Elmhurst resident looking for a new location for valuable religious artifact collection currently kept at Visitation Catholic Church

ELMHURST, Ill. (WLS) — An Elmhurst man is looking for a new home for his priceless collection of religious artifacts.

He’s been gathering the relics, statues and artwork for 50 years.

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Now, he wants to share them with others.

Known as the Crypt of the Saints, this area in the basement of an Elmhurst church serves as a storage space for numerous invaluable religious artifacts and artworks.

“It’s my life’s work, and every penny I had went in here,” curator Richard Montalbano said.

Montalbano has been collecting the items for 50 years, keeping them in his warehouse for most of it.

The individual responsible for the collection considers these relics as a direct connection to the divine, with the belief that they should be accessible to all. Consequently, he relocated them to Visitation Catholic Church’s basement.

“The good Lord’s always been very good to my family. We’ve had many miracles in my family,” Montalbano said.

Montalbano is convinced that the assortment has resulted in miraculous occurrences for many. It comprises a variety of statues and relics, such as tiny bone fragments or strands of hair attributed to different saints.

It also includes priceless works of art, and a crucifix he restored after finding it in a junk yard.

It’s open to the public, but it’s mostly just word of mouth.

“It’s changed my life. Oh my gosh, can you imagine? You’re basically surrounded by God. It’s absolutely priceless,” frequent visitor Dr. John Jevitz said.

But, it will be leaving soon. They are starting a construction project that will take over the basement.

Montalbano hopes to find a way to keep sharing it.

“When we pass away, the good Lord’s not gonna say ‘ooh, you had the biggest house or the biggest bank account.’ He’s gonna say, ‘who did you help?'” Montalbano said.

Montalbano said he’s grateful to the church for housing the collection the last 12 years.

But, he has until mid-march to find a new home for it.

He said he has faith it will work out.