Archdiocese releases updates to Renew My Church groupings

The Archdiocese of Chicago released updates on 12 Renew My Church groupings between Jan. 20 and Jan. 29.

Over the past several months, the groupings’ feedback and discernment teams, made up of representatives from each of the parishes and schools, met to review and discern the future parish, school and church structures for their respective areas.

Based on their meetings and discussions with the larger parish communities, they submitted feedback reports to the Archdiocesan Standards and Recommendations Commission, which includes representatives from across the archdiocese.

The commission reviewed the reports and other materials and information, including demographic data, financial summaries and parish and grouping trends.

Over the course of the past several weeks, Cardinal Cupich, the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops and Presbyteral Council discussed the commission’s recommendations. Based on those discussions and prayerful consideration, the following decisions have been made:

High Park Wood grouping

The High Park Wood Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes: Immaculate Conception, Highland Park, and St. James, Highwood.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, Immaculate Conception and St. James will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to hold Masses. The pastor will determine the schedule in consultation with parish leadership. Immaculate Conception will be designated the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept. 

Parish leadership will review the ongoing viability of continuing both worship sites on an annual basis with Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob and the  Vicariate I team.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.

West Blest Side grouping

The West Blest Side Renew My Church grouping includes the following Chicago parishes and school: St. Agatha Parish, Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica Parish, St. Martin de Porres Parish and St. Angela School.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Agatha and St. Martin de Porres will unite as a new parish with two worship and ministry sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to hold Masses. The pastor will determine the schedule in consultation with parish leadership. St. Martin de Porres will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

St. Angela School will continue in its current structure in association with the united parish.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.

Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica will continue in its current structure, with enhanced collaboration with the new, united parish formed by St. Agatha and St. Martin de Porres.

Far Southside grouping

The Far Southside Renew My Church grouping includes the following Chicago parishes and schools: Holy Name of Mary Parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, St. Anthony Parish, St. John De La Salle parish and school, St. Kilian Parish, St. Margaret of Scotland parish and school, St. Sabina parish and academy, Sacred Heart Mission and St. Ethelreda School.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, Holy Name of Mary, Sts. Peter and Paul and St. John De La Salle will unite as a new parish with one church for Sunday worship (Holy Name of Mary Church), a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team. The pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will issue a timeline for fully transitioning Masses to Holy Name of Mary Church in the coming months.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.

Effective July 1, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Kilian will unite as a new parish with one church for Sunday worship (St. Margaret of Scotland), a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team.

The pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will issue a timeline for fully transitioning Masses to St. Margaret of Scotland in the coming months. The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.

St. Anthony and St. Sabina parishes will continue in their current structures, and there are no changes to St. Ethelreda School, St. John De La Salle School, St. Margaret of Scotland School and St. Sabina Academy.

Sacred Heart Mission’s future structure will have continued discernment.

294 South Corridor grouping

The 294 South Corridor Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school: Infant Jesus of Prague parish and school, Flossmoor; St. Anne Parish, Hazel Crest; St. Irenaeus Parish, Park Forest; St. Emeric Parish, Country Club Hills; St. Joseph Parish, Homewood; and St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish, Matteson.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Anne, St. Emeric and St. Joseph will unite as a new parish, with a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team. St. Joseph will serve as the parish church and the pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will issue the timeline for fully transitioning Masses to St. Joseph Church in the coming months. The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.

Effective July 1, Infant Jesus of Prague, St. Irenaeus and St. Lawrence O’Toole will unite as a new parish, with a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team. Infant Jesus of Prague will serve as the parish church and the pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will issue a timeline for fully transitioning Masses to Infant Jesus of Prague in the coming months.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Infant Jesus of Prague School will serve as the parish school.

