St. Mary of the Angels in Chicago
Encyclopedia
Saint Mary of the Angels - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
in Chicago
, Illinois
.
Located at 1850 North Hermitage Avenue in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, it is an example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style
' of churches. Along with St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Hyacinth Basilica, St. Hedwig
, St. Wenceslaus
, and Holy Trinity
it is one of the monumental Polish
churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway
.
such as St. Josaphat's Basilica in Milwaukee or Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh
, the architectural firm of Worthmann and Steinbach modeled the church's design on St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome
. It has been acclaimed as one of the finest specimens of Roman Renaissance architecture in the United States. The imposing brick edifice with its twin bell towers and magnificent dome was constructed at a cost of $400,000-a testament to the zeal of Father Gordon and to the generosity of the members of St. Mary of the Angels parish.
In 1948, John A. Mallin
decorated the interior of the church with ornate designs and paintings. The W. W. Kimball pipe organ was installed at a cost of $23,750. Its four manuals and 57 ranks equipped with theater stops make it practically one of its kind in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The cost of overhauling this organ in 1962 amounted to $15,000.
In 1973, extensive repairs were made on the exterior of the dome of St. Mary of the Angels Church and the Holy Name Society donated the blue "Guiding Light" in the cupola which can be seen at a distance-especially from the nearby Kennedy Expressway
.
, CR, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, the oldest Polish parish in Chicago
.
The parish was founded to serve the large number of Poles
who had settled in Bucktown, which was a part of Chicago's Polish Downtown
. Two city blocks totaling 96 lots at the corner of Hermitage and Cortland (formerly Clybourn Place) were purchased for $60,000. One block was subdivided for residences while the other became the site of the parish. The first pastor, Rev. Francis Gordon laid the cornerstone of the first building of what has become the school on July 2, 1899. The cornerstone of the first parish building at 1810 N. Hermitage Ave. was laid on July 2, 1899. The three story brick building was designed in the Renaissance style by Henry J. Schlacks and completed at the cost of $65,000. The basement contained meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and an auditorium. Twelve classrooms and convent quarters were constructed on the main floor; the church was located on the second floor; and living quarters for the priests were constructed in the attic. The dedication ceremony was led by the Archbishop and was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000 including the mayor, Carter Harrison Jr.
On February 15, 1900 four Sisters of the Congregation of the Resurrection opened St. Mary of the Angels School with an enrollment of 425 students. In 1905, the new building at 1849 N. Hermitage became the home of the novitiate for the sisters order. In 1909, Fr. Gordon began planning a new church building at the corner of Hermitage and Cortland. Although work commenced on Sept. 28, 1911, the cornerstone of the church was not laid until Aug. 2, 1914. Due to the numerous delays caused by strikes, World War I
, and the critical shortage of building materials, construction continued over a period of eight years and eight months. In the meantime, the present rectory at 1825 N. Wood St. was completed in July 1912.
According to The New World of Sept. 21, 1912, St. Mary of the Angels parish had "grown so rapidly that it is now one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese" with a membership of approximately 1,200 families. In nearby Annunciation parish membership continued to decline as Irish families moved away from the neighborhood. Once a flourishing Irish parish, by 1916 Annunciation parish numbered only 150 families.
In 1915, the novitiate of the Sisters of the Resurrection was transferred to Norwood Park
and plans were made to open a Day Nursery for children in the building at 1849 N. Hermitage Ave. Beginning on Feb. 21, 1917, children of working mothers were cared for by the Sisters of the Resurrection.
Finally, on May 30, 1920, St. Mary of the Angels was dedicated by Archbishop George Mundelein. Like a number of other Polish churches in the so-called Polish Cathedral style
such as St. Josaphat's Basilica in Milwaukee or Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh
, the architectural firm of Worthmann and Steinbach modeled the church's design on St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome
.
In 1899, only one parish committee and three societies were in existence. During the 1920s, a parish committee, two building and loan associations, 28 confraternities, sodalities, fraternal societies, and clubs were active in St. Mary of the Angels parish.
In 1925, 1,099 students were enrolled in the parish school under the direction of 22 Sisters of the Resurrection. The parish also supported a Day Nursery and a Home for Working Girls.
From 1918 to 1924, Father Gordon served as regional superior of the Resurrectionists
in the United States. In recognition of his many accomplishments on behalf of Polish Catholics in Chicago, he was awarded a papal medal in 1924.
