The things that make you proud of your church...

From this morning's County Leader:

Arcola Dedicates New Youth Center

ARCOLA--- When long-time St. John the Baptist pastor Msgr. Herman Niebrugge died earlier this year, the Springfield Diocese commissioned an oil portrait in his memory. The portrait, since completed, hangs in the foyer of the parish center, and depicts the late pastor seated at his desk with his Bible open. Those who knew him well believe that they likely know what verse it was opened to, because it was his favorite, and summed up his attitude toward his parish and the community in which he lived for over 30 years.

"I am the good shepherd, and you are my flock", said David Schilling, a life-long parishioner and one of Niebrugge's best friends. "I'd bet my last dollar that that's what it's open to", he emphatically adds.

It was that picture that led Schilling and a group of about twenty fellow parishioners to seek a more permanent memorial for their late pastor, and this week that idea became a reality with the dedication of the Herman Niebrugge Youth Center in Arcola.

The 4000 square-foot center is a gift from the parish to the village, and in its former life it served as the parish hall. Built in 1966, it contains an auditorium, a gymnasium, a commercial kitchen, classrooms and a meeting room. The building had sat largely unused since the parish built its new parish center last fall, serving only to host an occasional lodge meeting or small wedding.

"One of Monsignor Niebrugge's constant worries involved the children of our community, and ways in which we could improve their lives, and provide them with wholesome activities and direction", Village President Andy Manna recalled. "He was never shy about letting us know about things he thought we could or should be doing for kids that we weren't. A few years ago, when we were strapped for cash and were afraid we were going to have to scale back our summer youth baseball program, he came into my office and read me the riot act", Manna said, laughing. "Why don't you have the money? Have you tried to get more? Who did you ask to help?", Niebrugge asked him, eventually agreeing to take over the job of securing additional funds. He did so well that Arcola now has one of the largest youth-baseball programs in downstate Illinois, Manna acknowledged.

Schilling's group approached St, John's current pastor, Monsignor Jeff Grant, with the idea of giving the parish center to the village for use as a youth center. Msgr. Grant contacted Bishop Lucas, who agreed with the idea and also funded remodeling of the electrical and other mechanical systems to bring the building into compliance with State fire, light and safety codes. The Diocese has also made a one-time gift of $10,000 for operating expense and staff costs.

Bishop Lucas spoke at the dedication, fondly remembering his friend and mentor.

"When I sought to remember my teacher and old friend Herman, I commissioned a portrait of him to hang in his memory in the parish he thought of as his home, to be seen by those who loved him as I did. But God sees many needs the rest of us often don't, just as Herman did, and delivers us gentle rebukes for our follies. That is exactly how I felt when Monsignor Grant contacted me with the idea of this youth center. I should have known that there was no less fitting memorial for Monsignor Niebrugge than something as pretty, but useless, as a portrait. I could almost see Herman standing there, wagging his finger at me, that great smile on his broad face.

It is with great joy, therefore, that I give to you the deed to this property, and most proudly dedicate the Herman Niebrugge Youth Center to the use of the people of this village," he said in closing. "It is altogether fitting and proper that it should be so."

The Youth Center will be open every day of the week from noon until 10:00 p.m., holidays excepted.







Monsignor would have been pleased.

:D

Jesus said to let your light so shine...that all may see your good works....so many so-called "Christians" have forgotten this...thanks for the uplifting story.

OT: Do the banks in Arcola still have stables for the Amish people's horses? Some of the Amish from nearby Arthur did business in Arcola in the 60s and 70s, and I remember going down there to the Amish store to get cheese. Since Arcola was on the interstate, we'd go through town and see the hitching posts for the horses by one of the banks.

The Cheese factory is still going strong, and Amish-centered tourism has become big business here.

:)

but the best one I can remeber had a preacher that walked the walk...and knew when to quit preaching, and start teaching...:D

He was always among the first to 'roll up his sleeves, and get down to work'.

:)

I'm sure there are some Catholic fundamentalists, but they're kinda rare.

I don't let things like abortion and gay marriage chase me out of Church.

But I've not let my disagreements run me off from the Church, either.

:)

:)

legacy of faith drives to benefit their own parish community, to see that a parish has given to an entire community is inspiring. Thanks for sharing that Padraig. Msgr Niebrugge must have been a wonderful pastor!

Laura

We cherish his memory, and miss him terribly...

:hi:

amazing at how they sit back and rake in the cash, always upgrading the building, but never reinforcing the foundation. Everybody thinks a new coat of paint is a good idea, but some go WAY overboard, and get downright ridiculous. I look to the foundation as being far more important; the foundation of any church, synagogue, temple or mosque, are those that go there. They go there, not only for spiritual guidance, but for various other reasons as well. The best churches, etc, are those that serve their communities in ways that can be felt immediately by those communities. They help the poor, the downtrodden and the weak. That should always be the primary purpose of any institution of religion...aid to their community in whatever form of aid they can bring together.

I have lived in communities where memebers of a church have, without any urging, come forward after a personal, family or community disaster, and helped w/o any questions, and no strings attached. To me, this is a sign that church is alive and well. If people come first, the institution is true to its faith, all else pales beside that. I don't care what religion it is, I will always respect that above all else.

O8)

We run a feeding center called the 'Loaves and Fishes Cafe', which provides 3 meals a day for anyone needing fed, no questions asked. We operate a transitional-housing facility, the 'Catholic Worker House', which shelters 15 singles and 2 families who might otherwise be homeless. We also run the 'Homework Hangout', an after-school program for children which provides help with homework (DUH!), as well as snacks and fun things to do. We also house the Community Food Bank, which provides food and commodities to the poor, and the Civic Association offices, which provides vouchers for rent, food, medicine, utilities, dental and eye care, etc. .

I once heard Msgr. Niebrugge say, "It does precious little good for me to preach about the salvation of men's souls, if I can do nothing to better their day-to-day lives".

How true!

:)

Here in the Boston area, the Catholic church is planning to close down a large number of parishes, and their parishioners are quite upset about it. My mother's church, which she went to when she was a child, is one of them. The church says it has nothing to do with the lawsuits, but no one believes that. (This is in the Boston area.)

I think you're right about the closings.

:hi:

:)

I'm sure that he knows, some how, and that he's got a HUGE smile pasted on his face!

:thumbsup: