Church restoration celebrated at solemn high Mass

Some 200 worshippers pray during a solemn high traditional Latin Mass celebrated on Sept. 5 at SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church in Oak Forest in the Batesville Deanery to celebrate the completion of the restoration of much of the church’s interior decoration. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

OAK FOREST—On Sept. 5, more than 200 worshippers filled SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church in Oak Forest to take part in the celebration of a solemn high Mass that celebrated the recent completion of the restoration of much of the church’s interior decoration. (See a photo gallery from the Mass)

With the plaster walls fixed and repainted, the church looked much different than it did when the traditional Latin Mass apostolate began there on Jan. 9, 2005.

At that time, SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church had been largely unused for five years and had fallen into disrepair. In 2000, St. Cecilia of Rome Parish—as it was known then—was converted into a chapel where special sacramental celebrations, such as baptisms and weddings, could be celebrated, but where regular Sunday or weekday Masses did not take place.

When the apostolate began in 2005, Kenneth Voelker, previously a member of St. Cecilia of Rome Parish, said that he was glad liturgies were being celebrated regularly in the church again so that it wasn’t “just collecting dust and being a little place for the critters to exist in.”

Voelker and his wife, Martha, are now members of SS. Philomena and Cecilia Parish, and they appreciate the great changes that have happened in the church that, except for the five years it was a chapel, has been their spiritual home since the 1970s.

“Everything has just turned out so beautifully,” said Martha Voelker. “You’re in awe when you walk in. I’m constantly looking around and seeing something different that I didn’t see before.”

The work done in the church was extensive. The walls and ceilings were completely repainted. Statues in the church were restored as were various emblems painted on the walls and ceilings. Painted on the emblems are such images as a dove, baptismal font and chalice.

The walls in the sanctuary received special attention. The area was painted to look like a sunrise horizon, a symbol both of the resurrection of Christ and his glorious return at the end of time.

Much of this work was done to replicate the appearance of the church at around the turn of the 20th century.

A new feature to the church, however, is a large painting of a pelican on the ceiling above the seating for the congregation. The pelican is seen piercing its breast to feed its young on its own blood, an ancient symbol of the Eucharist.

The church’s stained-glass windows are currently in the process of being restored. Work on them is scheduled to be completed in December.

The cost for the restoration project is $310,000.

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Gerard Saguto, the administrator of the parish, said the restoration of the church is a way to help parishioners grow in the faith.

“It teaches that the faith is living,” Father Saguto said. “The imagery on the walls are all things that help raise the heart and soul to God. That’s the ultimate thing. Is it assisting people with the worship of God in the sacred liturgy?”

Matthew Dole, 44, a father of seven and member of SS. Philomena and Cecilia, answered Father Saguto’s question with an emphatic “Yes.”

“It [the restoration work] focuses you upon what is occurring at Mass,” Dole said. “The focus of the church is to the altar. We’re all focusing in the same direction. We’re all focusing toward God.”

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, centered his homily at the Sept. 5 Mass on what happens at the altar.

“Through the centuries, men and women have risked their lives—risked their lives—to do what we’re doing here tonight in this beautiful church: celebrate Mass,” he said. “ … Tonight, we

re-dedicate this building to the worship of Almighty God.”

Father Saguto was the celebrant at the solemn high Mass. Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Michael Magiera, associate pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis, served as deacon during the liturgy while Father Christian Kappes served as subdeacon.

Dole said the high value that the parish community put on restoring their church teaches a lesson to the younger members of the faith community.

“The children are seeing that our priority in life is worship,” he said. “It’s the Mass. It’s to know and love and serve God. And the church lends itself to that.”

Artist Todd Brausch, based in Columbus, Ohio, did all of the painting for the restoration project.

He, his wife and two children lived in the parish’s rectory for a month while he did much of the work

Brausch and his family were present for the liturgy. Afterward, he joked when asked if he prayed while doing the restoration work in the church.

“Anytime you’re 40 feet in the air, you pray,” said Brausch, chuckling. “You do lots of praying.”

The artist stood on scaffolds to paint the church’s high ceiling.

Putting humor aside, Brausch said it meant a lot to see his artistry come together through the liturgy’s actions.

“That’s the whole point,” Brausch said. “It was beautiful. It gives it life. It gives it a reason.” †