Father Gordon continued to serve the people of St. Mary of the Angels parish until his death on Feb. 13, 1931. When a branch of Weber high school was reorganized in September 1952 in quarters at Division St. and Haddon Ave. it was named Gordon Tech in honor of the first pastor of St. Mary of the Angels parish.
From March to October 1931, Rev. Leonard Long, CR served as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Thaddeus Ligman, CR, who remained as pastor for one year.
In 1932, Rev. Edward Brzezinski, CR began a long pastorate at St. Mary of the Angels parish. Not only had he grown up in the parish, but he had served as an assistant for three years. Under Father Brzezinski's leadership, the $250,000 parish debt was liquidated.
Over the years, additions, alterations, and improvements have been made in the parish complex. In the 1930s, the auditorium became known as the "Polish Aragon," in reference to the popular (and still existing) Aragon Ballroom
in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. It was a popular meeting place for the young people of the neighborhood and they turned out by the hundreds to attend the weekly dances sponsored by St. Mary of the Angels parish.
Rev. John Grabowski, CR succeeded Father Brzezinski as pastor in 1951. He directed the construction of the present convent building at 1800 N. Hermitage Ave. Completed at a cost of $450,000, it was dedicated by Cardinal Samuel Stritch on Aug. 16, 1953.
In 1954, Rev. Chester Brzegowy, CR was named pastor. He was succeeded in 1957 by Rev. Anthony Rybarczyk, CR.
had a significant impact on the parish. Many homes in the neighborhood were razed to make way for this highway, which cut through the heart of Chicago Polonia. On Nov. 5, 1960, the segment of the expressway which extends from Lake St. to Foster Ave. was opened to traffic. Due to a loss of a sizable number of families, the school enrollment was diminished by one third.
Rev. Joseph Polinski, CR served as pastor from 1963 until 1967, when Rev. Stanley Majkut, CR was appointed pastor.
On Mar. 13, 1974, Rev. Edward Karlowicz, CR was appointed pastor. He grew up in nearby St. Stanislaus Kostka parish and was ordained in 1948. From 1954 to 1960, Father Karlowicz served as principal of Weber high school.
In preparation for the diamond jubilee of the founding of St. Mary of the Angels parish, the church was renovated. Auxiliary Bishop Alfred Leo Abramowicz
presided at the special jubilee Mass on Oct. 13, 1974. A parish dinner on Dec. 8, 1974 at the House of the White Eagle concluded the diamond jubilee festivities. Since the organization of this parish, 20 young men have been ordained, nine of them as Resurrectionists
. Of the 36 young women from the parish who entered religious orders, 27 joined the Sisters of the Congregation of the Resurrection.
In 1975, a Parish Council was organized. With the approval and cooperation of Father Karlowicz, a Concerned Citizens Group-composed mainly of St. Mary of the Angels parishioners sponsors meetings and talks for the benefit and welfare of all in the neighborhood.
In 1978, diocesan authorities announced that the territorial parish of Annunciation would be consolidated. Spanish speaking families who had belonged to the parish were invited to join St. Mary of the Angels Church, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, St. Hedwig Church
, or St. Aloysius Church-all of which had Spanish speaking parishioners. Following the last Mass in Annunciation Church on June 25, 1978, the parish records were transferred to St. Mary of the Angels rectory, 1825 N. Wood St. However, these records now reside at the Archdiocese of Chicago Offices.
The church was closed and slated for demolition in 1988 due to unsafe conditions. Citizens and historians rallied to save the historic structure but feared the cause was already lost.
Three years later in 1991, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, then Archbishop of Chicago, entrusted the administration of the parish and school to the priests of Opus Dei. The Rev. John Twist was the first Pastor under this new administration, followed by the Rev. Hilary Mahaney. It was then that the parish began to see new parishioners and grow once again. Several restoration campaigns were launched by the parish and through various private donations the church structure was brought to life once again with major repairs of the dome, the roofs and the stained-glass windows. Repairs continued in 1997 with the church interior. At the 100th anniversary of the Parish, the church's interior decoration had been fully restored, new lighting, new doors and a new sound system have been installed. The 26 roof angels, fully rebuilt, are all present and accounted for, gleaming cheerfully from Saint Mary's roof tops. A chapel dedicated to St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the Founder of Opus Dei, was built in 2002 in newly remodeled lower level.
