Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine facts for kids

Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Exterior

The Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine is a special Catholic church in La Salle, Illinois. It's part of the Peoria Diocese. This church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It honors all military veterans from the United States Armed Forces, both living and those who have passed away.

On November 7, 2007, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky made it a special "Diocesan Shrine." This means it's a very important place for Catholics in the area. It used to be a regular church parish, but now it's a Shrine. Bishop Jenky also said that people who make a special trip, called a pilgrimage, to the Shrine can receive a partial indulgence. The Shrine includes the church building, a rectory (where priests live), and a school building.

From November 8, 2015, to November 20, 2016, Bishop Jenky also named the Shrine a "Holy Door" site. This was part of a special "Holy Year of Mercy" announced by Pope Francis.

History of the Shrine

Early Beginnings

In 1904, Father Charles Zachini came to La Salle from Loreto, Italy. He helped the Italian-American community in La Salle, Peru, and Oglesby. At first, church services, called Masses, were held in a private home. Two months later, a house was bought and turned into a small church. It was named the Church of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1905. After two years, Father Zachini returned to Italy, and the church closed.

A New Parish Forms

For 18 years, the Italian-American community didn't have its own church. Then, in 1925, Father Peter Delo arrived. With permission from Bishop Edmund Michael Dunne, he started the Queen of the Holy Rosary church. The first Masses were held in the Knights of Columbus hall. On the first Sunday of October 1925, the Queen of the Holy Rosary Church was officially opened. It was in a converted house at 529 Fourth Street, right next to where the current church stands. About 35 families were part of this new church.

Building the New Church

In 1936, Father Simon D. Bernardi became the pastor (leader) of the church. He was from Pievepelago, Italy. The church collected about $30 each week. From 1936 to 1944, the church paid off its debts. Then, they started raising money to build a new, bigger church. An architect named A. F. Moratz designed the new church in a Neo-Italian Renaissance style.

From 1944 to 1954, the church members saved money for the new building. Construction began on May 16, 1954, with Father Bernardi leading the project. The new church cost about $300,000. It was officially opened on October 7, 1956. Pope Pius XII even sent a special blessing! A representative from the Pope, Monsignor Francesco Roberti, also attended the Mass.

Shrine Improvements Over Time

Many improvements were made to the Shrine over the years. The rectory, where the priests live, was finished in 1958. The old church-rectory building was taken down in the spring of 1958. By July 21, 1959, the church was completely out of debt. In November 1965, a beautiful mosaic made in Italy was added to the walls behind the altars. In 1968, a Catechetical Center (for religious education) was built. This meant buying more land and taking down other buildings.

Father Bernardi was honored by the Pope several times for his work. He was called "Very Reverend" in 1956 and "Reverend Monsignor" in 1963. He served the church for 39 years. On October 5, 1975, he passed away in the sacristy (a room in the church) just before a special Mass to celebrate the church's 50th anniversary. Since then, other pastors have led the Shrine, including Tom Otto, who is the current pastor as of 2021.

Building Details

Queen of the Holy Rosary Memorial Shrine - Interior

The Shrine building has a strong steel frame. Its outside walls are made of Bedford stone. The decorative tops of the columns are in the Corinthian style. The main doors are made of bronze.

Interior Design and Art

All the floors inside the church are made of terrazzo, a durable and decorative material. The interior features 15 different types of marble from Italy, France, and North Africa. The marble altars and railings were carved in Pietrasanta, Italy. Skilled artists came to install them personally.

The church also has many beautiful Venetian mosaics. The most famous one is a copy of Our Lady of Pompeii, which is above the main altar. Another large mosaic surrounds the main altar in gold. It shows vines reaching upwards with three coats of arms. The marble pulpit (where sermons are given) is very heavy, weighing about three tons, but it can be moved by one person.

Stained Glass Windows

The stained glass windows are made from special German and Belgian glass. They are designed in the Italian Renaissance style and show different religious scenes and figures:

• The Nativity (Jesus' birth)
• St. Anne
• St. Maria Goretti
• St. Frances Xavier (Mother) Cabrini
• St. Pius X
• The Holy Family
• The Resurrection (Jesus rising from the dead)
• Christ the King
• Guardian Angel
• Queen of the Holy Rosary
• The Sacred Heart
• The Good Shepard
• St. John the Baptist

There are also two round "rose windows." One shows the Agnus Dei (a symbol of God), and the other shows Our Lady of Sorrows (a symbol of the Virgin Mary). The choir loft has a pipe organ and an electronic carillon. This carillon can play 700 songs through the bell tower.

Memorial Dedication

When the Queen of the Holy Rosary church was dedicated, it was decided to honor seven church members. These individuals had lost their lives while serving in World War II. Their names are John Marinangeli, Richard Marinangeli, Anthony Piraino, Joseph Piraino, John Torchia, Angelo Venturi, and Barney Valesano. The Shrine remembers their sacrifice.

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