St. Charles Borromeo to celebrate 100 years
With a new paint job, refinished pews and a restored altar, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is celebrating its 100th building anniversary in style.
As part of the festivities, members of the Hampshire church instituted a makeover to beautify their house of worship, taking it back to the way it was 100 years ago.
In addition to what was just mentioned above, new carpeting now graces the floors and the church's whitewashed statues have been restored to their original colors, said Jeanie Mayer, a member of the church's steering committee.
"You gotta keep these beautiful buildings in good condition," Mayer said.
The celebration continues this year with Harvest Fest on Sept. 20 at the church that kicks off at 8 a.m. with a 3k run.
Decorative ornaments made out of resin and marblestone are commemorating the 100th building anniversary and will be available for pick up at the event, said Arlene Reiser, who with her husband Lowell is a lifelong member of the church and responsible for maintaining the church's archives.
Both of them were baptized and married there. They also attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School.
The Reisers took roughly 230 orders for the $25 ornaments during weekend Masses and parishioners can pick them up at Harvest Fest.
"They were very, very well accepted," said Arlene Reiser, chairwoman of the church's welcoming committee.
They ordered 50 extras just in case the demand is there, so if you didn't order one in advanced, you're in luck.
Other celebration activities for the building that turned 100 in June included a float in the Coon Creek Country Days parade, and opening the church time capsule.
Something may be scheduled for Nov. 4, the feast day of St. Charles Borromeo, patron of learning and the arts.
Finally on Jan. 10 and 11, the church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building's dedication.
Looking to the future: What's more, members have raised more than $2 million toward building a much larger American Gothic church about a mile away on Getzelmann Road, where there's 25 acres, Mayer said.
The building, constructed to keep up with Hampshires exponential growth, will be ADA accessible, offer more offices, and additional space for fellowship and religious education.
Right now, roughly 900 families belong to the church.
"It's going to be a much larger version of what we have now," Mayer said of the new building.
Members have agreed to pledge another $2 million within four years; the total project will cost $8 million in today's dollars, Mayer said.
They'll need 80 percent of the money before the ground breaking begins.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School would use the old building for its chapel. It also would be the site for church weddings, funerals and functions, Mayer said.
For more information or to send in a donation for the church's capital campaign, visit www.scbparish.org
Lenore T. Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, McHenry County College and weekend events. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com.