Goosebumps appeared on Elaine Roop’s arms Wednesday afternoon as she talked about how her dream finally just came true.

“I have been waiting for this moment since I made a promise to Mary that I would find her a proper place,” she said.

Roop was talking about the Herculean effort it took, both logistically and physically, to move the nearly 500-pound medallion of Mary and baby Jesus that hung behind the altar for nearly 100 years at the former St. Mary’s Catholic Church, now the Franco Center on Cedar Street in Lewiston. The medallion will now be displayed Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Ash Street.

Roop is not only the president of the board of directors for the Franco Center, a performing arts and event venue, but she’s also a longtime former parish member. She distinctly remembers saying her prayers and looking up to the medallion with her grandmother.

For the past 15 years, she has been working to have it removed and respectfully displayed. It really bothered her that it was often covered during public events or performances.

“It was such an important thing for me to see that she received the respect so rightfully deserved. I wanted to find a proper place for her, not just some afterthought,” Roop said.

Roop worked with the center and the diocese to arrange for the diocese to hire contractors to remove the medallion. The church, completed in 1927, was closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in 2000 and remained dormant until a group of local residents spearheaded a fundraising effort to purchase and renovate the former church.

Several skilled contractors gingerly wrestled with the giant medallion Wednesday morning as it was carefully taken down from high above the performance stage at the center. After some bruised knuckles, scraped skin and a lot of sweat, the workers finally were able to lay it on the ground and regroup before moving the medallion a few blocks away to the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

“There are big plans in the works to display this piece and many more iconic items from St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s, and St. Joseph’s churches in a beautiful display in the back of the lower church of the basilica,” Roop said, with a grin.

As the workers were removing the equipment used to lower the medallion, Franco Center curator Michel Lajoie was in the back of the venue looking at the giant void where the piece once stood.

“For now we are just going to put a backing on it as we decide what to do there,” Lajoie said. “We might use a projector to shine things on it or place something permanent, that’s being discussed right now. We are open to suggestions.”

For Roop, the hardest part of the journey is over and the medallion is “resting comfortably on the floor of the basilica” waiting for a new place to be respectfully showcased.

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