Remember My Church

Items

• St. Gregory Letter to Archbishop
  As St. Gregory was founded by a population of mostly Luxembourgers, the services offered at its inception only catered to their German speaking majority. The St. Gregory Community, however, would go on to be held back by the parish’s lack of services for non-German speakers. And so, in 1916, Father Klasen wrote to the Archbishop petitioning a shift in the languages in which service and programs were conducted at St. Gregory. While he once thought he had to turn away non-German speakers wanting to join the parish, Father Klasen came to understand that this action would only lead them away from the Church.
• St. Thomas 100th Anniversary
  Established in 1916, St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. This booklet provides a history of the parish as well as a collage of memories which celebrate the St. Thomas community. In Father Paul's opening letter, he welcomes parishioners in Vietnamese, Lao, Spanish, Amharic, and English, continuing St. Thomas' legacy as "The Church That Spoke Five Languages."
• St. Thomas Job Ad 1976
  St. Thomas of Canterbury from the start has been committed to giving back to the community it serves. Recognizing that those surrounding the parish needed more assistance than most Catholic churches offered, St. Thomas developed a multitude of social programs. After sixty years of the parish existing, its population had shifted with the influx of immigrants following World War II. As Uptown developed around the church, more housing, medical establishments, nursing homes, and social venues were established, leading to an influx in elderly, handicapped, and unhoused individuals in the area. In 1976, after creating a multitude of social assistance programs in the 60s, St. Thomas was looking to expand their staff. This job ad is for a Senior Citizen Coordinator and a Social Worker, positions which would provide vital support to the disadvantaged members of the parish.
• St. Thomas Sixty-Year Commemorative History
  Written by Reverend Michael Rochford in 1976, this document celebrates sixty years of St. Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church. Rev. Rochford provides a detailed account of the entire church history. St. Thomas was founded by wealthy Irish Catholics in what was known as the "Wilson Avenue District," now known as Uptown, after a severe snow storm in February of 1916 made it difficult for many to walk to church. Demanding Archbishop George Mundelein to create a closer parish, their wishes were fulfilled after collecting five-hundred signatures in only four days. Formally founded March 4, 1916, the parish would host Mass in local theaters and teach in a rented out house until a building was completed on June 24, 1917. Through shifting demographics, St. Thomas would become an incredibly diverse parish, moving its focus away from wealthy patrons to serving those in need, even those who were not parishioners.
• Picture of Ribbon Cutting at St. Ita Roman Catholic Church
  Picture of Pastor Reverend Richard Milek, Reverend Laurence Maddock, and Associate Pastor Alberto Rojas cutting the ribbon at Church of St. Ita before honored guests and benefactors.
• St. Ita's 100th Anniversary Fundraising Appeal
  The brochure is from Fr. Laurence Maddock and calls for parishioners to give money to support St. Ita's restoration for the Cenntanianal Celebration. The brochure talks of a survey that took place earlier with the parishioners to see what parts of the church needed refurbishment. Three things that they plan to fix are installing an elevator and making the church wheelchair accessible, installing new washrooms, and redecorating the interior of the church.
• Communication from Fr. Laurence Maddock to Jeff Weeks
  Communication between Fr. Laurence Maddok of St. Ita's Roman Catholic Church and Jeff Weeks of Cheetah Gym. In the communication, Fr. Laurence is asking for support for the 1.2 million dollar restoration that will take place over three years. Fr. Laurence invites Jeff to the Fall Gala fundraising event on September 23, 2000. Fr. Laurence is hoping the church will receive a membership to Cheetah Gym if he does so the Church will put his name on the bulletin board.
• Email from Paul Foster to Jack Bess
  Paul Foster is emailing Jack Bess from Lermer Communications about his interest in St. Ita Centennial Campaign. Paul describes that the restoration costs $1,000,000 and that the celebration will take place on August 8th at 3:30 pm. Paul then lists some facts about St. Ita's like that it was established in 1900 and that the stained glass windows were imported from France. Paul ends the email with an anecdote about Father Crowe and the founding of St. Ita's.
• List of Edgewater Businesses
  A list of Edgewater businesses. It lists the company's name, address, phone number, if they are a member of something, and the contact name.
