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Archdiocese of Chicago Announces New Parish and School Structures in Westfield Park, Old Town/Lincoln Park and Pulaski Corridor Renew My Church Groupings

September 22, 2018

As part of the archdiocese’s revitalization initiative, Renew My Church, the leadership of parishes in the Westfield Park, Old Town/Lincoln Park and Pulaski Corridor groupings have been meeting to discuss the future church, parish and school structures for their areas. They submitted their feedback to the Archdiocese of Chicago and the final structures have been approved. 

Westfield Park Grouping

The Renew My Church Westfield Park grouping includes Divine Infant Jesus Parish and School (Westchester), Divine Providence Parish and School (Westchester), St. Louise de Marillac Parish and School (LaGrange Park), and St. Barbara Parish (Brookfield).

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, and the archdiocese’s Presbyteral Council met and, based on the Archdiocesan Commission’s recommendation and other considerations, the Cardinal made a final decision regarding the grouping’s structure.

Divine Infant Jesus Parish and Divine Providence Parish will unite to form one new parish, effective July 1, 2019, retaining both churches as active worship sites of the new parish. This new parish will have a single school housed on the current campus of Divine Providence School. Thus, Divine Infant Jesus School will close, effective June 30, 2019.

Student enrollment has been dropping at Divine Infant Jesus School for several years, and this has created significant financial challenges. Despite best efforts to recruit students and restore the school to viability, finances have not improved. Based on this and local demographic projections, moving forward with a single school to serve the united parish was determined to be the best way to ensure long-term quality and sustainability in Catholic education.

Additionally, St. Barbara Parish and St. Louise de Marillac Parish will unite to form a new parish, effective July 1, 2019, retaining both churches as active worship sites of the new parish. St. Louise de Marillac School will remain in its current structure, serving as the school for the united parish. 

Over the next few months, the archdiocese will work with all involved to ensure an orderly and smooth transition to the new parish structures. The archdiocese’s Priest Placement Board will work with the community to identify a pastor to lead the new parishes.

Through the new parish structures, the parishes will unite their resources to create vital, life-giving parishes – each with two worship sites. With these viable structures in place, the parishes will work on new ways to implement the Renew My Church vision: to make disciples, build communities and inspire witness.

Old Town/Lincoln Park Grouping

The Renew My Church Old Town/Lincoln Park grouping includes St. Josaphat Parish and School, St. Michael Parish, St. Teresa of Avila Parish, and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, and Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish and School, all located in Chicago.

Cardinal Cupich and the archdiocese’s Presbyteral Council met and, based on the Archdiocesan Commission’s recommendation and other considerations, the Cardinal made a final decision regarding the grouping’s structure.

There will be no structural changes to any of the parishes or schools in this grouping.

It is the Cardinal’s hope – and that of all the faithful in this grouping– that the parish communities will continue to seek new ways to work together and pool resources, where appropriate, to become an even stronger, more sustainable presence for the future capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Pulaski Corridor Grouping

The Renew My Church Pulaski Corridor grouping includes Our Lady of Loretto Parish (Hometown), St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish and School (Oak Lawn), St. Germain Parish and School (Oak Lawn), and St. Terrence Parish (Alsip).

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, and the archdiocese’s Presbyteral Council met and, based on the Archdiocesan Commission’s recommendation and other considerations, the Cardinal made a final decision regarding the grouping’s structure.

Our Lady of Loretto and St. Germaine Parishes will unite to form one new parish led by one pastor and one staff team, effective July 1, 2019. Within the next couple of years – at a time determined by parish leadership in consultation with Archdiocesan leadership – the newly formed parish will come together at St. Germaine Church and Our Lady of Loretto Church will close. St. Germaine School will remain as a ministry of the parish.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish will remain, structurally, as is with St. Catherine of Alexandria School continuing as a ministry of the parish. St. Terrence Parish will also remain structurally as is. Together, St. Terrence Parish leadership and the archdiocesan leadership will identify an alternate grouping for further discernment about the best future scenario for the St. Terrence community.

Through the new parish structure, the St. Germaine and Our Lady of Loretto Parish communities will unite their resources to become a stronger, more sustainable presence for the future. Working in direct, ongoing collaboration with St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish and St. Terrence Parish, all of the parishes within the Pulaski Corridor will be capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Over the next few months, the Archdiocese will work with all involved to ensure an orderly and smooth transition to the new structure. The Archdiocese’s Priest Placement Board will work with the community to identify a pastor to lead the new parish formed by St. Germaine and Our Lady of Loretto Parishes.