Christ the King in Chicago

Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago, has participated in the coronation and enthronement of a statue of the Holy Child at the new Shrine of Christ the King in that city. The church, formerly dedicated to St. Gelasius and St. Clara, was entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a group of priests dedicated to offering the traditional Latin Mass. The church had been shut down many years ago and the Institute received it in a dilapidated condition, immediately embarking upon essential repairs for the physical integrity of the building. While the renovations are by no means complete, a fine temporary trompe l’oeil reredos has been erected, and Cardinal George was invited to crown the centuries-old statue of the Infant Jesus which the Institute purchased for the Shrine.

His Eminence crowns the Christ-child…

…and the Holy Child is enthroned.

A Mass was then offered.

Afterwards, His Eminence met with various members of the parish, people from the neighborhood, and students from the University of Chicago.

Here is the church in 2006, when the first Mass was offered since it had been closed many years before…

…and here is the church today.

Long live Christ the King!

Previously: Martyrs of Spain, Pray for Us!