From the ashes, a new church rises
By Erika Wurst ewurst@stmedianetwork.com February 22, 2012 4:26PM
Sacred Heart Parish's Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo puts ashes on parishioners foreheads for Ash Wednesday in the basement of the school on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. After 13 years of fundraising and building, the parish's new church building is finally complete and ready to begin hosting services. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: March 22, 2012 10:36PM
Thirteen years ago, a fire turned Aurora’s Sacred Heart Church to ashes, but on Wednesday, parishioners proved that together they could rise from them.
With his pews packed on Ash Wednesday, Monsignor Arquimedes Vallejo held his final services at the makeshift church, and prepared to enter his new home; a 8,500-square-foot building next door, with beautiful stained glass windows, refurbished wooden pews, and seating for up to 450 people.
“”I feel like it’s a miracle to be able to finish this project in the middle of this economic situation,” Vallejo said prior to the 5 p.m. service.””There is so much joy and enthusiasm. These people never lost their faith.”
The church has been through its trials and tribulations. Parishioners currently pack into pink fabric-covered pseudo-pews in the basement of a school next door. The kitchen was turned into a seating area, where space was limited to standing room only by the time Ash Wednesday services began. Vallejo expected more than 600 parishioners to pass through the doors for throughout the day.
With smiles on their faces, and prayer in their hearts, parishioners sang loudly, their voices echoing to the world outside. The building, however, was one of far less beauty. Dusty white blinds covered the windows in the basement, and the choir was pushed up against a small stage, with barely enough room for the bongos.
Families with small children held them in their laps to make room for the hundreds of brothers and sisters who showed up to pray on Wednesday.
“People have waited so patiently,” Vallejo said. “A basement is not a place to worship the Lord. We have built this church by the grace of God, and the many, many people supporting us.”
As the poorest parish in the Rockford Diocese, Sacred Heart was struggling financially before a boy playing with matches set the building on fire. Vallejo said that struggle didn’t stop parishioners from keeping their faith.
When the diocese discouraged rebuilding on the site near Fulton and State streets, by refusing to pay for reconstruction, the community stood strong, raising funds on their own.
When they were forced into a packed, old basement with exposed pipes and a sparkling gold tiled floor, not one parishioner complained. Nor were objections made when weddings were moved elsewhere and caskets couldn’t get down the winding staircase for funerals.
Still, for some the move will be bittersweet, Vallejo said.
“They are leaving crying from this place (today),” he said. “They attended lots of ceremonies that have touched their lives in this building, and now they are leaving. It’s an emotional conflict.
“”In one way, they are so happy they get to move to the new church, but they are also sad they are leaving their home.”
The new church is a not a replica of the original. But it is built in a more traditional style to keep a connection with the old church. The design is clean and simple. The pews and lights have been donated from other churches and refurbished.
When it came to this project, it seemed as if everybody did some chipping in, Vallejo said, and he couldn’t have been more proud.
“In this project, I see the hands of God,” he said. “It was this big project, and we had no money, but we prayed and prayed every day. The generosity of the people has been wonderful. We tried to do many, many little things to reach our goal, and to reach this moment.”
On March 4, at 11:30 a.m., Sacred Heart will hold the Consecration Mass for the new church. The Rev. Thomas G. Doran, bishop of Rockford, will preside over the bilingual Mass.
“All of the services this weekend will be at the new church, and people have promised to fill it up,” Vallejo said.
Donations are still being accepted by the Sacred Heart Parish for the cost of the new building. Donations can be sent to 771 Fulton St., Aurora IL, 60505.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment