2023 Update Archive

Saturday, December 23, 2023

from St. Irenaeus, 1920

Saturday, December 16, 2023

A Saturday workday resulted in plastic covering the sanctuary. Also, progress in the sacristies.

A volunteer vacuums the ceiling to prepare for paint while another watches on.

Please pray for the safety of these volunteers! Each area requires prep, priming, paint and then detail work.

The contrast of new and old paint. The faux-stone was installed in the 1940s to cover failing plaster.

Painting requires that the scaffolding be taken down and reassembled many times.

Volunteers covered all the windows and Stations of the Cross in plastic to protect them.

The sun shines through two layers of plastic.

The volunteers must take turns using the scaffolding. This day was a trim day.

The South Wall (in progress)

The North Wall (completed earlier)

Saturday, November 25, 2023

an overdue update

It has been quiet at St. Irenaeus Chapel, but not idle, as things are researched and prepared. For example:

Six new exterior doors are being fabricated
New landscaping on the north side now diverts water away from the building
Two large crosses have been built for the steeples
Vestments are coming in
Sound, security, and smoke alarms will be improved
The altar rail was designed and is now being constructed
Practice continues for the schola and servers!

Next up is to finish painting the nave walls, and then onto the ceiling.

For those wanting to make contributions before the end of the year, there will be information about a pew project coming soon.

Meanwhile, make plans to attend Holy Mass on Friday, December 8th, at 6:00 p.m. for the Immaculate Conception.

Two Years Ago

“O Queen of the Holy Rosary”

At Present

Friday, September 29, 2023

While we wait for a priest to be assigned to St. Irenaeus Chapel - according to God's time, let us:

Pray for a HOly priest

Through our prayers, works, joy and sufferings of each day, and in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass said throughout the world.

pray for vocations

By the prayers of the mothers in Lu, Italy, 323 vocations came out of their community. May parents, grandparents and Godparents raise up children so that they might say “yes” to His call.

O God, grant that one of my children may become a priest or religious! I myself want to live as a good Christian, and want to guide my children always to do what is right, so that I may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give You a holy priest or religious! Amen.

To be offered daily, along with Holy Communion on the First Sunday each month. It may be prayed at the communion rail after Mass.

talk about vocations

Get questions answered about the priesthood and religious life, and ask: “How can one be generous with his or her life?”

grow holy families

Attend “The Catholic Family in the Modern World” conference taking place in October, or look for the talks when they become available.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Now available is the option to donate online with Secure Give - as a guest or with an account.

Sunday, September 10, 2023

A Time-Lapse of the High Altar Installation

Sunday, September 3, 2023

On the feast of St. Pius x:

"In our time more than ever before, the chief strength of the wicked lies in the cowardice and weakness of good men...All the strength of Satan's reign is due to the easy-going weakness of Catholics."

-Pope St. Pius X
December 13, 1908 at the Beatification of St. Joan of Arc

Preparations for the High Altar: A Timeline

February 12, 2022

The old sanctuary floor was ripped out. It was sagging.

Over twenty volunteers completed the task on a Saturday workday. In less than three hours it was deconstructed, hauled out and cleaned up.

April 6, 2022

Volunteers finished building the new altar platform.

In addition, the supporting floor joists were improved and strengthened with laminated veneer lumber. The new floor made room for heating and air ductwork, and would be adequate to hold a new altar.

May 20, 2022

There was a leap in faith: The decision was made to prioritize and pursue the High Altar.

Plans were drawn up for the new structure by Adam Beck in New York. The group looked closely at the 1907 image of the St. Irenaeus Church altar.

June 9, 2022

Father Fullerton, US District Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, visited – offering Holy Mass and encouraging the Faithful.

A temporary altar would be used for the upcoming year.

July 29, 2022

The hardwood floor materials were picked up from Hardwood Floors of Hillsboro in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. The floor would be oak; the stair risers – cherry.

November-December 2022

Volunteers constructed a temporary structure to place scaffolding upon. They painted the sanctuary ceiling, walls and trim.

December 27, 2022

Volunteers built the three-step predella, according to the blueprints for the High Altar.

December 31, 2022

The sacred items necessary for Holy Mass were donated by many benefactors.

The items were blessed by Father Kurtz, SSPX.

January 19, 2023

The first altar payment was presented to Brendan Hamtil of Fynders Keepers.

Fynders Keepers, located in Stilwell, KS, arranged the construction of the High Altar and items necessary for this restoration.

February 18, 2023

A temporary communion rail was constructed by volunteers.

Plans for side altars and a communion rail are prepared. They will be built in the future – when funds and goals align.

March 13, 2023

Construction of the High Altar began – in Kentucky!

