Archdiocese provides more updates on Renew My Church groupings

On Feb. 2, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced an update on the unification of St. John Bosco-St. James Parishes in Chicago and the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Renew My Church Grouping.

St. John Bosco and St. James parishes grouping

St. John Bosco and St. James (Fullerton Avenue) parishes have shared common pastoral leadership from the Salesians of Don Bosco since July 1, 2020. Recently, the parishes requested that Cardinal Cupich consider formally uniting them.

Cardinal Cupich, the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops and Presbyteral Council discussed the request. Based on those discussions and prayerful consideration, Cardinal Cupich has approved the request submitted by the parishes:

St. John Bosco and St. James will unite, effective July 1.

Both churches will continue regularly scheduled Masses. The pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will determine the Mass schedules.

The Salesians of Don Bosco will continue to pastor the communities as a united parish.

The name of the parish will be St. John Bosco-St. James Parish.

Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates grouping

The Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates grouping includes the following four parishes and one school: Church of the Holy Spirit Parish, Schaumburg; St. Marcelline Parish, Schaumburg; St. Matthew Parish, Schaumburg; and St. Hubert parish and school, Hoffman Estates.

Over the past several months, the grouping’s Feedback and Discernment Teams, made up of representatives from the parishes, met to review and discern their future parish and church structures. Based on their meetings and discussions with the larger parish communities, they submitted feedback to the Archdiocesan Standards and Recommendations Commission, which includes representatives from across the archdiocese.

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

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:

The four parishes will unite as two parishes, with expectations that the pastors and leadership teams will continue collaborations already underway across Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates.

Church of the Holy Spirit and St. Marcelline Church will unite effective July 1.

Both churches will continue to host regularly scheduled Masses. The pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will determine the Mass schedules.

Church of the Holy Spirit will be the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

Each church will retain its name while the local community discerns possibilities for the unifed parish’s permanent name, within archdiocesan guidelines, and submits up to five options to Cardinal Cupich.

St. Hubert and St. Matthew churches will unite, effective July 1. 

Both churches will continue regularly scheduled Masses. The pastor, in consultation with parish leadership, will determine the Mass schedules.

St. Hubert will be the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.

Each church will retain its name while the local community will discern possibilities for the parish’s permanent name, within archdiocesan guidelines, and submit up to five options to Cardinal Cupich.

There will be no changes to St. Hubert School as a result of the parish unification.