• Communication from Reverand Laurence F. Maddock to Commissioner Al Sanchez
  Written communication from Reverand Laurence F. Maddock of St. Ita Roman Catholic Church and Commissioner Al Sanchez of the Department of Streets and Sanitation. The communication is Reverand Laurence F. Maddock asking for permission to hand banners for St. Ita's Centennial Anniversary. The banners would be hung up on January 15, 2000, and St. Ita's has worked with the Chamber of Commerce of Edgewater, Uptown, and Clark Street so that there is no conflict about hanging the banners. St. Ita sent along the permit application along with a copy of the art of the banners.
• Email to Folger's Flag and Decorating about Banner Order
  An email from Sheli Lulkin the executive director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce to Deb Folger of Folger's Flag and Decorating. The email is a reply sending a copy of the letter from the City of Chicago permitting the hanging of banners. The email details the directions of how the banners should hang. Some of the banners are being saved for the centennial celebration that St. Ita's is hosting while 6 or 7 of the banners are heading to the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce office.
• Newspaper clipping about St. Ita's Renovation
  A newspaper clipping about St. Ita's plans for a $1 million renovation. Describes that the festivities will take place on Aug. 8 at 3:30pm. The newspaper then gives a description of the church's history on how it was named for a 6th century Irish nun and that the first mass was held on July 1, 1900. The article describes a past restoration that happened in 1975. The newspaper then ends describing what restoration is going to take place including making the church wheelchair accessible, repainting the inside, and refurbishing the organs.
• An Interview Deacon Paul Spalla
  Deacon Paul Spalla is a resident deacon at St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church in Andersonville, Chicago. In this interview he discusses the merger of St. Gregory with St. Ita and St. Thomas into Mary, Mother of God parish, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parish, the diversity and personal connections found in the congregations, and his personal experiences with the church. Joining St. Gregory shortly before the merger which was quickly followed by the pandemic, Deacon Paul Spalla recounts the parish’s difficulties he faced early on. He goes back through the church’s history as well, discussing the shifting of diversity amongst ethnicities and sexual orientations over time in the denomination. He shares interactions with specific parishioners to demonstrate the warmth and respect found at St. Gregory. He finishes the interview discussing the beauty of the church. Deacon Paul Spall also plays the organ, and has a history of playing at St. Gregory. He shared his playing for the interview.
• Saint Ita Interview with Ed Stranc
  In this interview with Saint Ita parishioner, Ed Stranc, we discuss all things Saint Ita. Specifically, we discussed his time at the church, his lifetime involvement with the parish, his thoughts about Mary, Mother of God, and the role of social media and religion in today's society. Having held multiple positions of power in the parish, Ed Stranc is very dedicated to supporting St. Ita and now Mary, Mother of God. He praises the diversity which has permeated St. Ita and Mary, Mother of God his whole life. A pertinent issue discussed is the reforms needed in how the Catholic Church operates with dwindling numbers and funds. He praises the aid and change the Friars have brought to the parish. Stranc was a vocal supporter of the merger, knowing that the church would not survive without change. He was even directly involved in the initial connections with St. Thomas. The main issue the parish is facing today is a struggle with bringing in youth.
• Dennis Donelon Interview
  This is an oral history interview with Dennis Donelon, who has been volunteering with the soup kitchen at St. Thomas for over 20 years. The interviewer is Kasey Ohn, with Roman Rosari, Charles Bevenour, and Kylie Miller offering questions as well. Dennis discusses his history with the soup kitchen: he goes into his son's passing and mental health struggles which motivated him to volunteer at a soup kitchen to honor his memory. He also discusses the soup kitchen and it's history, as well as what sets it apart from others in the area, as well as offering advice on what he has taken away from the years with the Church.
• St Thomas 50th Year Anniversary Pamphlet
  This pamphlet is in celebration of St Thomas' 50th year since them being open. The phrase "Golden Jubilee" marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. During this time, the main pastor at the Church was Father William Rogers. Father William Rogers served as the main pastor whose leadership and vision transformed St. Thomas Church into a beacon of diversity and openness. Cited and credited for his pivotal role, Father Rogers' commitment to inclusivity and acceptance has shaped the church's identity profoundly. Under his guidance, St. Thomas has become a sanctuary where all are welcomed with open arms.
• St Thomas Elementary School Image
  St Thomas established the school in 1916, the Parish School was opened with an enrollment of 60 children, kindergarten through fourth grade, by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This photo is the photo of the first class of St Thomas, back in 1916 when the school was first established. The school itself today has a wide range of ethnic groups representing the city of Uptown,the largest groups being from Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Vietnam. To this day, the school still offers teachings in both English and Spanish, and the Spanish-speaking population in the Uptown area is relatively high. A large part of the reason why the school was established was to create a sense of fuller community within the Church. During this period, Churches were established as a “third location”, where people could not only go to worship, but it was part of their social lives. People would send their kids to the school and they would meet their friends at the Church: St Thomas could embody every part of a community.
