Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine

Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Exterior

The Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine is a Catholic church in the Diocese of Peoria It is located at 529 Fourth Street in La Salle, Illinois and is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in memory of all living and deceased military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It was deemed worthy to be elevated to a Diocesan Shrine on November 7, 2007 by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, and dissolved as a parish.[1][2] He has granted a partial indulgence to those making a pious pilgrimage to the Shrine. The Shrine complex consists of the church, the rectory and a school building.

Bishop Jenky has designated the Shrine as a Holy Door pilgrimage site for the Holy Year of Mercy from November 8, 2015 through November 20, 2016, as announced by Pope Francis. The faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage visit to the Shrine and passing through the main doors, in addition to fulfilling the usual requirements. .[3]

History

In 1904, Father Charles Zachini from the Diocese of Loreto, Italy arrived in La Salle and ministered to the Italian-American community for the Illinois towns of La Salle, Peru, and Oglesby. The first Masses were said in a private house on the corner of Third and Creve Coeur streets.[4] Two months later, a house was purchased on the corner of Fourth and Bucklin, converted into a small church and dedicated as the Church of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1905. Two years after the dedication, Zachini was recalled to Italy to be made a canon of the Basilica of Loreto and the church was closed.[5]

For 18 years the Italian-American community was without its own parish until Father Peter Delo arrived in 1925 and established the Queen of the Holy Rosary church with the permission of Bishop Edmund M. Dunne. The first Masses were said in the Knights of Columbus hall. On the first Sunday in October, 1925, the Queen of the Holy Rosary Church was dedicated in a converted house at 529 Fourth Street and had a membership of 35 families.[6] This is next to the site of the current structure.

In 1936, Father Simon D. Bernardi was appointed pastor of the parish. He was originally from Pieve Pelago in the province of Modena, Italy and ordained June 12, 1932 in the United States. Parish collections averaged US$30 per week. From 1936 to 1944, the debt of the parish was paid off, and fund-raising began for a new building for the growing parish. At that time architect A. F. Moratz of Bloomington, Illinois was contracted to design a Neo-Italian Renaissance-style church. To this end, the parish contributed to the building fund from 1944 to 1954. Ground was broken on May 16, 1954 with construction under the direction of Father Bernardi; total cost was approximately $300,000. The new church was dedicated on October 7, 1956 with an Apostolic Blessing granted by Pope Pius XII. Monsignor Francesco Roberti, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Council and personal representative of the Pope to the Tenth U.S. CCD Congress participated in the Mass.[5]

Throughout the years various improvements were made. The rectory was completed in 1958. In the spring of 1958, the old church-rectory was demolished. On July 21, 1959, the parish became free of debt. In November 1965 an Italian-made mosaic was installed on the back walls of the main and side altars. In 1968 a Catechetical Center was completed. This required the purchase of the remaining half block of property west of the church and the demolition of the buildings.

Father Bernardi was elevated to Privy Chamberlain with the title of Very Reverend by Pope Pius XII in 1956, and elevated to Domestic Prelate with the title of Reverend Monsignor in 1963 by Pope John XXIII. On October 5, 1975, after 39 years serving the parish, he died in the sacristy before a Pontifical High Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the parish.[7] Succeeding pastors have been Edward Bawiec (1975 - 1986), Dale Maloy (1986 - 2003), Reverend Gordon Pillon (2003 - 2006) and Robert Rayson in 2006, who was appointed the first Vicar in 2007. Antonio Dittmer became pastor in June 2012.

Building detail[5]

Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Interior
The Nativity
St. Anne
St. Maria Goretti
St. Frances Xavier (Mother) Cabrini
St. Pius X
The Holy Family
The Resurrection
Christ the King
Guardian Angel
Queen of the Holy Rosary
The Sacred Heart
The Good Shepard
St. John the Baptist

Memorial Dedication

It was decided at the time of dedication that the Queen of the holy rosary would memorialize seven parishioners who lost their lives while serving in World War II, John Marinangeli, Richard Marinangeli, Anthony Piraino, Joseph Piraino, John Torchia, Angelo Venturi and Barney Valesano.[5]

Interior Shrine Features
Main altar showing the marble detail and gold mosaic.
Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Main altar 
Close up of the Our Lady of Pompeii mosaic above the main altar.
Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Our Lady of Pompeii mosaic detail 
Detail of the Marian rose window in the choir loft. This window is above the main front doors.
Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Marian rose window 

References

  1. ↑ Bibo, Terry (October 10, 2009), Parish suspensions hit hard in LaSalle area, Peoria, Illinois: Peoria Journal Star
  2. ↑ "Services set in LaSalle, East Peoria for Deacon Rager", The Catholic Post, Peoria, Illinois: Diocese of Peoria, January 10, 2010
  3. ↑ "Bishop Jenky's Festival Letter on "Divine Mercy" outlines Holy Year", The Catholic Post, Peoria, Illinois: Diocese of Peoria, December 6, 2015
  4. ↑ LaSalle Centennial Committee (1952). LaSalle Illinois: an historical sketch. LaSalle, Illinois: LaSalle Centennial Committee. p. 53.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Bernardi, Simon D. (October 7, 1956). Dedication Book of Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Church and 50th Anniversary. La Salle, Illinois: Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Church. pp. 9–10, inside front cover.
  6. ↑ Schiavo, Giovanni (1957). Four Centuries of Italian-American History (Fourth American ed.). New York City: The Vigo Press. pp. 372–374.
  7. ↑ "Msgr. Bernardi dies minutes before Mass for 50th anniversary", News-Tribune, LaSalle, Illinois: Daily News Tribune, Inc., p. 1, October 6, 1975
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Coordinates: 41°19′54″N 89°5′52″W / 41.33167°N 89.09778°W / 41.33167; -89.09778

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