By Tricia Goecks
Editor
BELVIDERE – When Bishop Thomas Doran was a seminary student in the late 1950s, he was told by Bishop Loras Lane that Belvidere needed a new church. The need was unmet ...for over 50 years until Father Brian Geary arrived at St. James Catholic Church in July 2008 and Doran gave the go ahead for the project to begin in earnest. “There has been a great need for it for all these decades,” Geary said.
The original plan was to tear down the church and rectory and build a larger church in its footprint. Following the retirement of Doran, Bishop David Malloy changed the scope of the project to add on to the existing church instead of tearing down and replacing the existing church.
St. James conducted a capital campaign to solicit pledges from its parishioners. Among the churchgoers, they have a 90 percent participation rate in the capital campaign. “It is very encouraging that we have that level of support,” Geary said.
Geary was encouraged and touched by the participation of the Catholic youth. “In the middle of our first campaign, three years ago there was a server. I think he was about 8th grade age and he said sheepishly he wanted to tell me something before Mass. For a kid it is hard to get up the nerve to ask the priest to ask a question or talk to him,” Geary said. “And he told me ‘Father I got $50 for my birthday party over the weekend and I want to give it all to the church.’ ”
“Children can be so generous and they are not as worried as adults about how am I going to make it.”
“There are people who live in very, very modest homes here in Belvidere and they have given very sacrificially and generously,” Geary added. “It tells there are people here who you wouldn’t think have the means or generosity and that this campaign and brought out this hidden virtue”
“I am grateful for that. “
Since Jan. 5, parishioners have volunteered their time and efforts to help prepare St. James for the construction project. In addition to demolition work, the pews, organ, Stations of the Cross, altar and relics were relocated and the carpeting torn up to the subflooring level. “It is going to save us a significant amount of money,” Geary stated. Due to the construction, Masses are being held in the gym.
Once the construction is complete, the seating capacity will increase from 320 people to 900 people. “The bishop has determined that if we build on to this church we could serve all of Boone County,” Geary said.
In addition to Geary, St. James is served by Father John Earl. Earl celebrates many of the Spanish language Masses at St. James. “His Spanish is much better than mine,” Geary added.
Geary and Earl are joined by retired priest Thomas Bartolomeo and Deacon James Olson.
The project that was over 50 years in the making will begin construction this week.See More
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