at $3 million

Supporters have begun to donate toward the $3 million or more cost of restoring a Woodlawn Catholic church following a devastating fire early Wednesday.

The Shrine of Christ the King, 6401 S. Woodlawn Ave., built between 1923 and 1928 and first known as St. Clara, then for much of its life, St. Gelasius, suffered a massive fire that burned for hours after apparently igniting from spontaneous combustion of clothes used to stain the church’s floor.

Firefighters were able to save a historic statue donated to the church, an 18th century statue of the Divine Infant Jesus, as well as the tabernacle containing the Eucharist, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Province of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Catholic order that has run the church since 2004. The church previously survived a 1976 fire, and has undergone extensive renovations since the order took it over a decade ago.

Supporters Thursday morning started a GoFundMe page for the church, which by about 9 p.m. Thursday had collected about $15,000 of its initial goal of $500,000.

continue at Chicago Tribune

Also: Missing Arm From 300-Year-Old Statue Found After Fire

Also the latest update from the GoFundMe page(which has been very good about posting updates):

As soon as it was safe to do so, Canon Talarico and Canon Stein, two of three priests stationed at the Shrine, retrieved the sacred liturgical item from the burnt church. Your contributions will ensure that Mass will be celebrated again soon at the Shrine. Thank you for your generosity!

GoFundMe: Shrine of Christ the King Chicago: "fully committed to carry on the work of restoration, in spite of the devastating fire"

Before: Regina Mag

After: Chicago Trib

The Infant King statue was still standing atop the High Altar when the firefighters found it. “Even with all the jet streams, he was not knocked down,” said the Rev. Michael Stein, a canon at the shrine. “He is three centuries old and he did not go up in flames.” The statue did lose an arm, and its vestments were covered in ash, but Stein pointed out that the statue’s remaining hand was still held up in a sign of blessing: “That he was saved shows our story isn’t over here, he’s still with us, his hand is still raised in blessing,” Stein said.

On October 7th, a fire broke out in the Shrine of Christ the King church, adjacent to the headquarters office of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Chicago. Evidence indicate that the fire began late at night in the wooden choir loft, and quickly spread through the church. The 3-alarm fire took 150 firefighters several hours to bring the flames under control. No one was hurt, thankfully, but substantial damage was done.

This church has an aura of hope. The Canons and staff at the Shrine are fully committed to carry on the work of restoration, in spite of the devastating fire.

Please donate and help restore this Chicago church, help it rise again, for the sake of the children, the families, and the neighborhood.

continue at GoFundMe: Shrine Fire Restoration fund

HT sahmommn

Also via Saint Louis Catholic: Photo Gallery of the Shrine Fire

Oily Rags Spontaneously Combusted, Starting Fire That Burned Down Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago, church to be rebuilt

CHICAGO — Oily rags used to apply floor stain are being blamed for the extra alarm fire that ravaged the landmark Shrine of Christ the King church in Woodlawn.

The Chicago Fire Department said spontaneous combustion started the early morning fire.

The smoke detectors went off about 5:45 a.m. in the adjoining rectory and the priests and canons discovered the main structure of the church was on fire.

About 150 firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.

The roof caved in around 8:50 a.m., according to a tweet from the Chicago Fire Department. Deputy Fire Commissioner John McNicholas explained that the church's open, sweeping architecture made it especially susceptible to structural damage as the fire raged inside the building at 6401 S. Woodlawn Ave.

There were no reported injuries, and the eight people in the rectory and approximately 40 people from a nearby shelter for women were evacuated.

The church's congregation and staff prayed across the street as firefighters drenched the roof from two ladder trucks.

continue at DNAinfo

Regina Mag recently profiled the church:  Chicago’s Infant King Statue Inspires Bright Future

From the Institute:

The Infant King is with us! We will #rebuild His home @ShrineLandmark! https://t.co/P64xFmQyqq

— ShrineChristKing (@ShrineLandmark) October 7, 2015