Photos

Holy Name of Mary: Second church established by Black Catholics

In 1897, Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton established St. Monica Parish as the first parish for Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Nearly 43 years later, 17 Black Catholic women led the effort to establish the second parish where Catholics of color could worship freely, at Holy Name of Mary Church, 112th and Loomis streets in the city’s Morgan Park neighborhood. (Chicago Catholic archives)
Father John Ryan, pastor of Holy Name of Mary Church, distributes bottles of milk to students in Holy Name of Mary School in this undated file photo. The basement of the school was the parish church and the upper floors served the school. (Chicago Catholic archives)
Parishioners of Holy Name of Mary Parish celebrate the completion and dedication of their new parish hall on Aug. 27, 1954. Men from the parish built the new space. (Chicago Catholic archives)
Oblate Sisters of Providence from Holy Name of Mary School enjoy a ride on the merry-go-round at the Back of the Yards free fair on Aug. 9, 1963. (Chicago Catholic archives)
Father Anthony Vader, pastor, parishioners, Oblate Sisters of Providence and the church architect at the groundbreaking for the new church on Oct. 11, 1970. (Chicago Catholic archive)
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin poses for a photo with clergy and members of the Knights of Peter Claver at Holy Name of Mary Church in this 1990 photo. The Cardinal celebrated Mass at the parish for its 50th anniversary. (Chicago Catholic archive)
Father Anthony Vader, pastor, joins parents in praying over their children in the sanctuary of Holy Name of Mary Church in this 1993 file photo. (Chicago Catholic archives)

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