Parish dedicates playground in memory of former pastor

Surrounded by her brothers, Grace McVey flashes a smile as she plays on the new playground equipment that was recently dedicated at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington in honor of the late pastor, Father Charles Chesebrough. Justin Dyer stands behind Grace while Liam McVey faces his sister. The three children of Robert and Marie McVey attend St. Charles Borromeo School. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

The original plan was to open the playground to the children after the dedication ceremony.

But there was something in the warmth and the sunshine of that Sunday morning that made the organizers of this tribute to the late Father Charles Chesebrough decide that it was more in keeping with his legacy to not delay the joy of the children.

So as the adults at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington dedicated more than $32,000 worth of playground equipment in honor of their former pastor, the joyful sounds of the children could be heard as they played in the new obstacle course and scaled the new climbing wall.

“Throughout the entire dedication, you could hear the laughing and the giggling of the children,” said Scott Levy, one of the organizers of the Sept. 5 ceremony on the grounds of the parish school. “It was a very fitting tribute to Father Charlie.”

Since Father Chesebrough died on May 28, 2008, at age 70, members of St. Charles Borromeo Parish have been searching for an appropriate way to commemorate the former dean of the Bloomington Deanery, who also served as their pastor from 1995 until 2007.

They finally decided on new playground equipment for the school and the day care center because of Father Chesebrough’s love of children.

A longtime friend of Father Chesebrough, Levy mentioned the priest’s connection with children during a speech he made at the dedication.

“In the last couple of years of his life, he longed for the children of this parish and missed them so much,” Levy told the nearly 200 people at the dedication ceremony. “The one thing he always said to me outside of his love for them was that he loved to just ‘make em laugh.’ The children, not only of this parish but all those that Father worked with over the years, kept him young and vibrant. And so on the memorial plaque you see behind me [includes] the quote from Father Charlie, ‘Make Em Laugh.’ ”

The memorial was blessed at the dedication by the current parish pastor, Father William Stumpf, and the associate pastor, Precious Blood Father Donald Davison.

The dedication ceremony was filled with tears, laughter and memories of Father Chesebrough, according to Levy. People remembered him as a humble, personable and caring pastor who led the parish and the school to new heights.

“My hope is that he is looking down today and proud of this memorial and the many years of children’s laughs that will rise up from this place,” Levy told the crowd at the dedication ceremony. “I also hope over the years that people will come to this memorial and spend some time when they want to reflect on Father Charlie.” †