QUINCY — In recognition of the upcoming 100-year anniversary of St. Rose of Lima Church in Quincy, the Latin Mass Community that worships there is holding fund-raisers to restore and clean the building's magnificent stained glass windows.
Paul Geers, president of the Latin Mass Society of Quincy, says he believes St. Rose of Lima has one of the largest collections — if not the largest — of stained glass in a Catholic church within the Springfield diocese. He is proud to be part of the team that will help renew those windows to their original beauty.
"We have monthly dinners and fund-raisers to help with the restoration of these historic windows. We are also selling cup holders with the church and stained glass windows on them, a most beautiful afghan with the outside of the church on it, custom-made aprons and note cards of the windows."
The present St. Rose of Lima Church was dedicated on June 2, 1912, but St. Rose of Lima Parish existed from 1892 until 1999 when it was merged with St. John Parish to become All Saints Parish. In 2006, All Saints then joined with St. Boniface Parish and Immaculate Conception (St. Mary) Parish to become Blessed Sacrament Parish.
The church was closed in 2005 and most of its contents were either moved to another church or sold, says Geers. In 2007, then-Bishop George J. Lucas gave permission to re-open the church for the traditional Latin Mass.
"St. Rose of Lima is now a chaplaincy. The Latin Mass Society of Quincy was formed to take over the property and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter was asked by Bishop Lucas to serve the Latin Mass community," says Geers, whose family history goes back to the days when St. Rose of Lima Parish was first founded. Daily Latin Mass is celebrated at 7 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. and Sunday low Mass is held at 8 a.m., while Sunday high Mass is celebrated at 11 a.m.
"The Latin Mass community started work on the three buildings — rectory, hall and church — in May 2008," Geers says. "The only items left in the church were the original pews and the historic 1912 Wicks organ." The pipe organ was rededicated on May 7, 2011 to begin the church's centennial year.
Geers says it took "thousands of hours — all volunteer — to prepare the church, rectory and church hall for Mass and our priest." The Society purchased three marble altars from Barat College in Chicago. "Hanging above the sanctuary is the original cross that came from the first St. John's Church in Quincy and we have the processional cross that came from the first St. Boniface Church in Quincy," Geer says. "Many old items were given to the Latin Mass Society for use in St. Rose."
Through all of the preparations, the stained glass windows have remained intact, but definitely need some work, says Father Arnaud Devillers, FSSP, who is chaplain at St. Rose of Lima. "Right now the windows are our most urgent project," he says.
"They aren't in very bad shape, but they do need some attention. They are pretty dirty and the outside protective windows are yellowed," says Father Devillers. "We'd like to clean them and put on some new outside windows." The two largest windows are each 20 feet high and 13 feet wide, extending across the north and south arms of the transept. They are positioned just 8 feet above the floor. On the south side is the Nativity of Christ and on the north side is the Ascension of Christ.
Eight smaller windows, each at least 6 feet wide and 8 feet off the ground — four each on the north and south side walls — are in the body of the church. Seven smaller windows, high in the sanctuary, show Saints Cecelia, Matthew, Mark, Rose of Lima, Luke, John and Elizabeth of Hungary. In the organ loft are seven narrow windows, each picturing one individual from the seven choirs of angels, and each angel holding a different stringed musical instrument. All of the windows were installed by Emil Frei Associates, Inc. in St. Louis.
Father Devillers says bid estimates for cleaning and refurbishing the windows is about $150,000 and the Latin Mass Community would like to raise those funds before beginning the project. "Right now we are debt-free," says Father Devillers. "But if we start this window project that won't last too long."
Geers says St. Rose of Lima has always been important to the Quincy community. In the year 2000, the City of Quincy designated St. Rose of Lima Church as a historic landmark. Even before that, the historic church was acknowledged by Quincy Preserves, which placed a plaque on the church in 1992. Next month, on Saturday, Oct. 15, the church, which is on the northwest corner of Eighth and Chestnut streets, will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the Quincy Preserves House Tour.
For more information on purchasing St. Rose of Lima products, or to donate to the window restoration, call Father Arnaud Devillers at (217) 222-2511 or e-mail Paul Geers at .
Information on specific windows at St. Rose of Lima Church was obtained from St. Rose of Lima, a history written by Katheryn Ullmen, published in 1993.