, Polish
and Spanish
. Every week, hundreds of persons come here to receive the sacrament
of Penance
. On Thursdays, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration throughout the day. The parish school, the Religious Education Program, the classes of Christian Formation and other activities for adults, bring the message of the Gospel
to a growing number of believers every year.
The parish is staffed by priests of the Prelature of Opus Dei
. Founded in 1928 by Saint Josemaria Escriva, Opus Dei
helps people seek personal sanctity in and through the ordinary circumstances of their lives.
In 2002 the parish opened the St. Josemaria Chapel in the lower level of the church. This chapel features a mural to St. Josemaria and hosts daily masses and Eucharistic Adoration.
The area around the church is often referred to as 'Marianowo' by Poles
. In recent years, the ethnic character of St. Mary of the Angels parish has undergone a gradual change from an exclusively Polish parish to one that is multicultural and multiracial, as the neighborhood first witnessed an influx of Hispanic
immigrants and then Yuppies as the area has begun to gentrify.
English: 8:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
7:15 p.m.
Polish: 9:30 a.m.
Spanish: 12:30 p.m.
Saturdays
English: 8:00 a.m.*
5:00 p.m. (Mass of Anticipation)
Weekdays
English: 7:00 a.m.*
5:30 p.m.*
(*in St. Josemaría Chapel located in lower level)
urban fantasy series.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Located at 1850 North Hermitage Avenue in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, it is an example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style
Polish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
' of churches. Along with St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Hyacinth Basilica, St. Hedwig
St. Hedwig's in Chicago
St. Hedwig's Church is an historic parish church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois. Constructed in traditional grand Polish architecture and design, it is one of the many monumental Polish churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway...
, St. Wenceslaus
St. Wenceslaus in Chicago
St. Wenceslaus - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in, Chicago, Illinois.One of the many Polish churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway, it is, along with St. Hyacinth Basilica, one of two monumental religious edifices that dominates the Avondale skyline...
, and Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity Polish Mission
Holy Trinity Church - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches, in both its opulence and grand scale. Along with such monumental religious edifices as St. Mary of the Angels, St. Hedwig's or St...
it is one of the monumental Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway
Kennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
.
Architecture
Like a number of other Polish churches in the so-called Polish Cathedral stylePolish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
such as St. Josaphat's Basilica in Milwaukee or Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh
Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Pittsburgh, referred to in Polish as Kościół Matki Boskiej, is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, one of the city's oldest and largest churches...
, the architectural firm of Worthmann and Steinbach modeled the church's design on St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It has been acclaimed as one of the finest specimens of Roman Renaissance architecture in the United States. The imposing brick edifice with its twin bell towers and magnificent dome was constructed at a cost of $400,000-a testament to the zeal of Father Gordon and to the generosity of the members of St. Mary of the Angels parish.
In 1948, John A. Mallin
John A. Mallin
John A. Mallin was a Czech-American mural and fresco painter in the Chicago area in the 20th century. He painted many church interiors for the Archdiocese of Chicago, often working after the architect and builder Henry J...
decorated the interior of the church with ornate designs and paintings. The W. W. Kimball pipe organ was installed at a cost of $23,750. Its four manuals and 57 ranks equipped with theater stops make it practically one of its kind in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The cost of overhauling this organ in 1962 amounted to $15,000.
In 1973, extensive repairs were made on the exterior of the dome of St. Mary of the Angels Church and the Holy Name Society donated the blue "Guiding Light" in the cupola which can be seen at a distance-especially from the nearby Kennedy Expressway
Kennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
.
Beginnings and the building of the parish plant
St. Mary of the Angels Church was organized in 1899 by Rev. Vincent BarzynskiVincent Barzynski
Vincent Barzynski was a Polish-American Roman Catholic priest and organiser of the Polish-American community.-Life:He was born at Sulisławice, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Sandomierz County, Kingdom of Poland, the son of Joseph and Mary Barzynski. In baptism he received the name Michael, but during...