Vincent Beck, the builder, visited the chapel and met to confirm measurements and details before beginning.

May 15, 2023

The High Altar was fully funded!

Thank you to the many, many benefactors who have contributed time and treasure Instaurare Omnia in Christo – “to restore all things in Christ.” This was the papal motto of Saint Pius X.

May 30, 2023

The hardwood floor was installed by Till’s Flooring from Maquoketa, IA. The floor color was kept natural to contrast the darker color of the High Altar.

June 21, 2023

The statues for the crucifixion scene arrived.

Volunteers painted these statues, as well as the adoring angels for near the tabernacle. Used statues of Saints Peter and Paul were previously acquired.

July 31, 2023

Volunteers finished painting the walls and trim around the sanctuary.

Neutral colors were selected to freshen up and brighten the building, as well as to draw the eyes up to the altar.

Then in August 2023 . . .

Coming soon: A time-lapse video of its assembly.

Please pray and offer penance for a priest to be assigned to St. Irenaeus Chapel.

Monday, August 28, 2023

The High Altar installation is complete.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Thursday, August 23, 2023

Prayer and Penance

33 miles
x 2,250 average steps/mile
x 60 St. Irenaeus restorers
= millions of steps, millions of prayers

Every step on the Holy Hill Pilgrimage last week was a prayer to restore all things in Christ. (And for a priest to be assigned to St. Irenaeus Chapel.)

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Preview Maximilian's Story -
a picture book for children.

See a timeline of Maximilian's life.

Mary, assumed into Heaven, pray for us

The faithful sang the Rosary in a Marian procession on the Assumption, in honor of Our Mother.

more photos from this past week

Additional photos are coming in from the past week. Enjoy!

If you have some favorite photos from St. Irenaeus - new or old, please email with a brief description to [email protected].

A large pile of dirt was hauled away. Some dirt was used to fill up holes in the yard.

The youngest were excellent at carrying out all the paper off the altar floor.

There was much to unload before assembling the altar, and many men to help.

This piece had to fit into the right spot and then was slid back into place.

Children performed on the player piano for the builder during breaks.

The builder worked while his daughter added the golden details.

The Last Supper relief was donated and volunteers prepared it for the altar.

Volunteers finished statues so they could be ready when the rest of the altar is installed.

The men in the choir practiced singing together before Mass.

The servers lined up to recess after the Last Gospel.

It is a joy to spend Sundays together. Kids play kickball, capture the flag, and more.

Monday, August 14, 2023

Tomorrow – Tuesday

Mass for the Assumption

A Holy Day of Obligation

A Blessed Week at St. Irenaeus

The secret of doing things well is to have the right intention.

At St. Irenaeus Chapel, everything is done for the greater glory of God.

This week the High Altar was carefully installed, while volunteers painted trim on the north wall. Statues were finished, a top linen was constructed, a meal delivered, surfaces cleaned, doors added to the confessional, and a hymn for St. Irenaeus composed. There are little corners perfected and hidden details that no one else will ever notice, but God sees.

The first altar installment arrived from Kentucky. Another installment will come in the near future.

The marble was picked up in Louisville. The hole is where the altar stone is inserted.

Father and son unload the base of the altar.

The side pews and the plywood protecting the new wood floor were moved again this week.

The pieces of the altar are very large. This is where the crucifix and adoring angels sit.

The altar base was set straight down – with no shims needed. A testament to the meticulous work of those who worked installed the floor.

A family works to assemble the altar and make it beautiful.

Many volunteers trim painted around the windows and stations.

The painting of the St. John statue was finished.

A temporary top linen was made. The intended fabric is on backorder.

The confessional was sealed up with new doors.

A group of young women worked to compose a hymn to St. Irenaeus. It was sung as the recessional hymn on Sunday.

A High Mass was said by Father Kurtz, a priest of the Society of St. Pius X.

The faithful are welcomed in to attend Traditional Latin Mass.

Monday, August 7, 2023

TWO HOLY MASSES THIS WEEK

Sunday, August 13, 2023
9:00 a.m.
High Mass
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Please gather to picnic following Mass at Eagle Point Park, located at 3900 N 3rd St, Clinton.

Enter the main gate, continue straight and turn left at the main parking lot. (See the orange arrow on the map.)

It is a large greenspace. Yard games, bug spray and lawn chairs are encouraged. There are restrooms, playground equipment and a lookout nearby.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

8:00 a.m.
Low Mass
Feast of the Assumption

A walking, singing Rosary procession will take place after Mass on the Assumption. It will leave from and return to the main church entry. Plan on 45 minutes to pray. Refreshments will follow.

in anticipation of the altar installation

The side walls and windows were prepared for more painting, the confessional was soundproofed, and the lower linens were pressed, rolled and protected.

