Nancy Rapps (in pink) and Ann Thomas are two of the employees who greet visitors who come in to shop or browse at the Marian Center. In Springfield, one man's devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary has made a world of difference in thousands of lives. It was just over 20 years ago when Dr. David Mack returned from a visit to Medjugorje, where he had purchased a number of traditional Catholic books. Although he had hoped to donate the books to a store in Springfield, that place wasn't interested in receiving them. That's when the orthopedic surgeon made the decision to open his own store.
Because the downtown shop was launched during a Marian year - and because Mack has such a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that stems back to his childhood days - he chose to call his store the Marian Center.
"He has always been devoted to the Blessed Mother, as were his parents," says LouAnn Mack about her husband. "You will never see him without at least a half-dozen rosaries. He says whatever you give the Blessed Mother she gives you back one-hundred fold.
"In the beginning, he wanted the store to have books, rosaries, medals, crosses and statues," says Mack of her husband's wishes when he opened the downtown Springfield store 20 years ago this month. "Early on the Marian Center had assistance from Robert Scott, who is now deceased. He was an attorney who did the early formation work." Marian Center was also assisted by Don George of George Alarm Company.
{xtypo_quote_left}"Sometimes people walk in and say, 'I just feel better when I walk in here.'" - LouAnn Mack{/xtypo_quote_left}
For the first 10 years the Marian Center at 313 E. Monroe was half the size of today's store. It was located on the first floor and lower level and also had a room where folks could come to read or hold prayer groups. "About 10 years ago, the business located next to the Marian Center moved and the Marian Center expanded to include that space, becoming one of the largest not-for-profit Catholic stores in the United States," says 19-year volunteer Tom Shrewsbury of the 4,000-square-foot facility.
Today's store also carries church supplies, first Communion dresses, candles and gifts for all occasions including baptism, first Communion, confirmation and ordination. There is a clergy room, a children's room and a Christmas shop that is opened year round.
The Marian Center offers a wide variety of items for priests in its clergy room. "Some people might not know it, but the Marian Center was instrumental in bringing Catholic radio to the central Illinois area through the Covenant Network and also operates Channel 28, a low-wattage TV station making EWTN available to people in the immediate area who want Catholic TV but do not have cable," Shrewsbury says. "We also have a lending library of books and videos.
"In addition, the Marian Center has sponsored a number of religious pilgrimages throughout the world, including 17 pilgrimages to EWTN in Birmingham and the new Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Ala.," Shrewsbury says. "We have been on a number of pilgrimages to Italy which included papal audiences and also viewing the Shroud of Turin." Additional pilgrimages are being planned for 2008.
Mack says that volunteers have always played a large role in the ongoing success of the Marian Center. "We have had wonderful, dedicated volunteers over the years," she says. "We are very appreciative of our staff and volunteers who are the strength behind the Marian Center."
Besides the volunteers, Dr. David Mack's late wife, Elaine Mack, and their daughters have been involved in running and working in the Marian Center. "Certainly the Marian Center owes a debt of gratitude to Elaine Mack. She was involved early on, but she was the manager here from 1995 to 2000. She really built this store up as far as getting a variety of merchandise. She was the driving force behind the Marian Center for many, many years," says LouAnn of Elaine, who passed away in 2002.
"I remember how Elaine was so helpful to the customers and especially to the clergy. She had a great respect for the clergy and the religious and really went out of her way to be of service to them and set a good example for everyone else." Mack adds that a small framed painting of Jesus as a boy still sits on the shelf in her former office at the Marian Center. The office is now occupied by store manager Amity Frey. "That was Elaine's favorite picture. That is why it is still here," LouAnn says.
"You know, some of our most popular pictures are the ones people remember from their grandparent's houses," she says. "I think there is definitely a place for the traditional images in our homes."
The Marian Center is also involved in the distribution of pictures and statues to the community, such as the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Guadalupe and the outdoor statue Our Lady of Grace. Moreover, the store gives assistance to Springfield Right to Life and to the Serra Club. "The Marian Center was primarily responsible for the foundation of the Serra Club at the very beginning," says Shrewsbury, who was the first president of the Springfield Serra Club, a group that supports vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
"Early on there was a small staff and many volunteers," Shrewsbury says. "We have regular customers who show up every Saturday or every Monday. We also have people who just come in to visit."
He adds that some of the customers who have come into the Marian Center over the years are now priests and deacons.
"Sometimes people walk in and say, ‘I just feel better when I walk in here,'" Mack says. "There is a lot of prayer support that goes into the Marian Center, in addition to our volunteers and staff. A lot of prayer support keeps this place going. We truly foster Marian devotion here and we are grateful for her help. This is her store. It's Mary's store. No doubt about it."
The Marian Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those individuals interested in becoming volunteers at the Marian Center are encouraged to contact store manager Amity Frey at (217) 744-3610.