Archdiocese of Chicago Provides Updates on Eight Renew My Church Groupings
The Archdiocese of Chicago today announced updates on the following Renew My Church groupings: 63rd Street, South Shore, West Ridge, Elk Grove Village, Southwest, East Side, Waukegan, and Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr.
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 of Chicago. The commission met to review the feedback 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 Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops and Presbyteral Council met to discuss the commission’s recommendations. Based on those discussions and prayerful consideration, the following decisions have been made:
63rd Street Renew My Church Grouping
The 63rd Street Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, both of which are in Chicago:
- St. Rene Parish
- St. Symphorosa Parish and School
St. Rene and St. Symphorosa will unite to form a new parish, effective July 1, 2020.
Both churches will continue to hold regularly scheduled Mass within the new parish. St. Symphorosa will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept. St. Symphorosa School will serve as the parish school.
The leaders and parishioners of the new parish will discern possibilities for the new parish’s name within guidelines provided by the archdiocese and will submit their candidates to Cupich for his decision on the permanent name.
The new parish’s leadership will also submit an annual evaluation with a final determination within three years regarding whether continuing to operate at two campuses best supports the new parish’s mission and ministry or if focusing the parish at one campus will more effectively foster unity, steward parish resources, and grow mission outreach.
South Shore Renew My Church Grouping
The South Shore Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, all of which are in Chicago:
- St. Bride Parish
- Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish
- Our Lady of Peace Parish
- St. Philip Neri Parish and School
The intent is for the four parishes to unite to form a new parish, effective July 1, 2020. St. Philip will serve as the parish church for the newly formed parish, where the business office and parish records will be kept. St. Philip Neri will serve as the parish school.
The Haitian Apostolate that worships at Our Lady of Peace will continue to gather at Our Lady of Peace for its Masses until such a time the church is no longer available.
The RMC Commission recommended that all regularly scheduled Masses transition to St. Philip Neri no later than Ash Wednesday 2021.
West Ridge Renew My Church Grouping
The West Ridge Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, all of which are in Chicago:
- St. Henry Parish
- St. Margaret Mary Parish
- St. Timothy Parish
- Blessed Alojzije Stepinac Croatian Catholic Mission
- Northside Catholic Academy
The three parishes will unite to form a new parish, effective July 1, 2020. The leaders and parishioners of the new parish will discern possibilities for the name of the new parish within guidelines provided by the archdiocese and will submit their candidates to Cupich for his decision on the permanent name.
St. Margaret Mary will serve as the parish church for the newly formed parish, where the business office and records are kept. Blessed Alojzije Stepinac Croatian Catholic Mission will continue as a Croatian Mission. The new parish and the Croatian Mission will share use of and responsibility for Angel Guardian Church. The RMC Commission recommended all regularly scheduled Masses from St. Henry and St. Timothy transition to St. Margaret Mary Church and Angel Guardian Church no later than Ash Wednesday 2021.
There are no changes to Northside Catholic Academy, which has one of its two campuses at St. Margaret Mary.
Elk Grove Village Renew My Church Grouping
The Elk Grove Village Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, both of which are in Elk Grove Village, Ill.:
- St. Julian Eymard Parish
- Queen of the Rosary Parish and School
St. Julian Eymard and Queen of the Rosary will unite to form a new parish, effective July 1, 2020. Both churches will continue to hold regularly scheduled Mass within the new parish. Queen of the Rosary will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept. Queen of the Rosary School will serve as the parish school.
The leaders and parishioners of the new parish will discern possibilities for the name of the new parish within guidelines provided by the archdiocese and will submit their candidates to Cupich for his decision on the permanent name.
The new parish’s leadership will also submit an annual evaluation with a final determination within three years regarding whether continuing to operate at two campuses best supports the new parish’s mission and ministry or if focusing the parish at one campus will more effectively foster unity, steward parish resources, and grow mission outreach.
Southwest Renew My Church Grouping
The Southwest Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and schools, all of which are in Chicago:
- St. Basil/Visitation Parish and School
- St. Clare of Montefalco Parish
- St. Gall Parish and School
- St. Rita of Cascia Parish
- St. Simon the Apostle Parish
St. Simon the Apostle will become part of St. Gall Parish, operating as a site of St. Gall Parish. St. Gall will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept.
St. Clare of Montefalco will become part of St. Rita of Cascia Parish, operating as a site of St. Rita of Cascia Parish. St. Rita of Cascia will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept.
St. Basil/Visitation Parish will continue in its current structure.
There are no changes to Visitation School and St. Gall School – both will continue with their current programs.
East Side Renew My Church Grouping
The East Side Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, all of which are in Chicago:
- Annunciata Parish and School
- St. Francis de Sales Parish
- St. George Parish
- St. Kevin Parish
The four parishes will unite to form one, new parish, effective July 1, 2020. The leaders and parishioners of the new parish will discern possibilities for the name of the new parish within guidelines provided by the archdiocese and will submit their candidates to Cupich for his decision on the permanent name.
Annunciata will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept. Annunciata School will serve as the parish school. Regularly scheduled Masses will also continue at St. Kevin Church
The RMC Commission recommended all regularly scheduled Masses at St. Francis de Sales and St. George cease and transition to Annunciata and St. Kevin no later than Ash Wednesday 2021.
Waukegan Renew My Church Grouping
The Waukegan Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, both of which are in Waukegan, Ill.:
- St. Anastasia Parish and School
- St. Dismas Parish
St. Anastasia and St. Dismas will unite to form a new parish, effective July 1, 2020. Both churches will continue to hold regularly scheduled Mass within the new parish. St. Dismas will be designated the parish church, where the parish records are kept. St. Anastasia School will serve as the parish school.
The leaders and parishioners of the new parish will discern possibilities for the name of the new parish within guidelines provided by the archdiocese and will submit their candidates to Cupich for his decision on the permanent name.
The new parish’s leadership will also submit an annual evaluation with a final determination within three years regarding whether continuing to operate at two campuses best supports the new parish’s mission and ministry or if focusing the parish at one campus will more effectively foster unity, steward parish resources, and grow mission outreach.
St. Genevieve and St. Stanislaus Renew My Church Grouping
The St. Genevieve and St. Stanislaus Renew My Church grouping includes the following parishes and school, both of which are in Chicago:
- St. Genevieve Parish and School
- St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish
The parishes will unite to form one, new parish, effective July 1, 2020, named Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr.
St. Genevieve will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept. St. Stanislaus will continue to operate as a church of the new parish. St. Genevieve School will serve as the parish school.
Next Steps
Over the next few months, the archdiocese and the pastors of the current parishes will support the communities in their transition to the new parish and school structures. The archdiocese’s Renew My Church Accompaniment Team will work alongside local leadership to ensure the uniting faith communities and staff members are supported through this time of change. All parishes will embark on the next phase of the renewal process to become a stronger, more sustainable presence for the future, capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ, building communities with one another and inspiring witness in the world around us.
