CARPENTERSVILLE—Speaking with impeccable Spanish and English, Bishop David Malloy switched fluidly among the two languages during the blessings of the new tabernacle, crucifix and image of St. Monica, the patron of St Monica Parish, Carpentersville, Aug. 6, during the 4:30 p.m. Mass. 

 

“In different ways, each of these articles … symbolizes, it strengthens, it helps our faith,” said Bishop Malloy during his homily.

 

“We are celebrating the continual beauty and reverence not only in our hearts but in this parish church … blessed are the people who the Lord has chosen to be His own,” Bishop Malloy said.

 

The project to renovate an existing crucifix and add a new tabernacle and statue started “in May, after Bishop approved them,” according to Father William Vallejo, parochial administrator here. 

 

“I spoke with Father Jonathan Bakkelund from the Office of Divine Worship,” Father Vallejo said, to make sure the changes would be liturgically correct and to have the necessary approval because “the changes made are going to be permanent in the parish. Which means that another pastor can not remove them,” said Father Vallejo.

 

The refurbished crucifix has been with the parish since it was founded in 1957. It had previously hung over the center of the altar then was removed and used only during the Lenten season. It has been in storage at the parish for the last 20 years.

 

The crucifix “had (Christ’s) foot destroyed and didn’t have the blood and delicate details on His face,” said Father Vallejo. 

 

It has now been restored locally and has a new home in the center of the wall behind the altar. The new refurbished crucifix replaces the image of the resurrected Jesus that used to be in the center of the altar. It too now has a new home, on a wall of the parish hall at St. Monica.

 

Both the new tabernacle and the statue of St Monica were made in Mexico and made possible through generous donations from St. Monica parishioners. Technology allowed Father Vallejo to regularly review the progress long-distance through photos and videos, making sure the statue of St. Monica was the correct image and that the aesthetic of the tabernacle was beautiful and reverent.

 

On the other side of the altar is the statue of St Monica. It “was a donation, it was done based on an Italian image, it is an exclusive piece” said Father Vallejo.

 

For Father Vallejo, this change “means that we are becoming aware that Santa Monica is not the parish but rather our home. Because it must identify us that through the cross, we reach salvation.”

 

The new golden tabernacle is embedded within a free-standing wall of white marble. Above and below the golden tabernacle are the Greek letters for Alpha and Omega, respectively, signifying that Christ is our beginning and end. 

 

The doors of the tabernacle are adorned with a gold and silver lamb. Those doors open to reveal angels on their interiors. Inside those doors is another door with a built-in golden monstrance to house and protect the Blessed Sacrament for exposition. That door protects the interior niche containing the ciborium for consecrated hosts. 

 

The entire new fixture is located at the left of the altar complete with a new altar lamp. The new statue of St. Monica is displayed on the right. 

 

About 500 parishioners celebrated the blessings of the renovations. It is “very nice and is very surprising,” said Stephen Chamaola, parishioner since 1968. The parish has changed “here and there not a lot,” but “the population, (has changed) a lot.” During the week, St. Monica has six Masses in Spanish and two in English.

 

Bishop Malloy spoke about the National Eucharistic Revival in the U.S., which began on the Feast of Corpus Christi this year, and how important the revival is to the Church since recent studies show that less than 30 percent of those who identify as Catholics accept that the bread and wine really are the Body and Blood of Christ. 

 

Bishop Malloy reminded those gathered that “The tabernacle is where the Eucharist is kept, the presence of Christ, the true presence of Christ. When the Mass is finished … when you come to the church outside of Mass you are able to pray in the presence of God Himself.” For that reason, “The tabernacle is typically a beautiful and spiritual container … to protect the Body of Christ. The tabernacle is the link to our faith in the Eucharist.”

 

Participating in the ceremony of blessing with Bishop Malloy and Father Vallejo were Msgr. Arquímedes Vallejo, Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Elgin; Father Luis Manuel Guanipa, parochial vicar of St Monica; Father Jhonatan Sarmiento, parochial administrator of St James Parish, Rockford, and Father Johnson López, pastor of St. Edward Parish, Rockford. 

 

Seminarian Ian Ordoñez and candidates to the permanent deaconate José Pasillas and Enrique Nolasco also participated.