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Archdiocese of Chicago Provides Updates on St. Frances of Rome and St. Mary of Celle Renew My Church Grouping

Sept. 20, 2021

The Archdiocese of Chicago today announced an update on the St. Frances of Rome (Cicero)/ St. Mary of Celle (Berwyn) Renew My Church grouping.

Over the past several months, the grouping’s Feedback and Discernment Team, made up of representatives from each of the parishes, met to review and discern the future parish, church and school structures. Based on its meetings and discussions with the larger parish communities, the team submitted feedback reports to the Archdiocesan Standards and Recommendations Commission, which includes representatives from across the archdiocese. The commission reviewed the feedback reports and other materials and information, including demographic data, financial summaries, and parish and grouping trends.  

During the past several weeks, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops and Presbyteral Council discussed the commission’s recommendations. Based on those discussions and prayerful consideration, the following decision has been made for the grouping of St. Frances of Rome/St. Mary of Celle:

The new structure will be:

St. Frances of Rome and St. Mary of Celle will unite as one parish with two worship sites, one pastor and one pastoral team. The parish will be known as St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds Parish.

  • Both churches will continue to host a regular schedule of Masses. The specific schedule will be determined by the pastor in consultation with parish leadership.
  • St. Frances of Rome will formally be designated the parish church where the united parish’s sacramental records will be kept.
  • There are no changes to St. Frances of Rome School.
  • The archdiocese’s Priest Placement Board will continue its discernment of a candidate to recommend as pastor of the unified parish. More information will be shared when it is available.
  • Additionally, the RMC Commission asks the parish to continually review its structures in collaboration with Bishop Kevin Birmingham and his vicariate staff. 

Next steps 

The newly united parish community will embark upon the next phase of renewal, focusing on strong evangelization.