Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe under reconstruction after arsonist caused $80K in damages

DES PLAINES, Ill. - Vowing to rebuild after an unholy act, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is breathing new life into its sacred Chapel of the Risen Christ.   

The place of worship was torched in the spring, marking a moment of darkness for the community.

Still, they never lost hope.

After several months of working with a team of restoration experts and architects, the shrine director is sharing with FOX 32 Chicago that a reconstruction project is now officially underway.

"You don’t have to knock on the door here, you can always just come to visit. People come and open their hearts here," said the Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, shrine director.

A place of pilgrimage, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe draws thousands of visitors each year, but last May, its Chapel of the Risen Christ turned to ashes overnight.

"I think it’s often difficult for a Christian to experience any violent act against our house of worship, no matter what it is," said Sanchez.

Surveillance video from the early morning hours of May 23, 2023, captured a woman, identified by the Des Plaines Police Department as Virginia Roque-Fermin of Arlington Heights, starting the fire.

It also shows the arsonist carrying sacred statues and art, buckets, chairs and planters toward the fire to stoke the flames.

The damage was estimated at upwards of $80,000 and drew crowds to pray in the wake of the destruction.

The chapel is known as the ‘Altar of Miracles.’

"They know that there’s some miracles that will happen to their life if they come here and visit Our Lady of Guadalupe," said Geraldine Gaden, visitor.

Since the fire, personal treasures that typically would be left at the Chapel of the Risen Christ have found a new home in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"It’s just filled with their hopes and dreams," said Sanchez. "It just means a little piece of me is left here for others to pray for me as well.

With demolition underway, construction will soon begin and Sanchez says visitors can look forward to a revived chapel.

"Just beginning to design things that not only restores what was here but actually beautifies it," said Sanchez. "We've gotten many stories of people that talk to us about a time that they were down and out, and they just came to visit here and what it meant to them."

A GoFundMe account raised nearly $30,000 toward rebuilding the chapel and recreating statues and sacred art, which alone, can take months. 

"I think it touched a lot of people’s hearts and their excitement keeps me going," said Sanchez.

Sanchez said he hopes to dedicate the completed chapel by Thanksgiving.

Roque-Fermin, 41 – who was charged with one felony count of arson – is due back in court in late October.