Organ Project
Background
A Sacred Instrument
The Second Vatican Council’s Musicam Sacram, Instruction on the Music in the Liturgy, states: In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things. It also mentions that the use of the pipe organ should meet the needs of the liturgical celebration and is in the interests both of the beauty of worship and the edification of the faithful.
Noack Opus 107, the current pipe organ at Our Lady of the Fields, fails to meet the decrees of Musicam Sacram. The musical needs of the liturgical celebration are not being met due to its dilapidated state. Fortunately, the Möller Opus 5881 pipe organ became available in the spring of 2022 when the Epworth United Methodist Church in a suburb of northern Chicago closed its doors and the property was sold to real estate developers. The Methodist church was slated for demolition in the summer of 2022, so the Moller became available to us. Our Lady of the Fields’ goal is to replace its defective pipe organ with Möller Opus 5881, which will satisfy the decrees of Musicam Sacram, providing parishioners generations of musical ministry in ways never before possible.
One of just four Möller organs in United States to receive a distinguished citation from the Organ Historical Society, this monumental instrument will become the centerpiece of the growing music ministry at Our Lady of the Fields.
Why Do We Need to Replace Our Organ
When properly functioning, our current organ (Noack Opus 107) is too small for our parish. However, the Möller Opus Organ has enough pipes to properly support congregational singing, accompany the choir, and offer enough variety of sound for pipe organ recitals. The Möller Organ’s 1,566 pipes will project enough sound to all areas of the church, overcoming our acoustic obstacles. The variety of sounds will allow more musical sensitivity and creativity during mass, helping to guide the parishioners through the various emotions associated with each part of the mass. The Möller Opus will be able to herald the sounds of Christmas, sensitively usher in a reflective ambiance of Lent, and proclaim the Paschal Joy of our Risen Christ with the great hymns of Easter.
Organ Project
The project will undergo several stages, the first of which have already begun. In July 2022, Organ Clearing House began dismantling the Möller organ at the Methodist Church to be transported to Columbia Organ Works for restoration. All of the components were shipped to a warehouse for inspection and storage until the next phase of our project. Over the next several months, the pipes and organ components will be repaired, restored, and refinished. To accommodate the new instrument at Our Lady of the Fields, there will need to be some renovations to our current space. Those renovations are slated to begin in the summer of 2023 before the installation of the Möller organ and all of its components can take place. Details of the project schedule will be provided months before construction begins in our church.
>> Click here to view the presentation given by Alex Ashman at the October 15-16 Sunday Masses. <<
How You Can Help – Ways to Donate
Over the next several moths, Our Lady of the Fields will be raising money to cover the costs of this organ project. We humbly ask for your financial support as well as prayers towards a successful project. Our financial goal for the entire project is $450,000.
ONLINE: We will accept donations via on-line giving: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/our1070101 (in the Fund section, select Organ Fund Donation)
CHECKS: Checks should be payable to Our Lady of the Fields (please write “Organ Fund Donation” in the memo line). Checks can be submitted to the Parish Office or deposited in the collection box in the church
Questions? Contact Alex Ashman, Director of Liturgical Music via email: alex@olfparish.com
Rendering of Organ Pipes with Marian Statue in our church
Resources:
Noack opus 107 (the current organ at OLF)
https://www.noackorgan.com/opus/107/
Columbia Organ Works
https://www.columbiaorgan.com/columbia-works-home/
Organ Clearing House
https://www.organclearinghouse.com/
Möller Opus 5881 (soon to be acquired organ)
https://pipeorgandatabase.org/organ/9216
