Brighton Park parish celebrates renovated church

Our Lady Of Fatima-St. Pancratius Parish celebrated the first Mass at the recently remodeled St. Pancratius Church on Dec. 12, 2023, in conjunction with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Brighton Park community of Chicago. The Mass was preceded by a candlelight procession from the school hall to the church followed by recitation of the Holy Rosary and “las manitas” (Songs to Our Lady). (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic
Parishioners light candles in the school hall in preparation for a procession to the newly renovated St. Pancratius Church on Dec. 12, 2023. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Matilde Vargas and Imelda Garcia hold candles prior to the start of a procession to celebrate the first Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Father Nestor F. Saenz, pastor of Our Lady Of Fatima-St. Pancratius Parish, prepares to lead the congregation from the school to the newly renovated church. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners line the walls of the school for the procession. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners line the walls of the school for the procession. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners prepare to leave the school building to process over to the newly renovated church for the opening Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
An overflow crowd gathers before dawn to participate in a candlelight procession at Our Lady Of Fatima-St. Pancratius Parish to celebrate the first Mass at the recently remodeled St. Pancratius Church worship site. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners process to the church carrying the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners arrive at the church entrance carrying the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners carrying the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe enter the church following a procession from the school building at 5:30 a.m. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
The congregation fills the church in the early morning on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe to participate in the opening Mass for the newly-renovated church building. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners sing after entering the newly-renovated church building for the 6 a.m. first Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Saenz leads the congregation in the rosary before Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
A woman prays the rosary before Mass begins. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Alicia Antonio holds her Our Lady of Guadalupe icon during Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Saenz delivers the homily during Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Dr. Jaunita Mora and Gloria Cruz sing “Las Manitas” during Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Mariachis play during Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Saenz elevates the Eucharist during Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Matilde Vargas prays the Lord’s Prayer. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Saenz distributes Communion during Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
A parishioner prays following Communion. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Saenz blesses a parishioner following Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)
Saenz blesses Alicia Antonio’s Our Lady of Guadalupe image following Mass. (Deacon Randy Belice/Chicago Catholic)

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