• St. Ita's Game Night
  To keep a sense of community throughout the three parishes, Mary, Mother of God Parish creates different and fun events to engage with their parishioners. In this picture, parishioners are having a fun evening playing Monopoly and card games at St. Ita's rectory. This event was mainly targeted at the young adults of the parishes. Members from each parish were more than welcomed to join and enjoy their evening playing fun games.
• Canterbury House Dinner
  Canterbury House, a parish ministry created in the wake of the Mary, Mother of God merger, is hosted in St. Thomas of Canterbury Church and serves as a mutual aid organization modeled after the Catholic Worker movement. Canterbury House Director James Murphy with help from parishioners has been holding a homecooked weekly Wednesday dinner for migrants, many of whom are staying in local shelters. This current project emphasizes the need to accept and care for those in need, particularly migrants.
• Choral Mass at St. Gregory Church
  Demonstrating St. Gregory's longstanding dedication to celebrating the role of sacred art, music, and culture in Catholic veneration, this annunciation choral mass photographed April 8, 2024 exists among countless other unique performances held at St. Gregory's Hall.
• St. Ita's Pancake Breakfast
  St. Ita's church hosts many events on the behalf of Mary, Mother of God for both parishioners and non parishioners alike; one of their more popular events is their Pancake breakfast. Parishioners are invited to gather after Sunday mass and eat breakfast with one another. This event was hosted in March of 2024 by the Knights of Columbus, a charitable Catholic fraternal organization. The breakfast serves as a way to keep the parish community alive and united, as well as to get Parishioners who perhaps may come from one of the two other parishes to get to know each other. The breakfast also serves to further St. Ita's longstanding tradition as a fund raising center for its community, and now for the whole Mary, Mother of God parish.
• St. Gregory's Arts and Cultural Center
  Pictured is a session at St. Gregory's Hall Parish Arts and Cultural Center. This is a center which promotes Catholic culture and social teaching through art and music. Anyone is welcomed and encouraged to join. It provides a place for Parishioners to unwind and practice their Catholic culture through music and art.
• St. Thomas Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry
  In this picture, volunteers are pictured at St Thomas of Canterbury's soup kitchen and food pantry, located at 4827 N Kenmore Ave, Chicago, Il. Warm meals are served to guests every Tuesday and Friday evening. St Thomas of Canterbury's soup kitchen is always looking for volunteers and can contact Jennifer through the Mary, Mother of God website.
• The Franciscans of St. Thomas
  Though each of the three churches that formed Mary, Mother of God Parish each had their own religious leaders, the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Saint Bonaventure Province now staff all three churches. As such, decorations recognizing the work of Franciscans now adorns the walls of all of the churches. This image is from a wall in St. Thomas of Canterbury church where two framed photographs are on display. The top one is a black and white photograph of a smiling man wearing the black robe customary of a Franciscan Friar. A small typed label under it reads "Servant of God Casimir Cypher, Conventional Franciscan Martyr of Honduras". The frame surrounding this photograph is black with some white painted decoration around the edges. The bottom photograph is approximately the same size, also in a black frame. This one is in color and depicts two smiling men in similar uniforms to the above. They are standing in a bright, sunny place in front of some faded green foliage. The caption underneath this photograph reads "Bl. Michal Tomaszek & Bl. Zbigniew Strzalkowski, Conventional Franciscan Martyrs of Peru".
• Orthodox-style Icon of Mary and Jesus
  This photograph is of a display at St. Thomas of Canterbury. There is a table with a blue and gold tablecloth and on top of it five gold crosses in a row. In front of the middle one is a display of several small blue glass cups, all of which are empty. The left side of the table is obscured by an offscreen plant display. Above the table is a painting of Mary and baby Jesus in a distinctly Orthodox style. Mary and Jesus are both wearing crowns and flanked by small angels on either side. Next to Jesus are the letters "IC XC", a Greek notation for Jesus Christ. Next to Mary is the letters "MP OY", a Greek notation for Mother of God. This artwork is inlaid in a wooden frame and mounted on a shelf protruding from the wall, which is covered in a small white fabric with gold edges. Surrounding the whole thing is a large blue painted square, with small painted shields on each corner.