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Archdiocese of Chicago Announces the Name of a New South Side Parish Created through its Renew My Church Initiative and a New Devotion Area to St. Josephine Bakhita

The church sites, St. Adrian and Queen of the Universe, will retain their consecrated names

Chicago, IL (June 17, 2018) – The Archdiocese of Chicago announced today that the new unified parish that includes the current Queen of the Universe Parish and St. Adrian Parish, both located in Chicago, will be named Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, beginning July 1. The new parish name, announced during Mass celebrations this weekend, was selected by parishioners of both parishes and was among the several names presented to Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, for his decision. The St. Adrian and Queen of the Universe church sites will retain their consecrated names, and both will remain active worship sites of the new parish.

“The Church has called this community to give voice to a new parish name that reflects, as Mary does so well, the Divine Mercy of Jesus,” said Rev. Jason Malave, the Cardinal’s Delegate for Renew My Church. “Throughout history, when God bestows a new name on someone it indicates a new mission. Our parishes are embarking on the mission of Renew My Church: make disciples, build community and inspire witness to strengthen and grow our faith in new, creative ways.”

Also announced, St. Adrian Church, as part of the new Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, is now home to a devotion area to St. Josephine Bakhita. St. Bakhita is a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. St. Bakhita was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. She is the patron saint of Sudan.

To learn more about Renew My Church, visit archchicago.org/renew.