Evergreen grouping

The Evergreen Renew My Church grouping includes the following Evergreen Park parishes and schools: Queen of Martyrs parish and school, St. Bernadette Parish and Most Holy Redeemer parish and school.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, Queen of Martyrs and St. Bernadette will unite as one parish with one pastor and one pastoral team. Additionally, the Renew My Church Commission recommended that within the next two years, the parish’s regular schedule of Masses fully transition to Queen of Martyrs Church and conclude regular Masses at St. Bernadette Church. The specific timeline will be determined by parish leadership in consultation with archdiocesan leadership.

The parish community will discern possibilities for its new permanent name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. In the interim, the united parish will be Queen of Martyrs and St. Bernadette Parish.  Father Benedykt Pazdan will be the pastor of the unified parish, and Queen of Martyrs School will be the parish school.

Most Holy Redeemer parish and school will continue in its current structure.

Alsip-Crestwood-Palos grouping

The Alsip-Crestwood-Palos Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school: Incarnation Parish, Crestwood; St. Alexander parish and school, Palos Heights; and St. Terrence Parish, Alsip.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, Incarnation and St. Terrence will unite as a new parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine Mass schedules in consultation with parish leadership. Incarnation will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The interim name of the united parish will be Incarnation and St. Terrence Parish. The local community will discern possibilities for a new permanent parish name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese, and Father Arek Falana will be pastor of the united parish.

St. Alexander parish and school will continue in their current structures.

Northwest Side-Harwood Heights-Norridge grouping

The Northwest Side-Harwood Heights-Norridge Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and schools: St. Eugene parish and school, Chicago; St. Monica parish and school, Chicago; Divine Savior Parish, Norridge; Our Lady Mother of the Church Parish, Chicago; and St. Rosalie Parish, Harwood Heights.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Monica and St. Rosalie will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses. The pastor will determine Mass schedules in consultation with parish leadership. St. Monica will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent parish name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Father Greg Lorens will serve as pastor of the unified parish, and St. Monica Academy will remain as the parish-governed school.

Effective July 1, St. Eugene, Divine Savior and Our Lady Mother of the Church will unite to form one parish, with one pastor and one pastoral team. St. Eugene and Our Lady Mother of the Church will continue to host regular Masses. The pastor will determine Mass schedules in consultation with parish leadership. St. Eugene will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept. The RMC Commission has recommended concluding regularly scheduled Masses at Divine Savior Church between Aug. 1 and Sept. 5.

The local community will discern possibilities for a new permanent parish name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Priest Placement Board will continue its discernment to recommend a pastor for the newly unified parish and will share more information when it is available.

St. Eugene School will continue in its current governance and financial structure. It will be pastorally supported by the united parish formed by St. Eugene, Divine Savior and Our Lady Mother of the Church.

The viability of continuing two church sites in each united parish will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as part of the regular review process between parish leadership and the episcopal vicar and his team.

Des Plaines grouping

The Des Plaines Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes, school and shrine, all in Des Plaines: St. Mary Parish, St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, St. Zachary parish and school and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Mary and St. Stephen Protomartyr will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine the Mass schedule in consultation with parish leadership. St. Stephen Protomartyr will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for a new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Each church will retain its name. Father David Arcila will serve as pastor of the united parish. 

St. Zachary parish and school will continue in their current structure.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe will continue in its current structure. 

Cicero-Berwyn-Stickney grouping

The Cicero-Berwyn-Stickney Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and schools: Our Lady of Charity parish and school, Cicero; St. Leonard parish and school, Berwyn; St. Pius X Parish, Stickney; and St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish, Cicero.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Leonard and St. Pius X will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine the Mass schedule in consultation with parish leadership. St. Leonard will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name for the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Each church will retain its name. Father Bobby Krueger will serve as pastor of the united parish. St. Leonard School will serve as the parish school.

Effective July 1, St. Mary of Czestochowa and Our Lady of Charity will unite as one parish with two sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine the Mass schedule in consultation with parish leadership.

St. Mary of Czestochowa will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Each church will retain its name.  Redemptorist Father Waldemar Latkowski will serve as pastor of the united parish. Our Lady of Charity School will serve as the parish school.