, CR, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, the oldest Polish parish in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
The parish was founded to serve the large number of Poles
Poles in Chicago
Chicago Polonia, refers to both immigrant Poles and Americans of Polish heritage living in Chicago, Illinois. They are a part of worldwide Polonia, the proper term for the Polish Diaspora outside of Poland. Poles in Chicago have contributed to the economic, social and cultural well-being of Chicago...
who had settled in Bucktown, which was a part of Chicago's Polish Downtown
Polish Downtown (Chicago)
Polish Downtown was Chicago’s oldest and most prominent Polish settlement. Polish Downtown was the political, cultural and social capital of not only Poles in Chicago but Polish Americans throughout North America as well...
. Two city blocks totaling 96 lots at the corner of Hermitage and Cortland (formerly Clybourn Place) were purchased for $60,000. One block was subdivided for residences while the other became the site of the parish. The first pastor, Rev. Francis Gordon laid the cornerstone of the first building of what has become the school on July 2, 1899. The cornerstone of the first parish building at 1810 N. Hermitage Ave. was laid on July 2, 1899. The three story brick building was designed in the Renaissance style by Henry J. Schlacks and completed at the cost of $65,000. The basement contained meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and an auditorium. Twelve classrooms and convent quarters were constructed on the main floor; the church was located on the second floor; and living quarters for the priests were constructed in the attic. The dedication ceremony was led by the Archbishop and was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000 including the mayor, Carter Harrison Jr.
On February 15, 1900 four Sisters of the Congregation of the Resurrection opened St. Mary of the Angels School with an enrollment of 425 students. In 1905, the new building at 1849 N. Hermitage became the home of the novitiate for the sisters order. In 1909, Fr. Gordon began planning a new church building at the corner of Hermitage and Cortland. Although work commenced on Sept. 28, 1911, the cornerstone of the church was not laid until Aug. 2, 1914. Due to the numerous delays caused by strikes, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the critical shortage of building materials, construction continued over a period of eight years and eight months. In the meantime, the present rectory at 1825 N. Wood St. was completed in July 1912.
According to The New World of Sept. 21, 1912, St. Mary of the Angels parish had "grown so rapidly that it is now one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese" with a membership of approximately 1,200 families. In nearby Annunciation parish membership continued to decline as Irish families moved away from the neighborhood. Once a flourishing Irish parish, by 1916 Annunciation parish numbered only 150 families.
In 1915, the novitiate of the Sisters of the Resurrection was transferred to Norwood Park
Norwood Park, Chicago
Norwood Park is one of 77 well-defined Chicago, Illinois community areas. It encompasses the smaller neighborhoods of Big Oaks, Norwood Park East, Norwood Park West, Old Norwood Park, Oriole Park, and Union Ridge....
and plans were made to open a Day Nursery for children in the building at 1849 N. Hermitage Ave. Beginning on Feb. 21, 1917, children of working mothers were cared for by the Sisters of the Resurrection.
Finally, on May 30, 1920, St. Mary of the Angels was dedicated by Archbishop George Mundelein. Like a number of other Polish churches in the so-called Polish Cathedral style
Polish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
such as St. Josaphat's Basilica in Milwaukee or Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh
Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pittsburgh
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Pittsburgh, referred to in Polish as Kościół Matki Boskiej, is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, one of the city's oldest and largest churches...
, the architectural firm of Worthmann and Steinbach modeled the church's design on St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
In 1899, only one parish committee and three societies were in existence. During the 1920s, a parish committee, two building and loan associations, 28 confraternities, sodalities, fraternal societies, and clubs were active in St. Mary of the Angels parish.
In 1925, 1,099 students were enrolled in the parish school under the direction of 22 Sisters of the Resurrection. The parish also supported a Day Nursery and a Home for Working Girls.
From 1918 to 1924, Father Gordon served as regional superior of the Resurrectionists
Resurrectionist Order
The Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is an international Institute of Consecrated Life of men within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1836 by three men, Bogdan Jański, Peter Semenenko and Hieronim Kajsiewicz in Paris on the heels of the Polish Great Emigration...
in the United States. In recognition of his many accomplishments on behalf of Polish Catholics in Chicago, he was awarded a papal medal in 1924.
Father Gordon continued to serve the people of St. Mary of the Angels parish until his death on Feb. 13, 1931. When a branch of Weber high school was reorganized in September 1952 in quarters at Division St. and Haddon Ave. it was named Gordon Tech in honor of the first pastor of St. Mary of the Angels parish.
From March to October 1931, Rev. Leonard Long, CR served as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Thaddeus Ligman, CR, who remained as pastor for one year.
