Cardinal Cupich 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 structures of the following Renew My Church parish groupings. The changes will take effect July 1, 2019, unless otherwise noted: Brighton Park The Brighton Park parish grouping includes Our Lady of Fatima, 2751 W. 38th Place; St. Pancratius, 4025 S. Sacramento Ave.; Five Holy Martyrs, 4327 S. Richmond St.; Immaculate Conception, 2745 W. 44th St.; and Pope John Paul II School, 4325 S. Richmond St. Our Lady of Fatima and St. Pancratius will unite to form one new parish 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 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. Calumet City The Calumet City parish grouping includes St. Andrew the Apostle, Our Lady of Knock and St. Victor, all located in Calumet City. All three parishes will unite to form one new parish, led by one pastor and one staff team. 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. Westfield Park The Westfield Park parish grouping includes Divine Infant Jesus parish and school, Westchester; Divine Providence parish and school, Westchester; St. Louise de Marillac parish and school, La Grange Park; and St. Barbara, Brookfield. Divine Infant Jesus and Divine Providence will unite to form one new parish retaining both churches as active worship sites of the new parish. This new parish will have a single school housed on the current campus of Divine Providence School. Thus, Divine Infant Jesus School will close, effective June 30, 2019. Student enrollment has been dropping at Divine Infant Jesus for several years, and this has created significant financial challenges. Despite best efforts to recruit students and restore the school to viability, finances have not improved. Based on this and local demographic projections, moving forward with a single school to serve the united parish was determined to be the best way to ensure long-term quality and sustainability in Catholic education. Additionally, St. Barbara and St. Louise de Marillac will unite to form a new parish retaining both churches as active worship sites of the new parish. St. Louise de Marillac School will remain in its current structure, serving as the school for the united parish. Old Town/Lincoln Park The Old Town/Lincoln Park parish grouping includes St. Josaphat parish and school, 2306 N. Southport Ave.; St. Michael, 1633 N. Cleveland Ave.; St. Teresa of Avila, 1037 W. Armitage Ave.; and St. Vincent de Paul, 1010 W. Webster Ave.; and Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph parish and school, 363 W. Hill St. There will be no structural changes to any of the parishes or schools in this grouping. It is Cardinal Cupich’s hope — and that of all the faithful in this grouping — that the parish communities will continue to seek new ways to work together and pool resources, where appropriate, to become an even stronger, more sustainable presence for the future, capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Pulaski Corridor The Pulaski Corridor parish grouping includes Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown; St. Catherine of Alexandria parish and school, Oak Lawn; St. Germain parish and school, Oak Lawn; and St. Terrence, Alsip. Our Lady of Loretto and St. Germaine will unite to form one new parish led by one pastor and one staff team. Within the next couple of years — at a time determined by parish leadership in consultation with archdiocesan leadership — the newly formed parish will come together at St. Germaine Church and Our Lady of Loretto Church will close. St. Germaine School will remain as a ministry of the parish. St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish will remain, structurally, as is, with St. Catherine of Alexandria School continuing as a ministry of the parish. St. Terrence Parish will also remain structurally as is. Together, St. Terrence leadership and the archdiocesan leadership will identify an alternate grouping for further discernment about the best future scenario for the parish community. 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 Priests’ Placement Board will work with the communities to identify pastors to lead the new parishes. Through all the new structures, the parishes will unite their resources to create vital, life-giving parishes. With these viable structures in place, the parishes will work on new ways to implement the Renew My Church vision of making disciples, building communities and inspiring witness.
Grants from Lilly Endowment to help spiritually renew parishes Three organizations in the Archdiocese of Chicago have received grants from the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative to support projects aimed at helping parishes engage in ongoing spiritual renewal.
Day of Renewal invites leaders to deeper understanding of the Eucharist Hundreds of parish leaders and clergy attended the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Day of Renewal on Sept. 25 at the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont.
Parish leaders to gather for Day of Renewal Sept. 25 in Rosemont Archdiocesan priests, clergy serving in parishes and parish leaders will gather at the Rosemont Theater for a Day of Renewal on Sept. 25. It is the first time leaders from across the archdiocese will gather since in the Renew My Church Summit in 2018.