a closer look at the 1867 bell and the narrow passageway up to the tower
In the low-lying landscapes of Bourbonnais, Illinois, the steeple of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church is a prominent sight, but for a little while, it didn’t shine in the nighttime.
The lights in the tower that rises over the old stone church at this Viatorian parish had burned out – and it took quite an effort to scale the old tower and swap in new, bright, energy-efficient bulbs.
The people of the Maternity BVM community are always quite generous – supportive of special projects and capital campaigns to maintain and improve the old grounds; of community service efforts like Camp MOSH, Belize Mission trips, and the on-site food pantry; and in prayer and fellowship, partnering with Viatorian pastors to raise this faith community for 160 years and counting.
In this case, two brave parishioners, Perry Denault and Rob Cotsones, heeded the call from MBVM Pastor Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, to make their church tower shine again. “Our volunteers scaled the steeple because our light that glows from up there at night had been spent. They replaced it with an LED fixture with photocell,” Fr. Jason explained. “Now that glow in our little logo will be there again,” he added, in a nod to the illustration of the tower in the parish logo.
The evening glow from the steeple once again matches the parish logo!
It takes some courage to navigate the narrow, steep spaces. For their hard work, Perry and Rob got a good look at the old bell, inscribed in 1867 by manufacturers in Troy, New York, and even discovered an antique wrench left behind long ago.
“It took some time to get someone up there, and their work makes a difference. I was grateful for the views offered by our volunteers,” Fr. Jason said, affirming the photos they took from above.
Fr. Jason knows there are always projects around campus worthy of attention, but this simple fix means a lot in an important way. “Our mission is to radiate the light and love of Christ to all. I feel that the light in the steeple is a reminder of our mission as it radiates light in the community,” Fr. Jason said. “It calls us in and sends us forth at the same time.”
So for those who find themselves heading up or down Marsile St./US Route 45-52 in the evening, take a look at the fresh, bright light coming from the steeple of the Viatorians’ mother church.
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the view from MBVM out to Bourbonnais