In 1932, Rev. Edward Brzezinski, CR began a long pastorate at St. Mary of the Angels parish. Not only had he grown up in the parish, but he had served as an assistant for three years. Under Father Brzezinski's leadership, the $250,000 parish debt was liquidated.
Over the years, additions, alterations, and improvements have been made in the parish complex. In the 1930s, the auditorium became known as the "Polish Aragon," in reference to the popular (and still existing) Aragon Ballroom
Aragon Ballroom (Chicago)
The Aragon Ballroom is the name of a ballroom in Chicago, Illinois.Located on West Lawrence Avenue approximately five miles north of downtown in the Uptown neighborhood, it was built in 1926 and designed in the Moorish architectural style with the interior resembling a Spanish village and named...
in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. It was a popular meeting place for the young people of the neighborhood and they turned out by the hundreds to attend the weekly dances sponsored by St. Mary of the Angels parish.
Rev. John Grabowski, CR succeeded Father Brzezinski as pastor in 1951. He directed the construction of the present convent building at 1800 N. Hermitage Ave. Completed at a cost of $450,000, it was dedicated by Cardinal Samuel Stritch on Aug. 16, 1953.
In 1954, Rev. Chester Brzegowy, CR was named pastor. He was succeeded in 1957 by Rev. Anthony Rybarczyk, CR.
Decline and renewal
When it was founded, St. Mary of the Angels parish numbered about 300 families. During the peak years of the 1920s, more than 1,600 families belonged to the parish with nearly 1,200 children enrolled in the parish school. The construction of the Kennedy ExpresswayKennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
had a significant impact on the parish. Many homes in the neighborhood were razed to make way for this highway, which cut through the heart of Chicago Polonia. On Nov. 5, 1960, the segment of the expressway which extends from Lake St. to Foster Ave. was opened to traffic. Due to a loss of a sizable number of families, the school enrollment was diminished by one third.
Rev. Joseph Polinski, CR served as pastor from 1963 until 1967, when Rev. Stanley Majkut, CR was appointed pastor.
On Mar. 13, 1974, Rev. Edward Karlowicz, CR was appointed pastor. He grew up in nearby St. Stanislaus Kostka parish and was ordained in 1948. From 1954 to 1960, Father Karlowicz served as principal of Weber high school.
In preparation for the diamond jubilee of the founding of St. Mary of the Angels parish, the church was renovated. Auxiliary Bishop Alfred Leo Abramowicz
Alfred Leo Abramowicz
Alfred Leo Abramowicz was a Roman Catholic Chicago auxiliary bishop who served as Director of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland from 1960–1995, working as a principal US fund-raising and organizational contact for the Catholic Church in Poland and for the Polish Solidarity...
presided at the special jubilee Mass on Oct. 13, 1974. A parish dinner on Dec. 8, 1974 at the House of the White Eagle concluded the diamond jubilee festivities. Since the organization of this parish, 20 young men have been ordained, nine of them as Resurrectionists
Resurrectionist Order
The Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is an international Institute of Consecrated Life of men within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1836 by three men, Bogdan Jański, Peter Semenenko and Hieronim Kajsiewicz in Paris on the heels of the Polish Great Emigration...
. Of the 36 young women from the parish who entered religious orders, 27 joined the Sisters of the Congregation of the Resurrection.
In 1975, a Parish Council was organized. With the approval and cooperation of Father Karlowicz, a Concerned Citizens Group-composed mainly of St. Mary of the Angels parishioners sponsors meetings and talks for the benefit and welfare of all in the neighborhood.
In 1978, diocesan authorities announced that the territorial parish of Annunciation would be consolidated. Spanish speaking families who had belonged to the parish were invited to join St. Mary of the Angels Church, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, St. Hedwig Church
St. Hedwig's in Chicago
St. Hedwig's Church is an historic parish church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois. Constructed in traditional grand Polish architecture and design, it is one of the many monumental Polish churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway...
, or St. Aloysius Church-all of which had Spanish speaking parishioners. Following the last Mass in Annunciation Church on June 25, 1978, the parish records were transferred to St. Mary of the Angels rectory, 1825 N. Wood St. However, these records now reside at the Archdiocese of Chicago Offices.
The church was closed and slated for demolition in 1988 due to unsafe conditions. Citizens and historians rallied to save the historic structure but feared the cause was already lost.
