Photos

Last Mass celebrated at St. Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park

Father Benedykt Pazdan, pastor of St. Gianna Parish, presided over the closing Mass at St. Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park on June 30, 2024. Archdiocesan priests, many who formally served at the parish, current and former parishioners, as well as St. Bernadette School alumni, filled the church for the final Mass. As part of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church initiative, Queen of Martyrs and St. Bernadette Churches, both in Evergreen Park, unified in 2022 to form one parish called St. Gianna Parish. Pazdan, who serves as chaplain of the Evergreen Park Fire Department, helped move the main crucifix over the altar from St. Bernadette that was placed on the back of a fire truck, and the tabernacle placed inside an ambulance, for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Father Matthew Litak, an Evergreen Park native who attended St. Bernadette School, and Father Larry Sullivan, director of Catholic Cemeteries and pastor of Christ the King Parish in nearby Beverley, pray during the opening procession on June 30, 2024. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Women carry in the marriage registers from the parish. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners pray during Mass. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Deacon Bob Landuyt assists Father Benedykt Pazdan, pastor of St. Gianna Parish, during the Eucharistic Prayer. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Landuyt assists Pazdan as he prays over the baptismal font as he deconsecrates the church during the closing Mass at St. Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park on June 30, 2024. Archdiocesan priests, many who formally served at the parish, current and former parishioners, as well as St. Bernadette School alumni, filled the church for the final Mass. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners remove the tabernacle from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners take down the crucifix from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners carry out a cross that was taken down from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location following the closing Mass. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Men carry out a statue that was taken down from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location following the closing Mass. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners carry out a cross that was taken down from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location following the closing Mass. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners set up the cross that was taken down from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners set up the statue that was taken down from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners set up the cross that was taken down from St. Bernadette Church for a 27-block procession to the Queen of Martyrs site, the permanent St. Gianna Parish location. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Pazdan and Deacon Bob Landuyt wave as the cross from St. Bernadette Church arrives at Queen of Martyrs Church to its permanent home under the name of St. Gianna Parish. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners wait outside Queen of Martyrs Church to welcome the arrival of the parishioners, statue, and tabernacle from St. Bernadette. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners carry the cross from St. Bernadette Church into Queen of Martyrs Church to its permanent home under the name of St. Gianna Parish. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Evergreen Park Fire Department and parishioners carry the cross from St. Bernadette Church into Queen of Martyrs Church to its permanent home under the name of St. Gianna Parish. (Cyndy Flores Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

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