Sept. 18, 2018 As part of the archdiocese’s revitalization initiative, Renew My Church, the leadership of parishes in the Brighton Park and Calumet City groupings have been meeting to discuss the future church, parish and school structures for their areas. They submitted their feedback to the Archdiocese of Chicago and the final structures have been approved. Brighton Park Grouping The Renew My Church Brighton Park grouping includes Our Lady of Fatima Parish, St. Pancratius Parish, Five Holy Martyrs Parish, Immaculate Conception Parish (on 44th Street) and Pope John Paul II School, all located in Chicago. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, and the archdiocese’s Presbyteral Council met and, based on the archdiocesan commission’s recommendation and other considerations, the Cardinal made a final decision regarding the grouping’s structure. Our Lady of Fatima Parish and St. Pancratius Parish will unite to form one new parish, effective July 1, 2019, retaining both churches as active worship sites of the new parish. Five Holy Martyrs Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish will unite to form one new parish, effective July 1, 2019, retaining both churches as active worship sites of the new parish. Pope John Paul II School will continue with its current programming and structure. No changes will be made. Over the next few months, the archdiocese will work with all involved to ensure an orderly and smooth transition to the new parish structures. The archdiocese’s Priest Placement Board will work with the community to identify a pastor to lead the new parishes. Through the new parish structures, the parishes will unite their resources to create vital, life-giving parishes – each with two worship sites. With these viable structures in place, the parishes will work on new ways to implement the Renew My Church vision: to make disciples, build communities and inspire witness. Calumet City Grouping The Renew My Church Calumet City grouping includes St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Our Lady of Knock Parish and St. Victor Parish, all located in Calumet City. All three parishes — St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Our Lady of Knock Parish and St. Victor Parish — will unite to form one new parish, led by one pastor and one staff team, effective July 1, 2019. The new parish will maintain two active worship sites at St. Andrew the Apostle Church and Our Lady of Knock Church. St. Victor Church will close sometime before July 1, 2020, to be determined by parish leadership in consultation with archdiocesan leadership. Through the new parish structure, the Calumet City community will unite their resources to become a stronger, more sustainable presence for the future capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Over the next few months, the archdiocese will work with all involved to ensure an orderly and smooth transition to the new structure. The archdiocese’s Priest Placement Board will work with the community to identify a pastor to lead the new parish.
Wilmette churches celebrate coming together as new parish “It’s a joyous day.” That’s how Nancy Lou Kelly, a parishioner at the new Sts. Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette described the June 30 Unity Mass that celebrated the coming together of the two churches into one parish.
In spirit of Renew My Church, parishes come together to provide a home for two families in need Even though they won’t be activated as part of the Renew My Church process until 2022, seven churches in Tinley Park, Orland Park, Crestwood and Orland Hills came together in the spirit of the process and built part of a duplex that will house families in need.
Church of St. Mary holds service day The Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest hosted a service day on June 8, 2019. Parishioners lent their time and talents to do yard work, paint, make blankets, write operation gratitude cards for soldiers, make name tags for Camp Hope, clean up parks, work at food pantries and volunteer at Feed My Starving Children.