Three years later in 1991, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, then Archbishop of Chicago, entrusted the administration of the parish and school to the priests of Opus Dei. The Rev. John Twist was the first Pastor under this new administration, followed by the Rev. Hilary Mahaney. It was then that the parish began to see new parishioners and grow once again. Several restoration campaigns were launched by the parish and through various private donations the church structure was brought to life once again with major repairs of the dome, the roofs and the stained-glass windows. Repairs continued in 1997 with the church interior. At the 100th anniversary of the Parish, the church's interior decoration had been fully restored, new lighting, new doors and a new sound system have been installed. The 26 roof angels, fully rebuilt, are all present and accounted for, gleaming cheerfully from Saint Mary's roof tops. A chapel dedicated to St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the Founder of Opus Dei, was built in 2002 in newly remodeled lower level.
St. Mary of the Angels today
Located in the heart of Bucktown and open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, Sunday Masses are celebrated in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. Every week, hundreds of persons come here to receive the sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
of Penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
. On Thursdays, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration throughout the day. The parish school, the Religious Education Program, the classes of Christian Formation and other activities for adults, bring the message of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
to a growing number of believers every year.
The parish is staffed by priests of the Prelature of Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
. Founded in 1928 by Saint Josemaria Escriva, Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
helps people seek personal sanctity in and through the ordinary circumstances of their lives.
In 2002 the parish opened the St. Josemaria Chapel in the lower level of the church. This chapel features a mural to St. Josemaria and hosts daily masses and Eucharistic Adoration.
The area around the church is often referred to as 'Marianowo' by Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
. In recent years, the ethnic character of St. Mary of the Angels parish has undergone a gradual change from an exclusively Polish parish to one that is multicultural and multiracial, as the neighborhood first witnessed an influx of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
immigrants and then Yuppies as the area has begun to gentrify.
Mass Schedule:
SundaysEnglish: 8:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
7:15 p.m.
Polish: 9:30 a.m.
Spanish: 12:30 p.m.
Saturdays
English: 8:00 a.m.*
5:00 p.m. (Mass of Anticipation)
Weekdays
English: 7:00 a.m.*
5:30 p.m.*
(*in St. Josemaría Chapel located in lower level)
Church in architecture books
St. Mary of the Angels also appears in The Dresden FilesThe Dresden Files
The Dresden Files is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by Jim Butcher.He provides a first person narrative of each story from the point of view of the main character, private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden, as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in...
urban fantasy series.
See also
- Polish Cathedral stylePolish Cathedral styleThe Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
churches of Chicago - Polish HillPolish HillPolish Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Primarily a residential area, it is home to one of Pittsburgh's oldest and largest churches, the Immaculate Heart of Mary....
- St. Josaphat Basilica
- Immaculate Heart of Mary in PittsburghImmaculate Heart of Mary in PittsburghImmaculate Heart of Mary Church in Pittsburgh, referred to in Polish as Kościół Matki Boskiej, is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, one of the city's oldest and largest churches...
- Jozef MazurJozef MazurJozef C. Mazur was an Polish-American stained glass artist, painter and sculptor. His works can be found signed as Josef Mazur, Joseph Mazur, Joe Mazur, J. C. Mazur as well as a few others.-Life:...
- Polish Americans
- Poles in ChicagoPoles in ChicagoChicago Polonia, refers to both immigrant Poles and Americans of Polish heritage living in Chicago, Illinois. They are a part of worldwide Polonia, the proper term for the Polish Diaspora outside of Poland. Poles in Chicago have contributed to the economic, social and cultural well-being of Chicago...
- Polish Roman Catholic Union of AmericaPolish Roman Catholic Union of AmericaThe Polish Roman Catholic Union of America is the oldest Polish American organization in the United States. Its history spans notable periods in the development of the Polish American ethnic group, from the time of early settlement by immigrants from Poland through their development of ethnic...
- Roman Catholicism in PolandRoman Catholicism in PolandEver since Poland officially adopted Latin Christianity in 966, the Catholic Church has played an important religious, cultural and political role in the country....
- Tadeusz ŻukotyńskiTadeusz ZukotynskiPolish count, professor, and painter Tadeusz Żukotyński was born in what is today the region of Podolia in Ukraine. One of Europe's foremost painters in religious subjects...
- Sr. Maria Stanisia