Please pray for Vincent, the altar builder, as he plans to transport and assemble the High Altar this week.

Monday, July 31, 2023

Finishing altar Details

The capitals, bases, fleures and crockets were ready for gold this past week. The INRI sign was crafted for the crucifix, and the marbleized columns are completed.

Working on A Saturday

This day included server and choir practice, some fun and fellowship, and preparation to finish painting the front wall.

preparing aN Altar linen

An altar needs three linen cloths. Volunteers began working on the two bottom linens on the feast of St. Anne. The top, decorative linen will also be made by a volunteer once the High Altar is installed. In addition, a vesperale (also known as a dust cover) is ordered to sit atop and protect the surface in between Masses.

There have been months of conversations and observations to determine what is necessary in making an altar linen.

Here is a brief tutorial for prospective linen-makers:

Tools needed: acrylic ruler, rotary cutters, cutting mat, pins, calculator, table knife, pencil, thread, needle, large washers (for weights, optional) and ironing necessities. A guide called “Sewing Church Linens” by Elizabeth Morgan offers tips specific to this project.

This 54″ wide fabric is 100% bleached linen (6.8 oz) from a textile distributor. It was cut in half to make two linens. A dining table and folding table are used for a clean, safe working surface. Here, an ironing board was slid between to iron the material. The selvage edge was trimmed off.

Interestingly, the back side of a table knife is an excellent tool for preparing hems. Simply press the knife along a ruler to mark the turn-under (at 1/2″ here) and hem (at 1″). This was done on top of a foam sheet. Then press it with your fingers. No iron needed.

Gray thread was used for a basting stitch to hold things in place during shrinking. This thread will be removed later. Little hands and smiling faces are the best tools for this step!

These two bottom linens should have a finished size of 11′ x 24″, or slightly smaller – just to cover the mensa. They will have no overhang.

Once basted, the linen was folded neatly and prepared for shrinking. This fabric was estimated to shrink 3% in the width, and 8% in the length, so that was calculated before cutting.

Shrinking required baths of 1) lukewarm water, 2) then boiling water, 3) then ice water. Steps 2 & 3 were repeated twice more. Note: In the background is an image of Father Jean, the builder of St. Irenaeus. It will be placed on a chapel wall after the dust settles.

The linen was dried indoors overnight. It measured 24.5″W x 169′”L before shrinking. After, it measured <24" x 154.75." Linen shrinks a lot!

The final length was cut after the initial shrinking. The hem lines here were prepared again. On the right, you can see what is needed to make nice, mitered corners.

For mitered corners, prepare the stitching line between the two arrows shown, then measure 1/4″ out for the cutting line. Cut the extra off. Then fold the right sides together and pin, making sure the penciled lines match up.

Fold back the turn-under portion of the hem, pin, and sew on the stitching line with white thread.

Flip the corner right side out and pin it back for the finishing stitches! The fair linens can be sewn by hand, or machine.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Take a peek inside.

The chapel stays active with server practice, choir practice and statue painting.

From a benefactor:

"If you haven’t already listened to to this, you must!! It’s excellent!!!"

Historical note: Father F.C. Jean, the builder of St. Irenaeus Church, was a canceled priest in 1872. Read more about him here. (Start at digital page 72 regarding this topic.)

Happy Feast of St. Irenaeus!

Here are a few ideas for celebrating St. Irenaeus’s example this day:

St. Irenaeus, destroyer of heresy, pray for us!

Below is a look at the altar construction as of last week:

PRAY A NOVENA

Ask for St. Irenaeus’s intercession daily in the nine days leading up to his feast day – July 3rd.

In the Name of the Father
and the Son
and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Saint Irenaeus,
Bishop of Lyons,
pray for us.

Saint Irenaeus,
counselor of Pontiffs,
pray for us.

Saint Irenaeus,
preventer of schism,
pray for us.

Saint Irenaeus,
destroyer of heresy,
pray for us.

Saint Irenaeus,
defender of the Four Evangelists,
pray for us.

Saint Irenaeus,
faithful son of the Blessed Virgin,
pray for us.

Great Doctor, Martyr, and Father of the Church, O God, who did grant that blessed Irenaeus, Your martyr and bishop, should both overcome heresy by the truth of his doctrine, and establish peace in Thy Church: give to Your people, we beseech You constancy in their holy religion, and grant us Your peace in our days. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…

Learn more about St. Irenaeus.

*In 1869, the new St. Irenaeus Church was dedicated on the vigil of its feast day. At that time St. Irenaeus was celebrated on June 28th. In the 1960 reforms of the Roman breviary, St. Irenaeus’s feast day was moved to July 3rd and the vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul took the previous date.