WOODLAWN — Shrine of Christ the King is inviting the firefighters who helped battle the Oct. 7 fire at the shrine to the congregation’s first Mass in its new long-term home, neighboring First Presbyterian Church.
The fire devastated the shrine, leaving it without a roof and gutting much of the interior, and First Presbyterian is now welcoming its displaced neighbor to take up residence in its church at 6400 S. Kimbark Ave.
“We have been blessed in so many ways, we felt that we must share some of the blessings in offering a place so that they may be able to worship the God of love,” said Rev. Lawrence Brown of First Presbyterian. “First Presbyterian Church is so happy to be able to help Shrine of Christ the King.”
Shrine of Christ the King has invited the firefighters who helped rescue the church’s 300-year-old statue to its first Mass in its new home at 10 a.m. on Sunday and is inviting the whole neighborhood to a noon social following the service.
“The shrine community is indebted to the leadership and congregation of First Presbyterian for the charity of their remarkable hospitality which provides us with the stability of an attractive home,” said Rev. Matthew Talarico, a canon at the shrine.
The shrine’s congregation will now have a long-term home in First Presbyterian’s gymnasium and will be able to install the ornamental backdrops of its altar, salvaged from the shrine and repaired and other items recovered from the fire.
The shrine is still assessing the damage to the objects inside the building, but Talarico said it is already clear that insurance will not cover all the damage.
The building itself is owned and insured by the Archdiocese of Chicago, which is also still in the process of assessing the damage with its insurance company.
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