Oak Park grouping

The Oak Park Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and schools, all in Oak Park: Ascension parish and school, St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy parish and school, St. Edmund Parish and St. Giles parish and school.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, Ascension and St. Edmund will unite as one parish. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine Mass schedules in consultation with parish leadership. Ascension will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for a new permanent parish name, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Both churches will retain their names. Father Rex Pillai will serve as pastor of the united parish. Ascension School will serve as the parish-governed school.

Effective July 1, St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles will unite as one parish. St. Giles will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept. St. Catherine-St. Lucy Church will remain a sacred space. The pastor will determine the worship schedule in consultation with parish leadership. The new schedule may include a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass. Father Carl Morello will serve as pastor of the united parish.

St. Giles School will serve as the parish-governed school, and St. Catherine-St. Lucy School will continue in its current structure supported by the Big Shoulders Fund with pastoral support provided by the parish.

The local community will discern possibilities for the permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Both churches will retain their names. 

The archdiocese affirms the Oak Park grouping’s vision to use St. Catherine-St. Lucy campus as a base for ministry outreach to the West Side of Chicago, supported by the Oak Park Catholic community. 

Oak Forest-Midlothian-Posen grouping

The Oak Forest-Midlothian-Posen Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and schools: St. Christopher parish and school, Midlothian; St. Damian parish and school, Oak Forest; and St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish, Posen.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Christopher and St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr will unite as a new parish with one pastor and one pastoral team. St. Christopher will serve as the parish church and location for the united parish’s regular Masses. The specific timeline to fully transition Masses to St. Christopher will be determined by parish leadership in the coming months. The united parish will provide English and Spanish Masses.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish. Each church will retain its name. Father Robinson Ortiz will serve as pastor of the united parish and St. Christopher School will continue as the parish school.

St. Damian parish and school will continue in its current structure.

Evanston grouping

The Evanston Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and schools, all in Evanston: St. Athanasius parish and school, St. Joan of Arc Parish, the Academy at St. Joan of Arc, St. Mary Parish, St. Nicholas Parish, Pope John XXIII School and the Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University.

The new structure will be:

Effective July 1, St. Athanasius and St. Joan of Arc will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine the Mass schedule in consultation with parish leadership. St. Athanasius will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Both churches will retain their names.

Father Kenneth Anderson will serve as pastor of the united parish, and the viability of continuing two church sites in the united parish will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as part of the regular review process between parish leadership and the episcopal vicar and his team.

St. Athanasius School will be the parish-governed school, and the Academy at St. Joan of Arc will remain in its current structure as a tenant at St. Joan of Arc campus with its own governing board, independent from the parish.

Effective July 1, St. Mary and St. Nicholas will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. Both churches will continue to host regular Masses and the pastor will determine the Mass schedule in consultation with parish leadership. St. Nicholas will serve as the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese. Both churches will retain their names. The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Priest Placement Board will continue its discernment to recommend a pastor for the newly unified parish and will share more information when it is available.

The viability of continuing two church sites in the united parish will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as part of the regular review process between parish leadership and the episcopal vicar and his team.  

Pope John XXIII School will be the parish school.

The Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University will have no structural changes.

Next steps

The archdiocese and the current parish pastors, together with the archdiocese Renew My Church Accompaniment Team, will work with local leaders to ensure uniting faith communities and staff are supported through this time of change. All parishes will embark on the next phase of renewal to become stronger, more sustainable and capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ, building communities and inspiring witness.

About Renew My Church

Renew My Church is the Archdiocese of Chicago’s response to Christ’s call and our invitation for renewal. The Renew My Church process will transform the archdiocese over the next several years by working with groupings of parishes to determine how they will achieve the goal of having vibrant, life-giving faith communities accessible to all Catholics.

To learn more about Renew My Church, visit renewmychurch.org.