St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church
St. Gregory the Great, a storied institution in Chicago, was founded in spring of 1904 by Luxembourgers of the community for the patron, Gregory the Great, serving as a beacon of faith and community for its once predominantly Irish congregation. From it's inception, the parish has stood as a testament to the resilience and dedication to it's ethnically mixed, middle class members embodying the spiritual and clutural ethose of the community. The history of St. Gregory the Great is marked by significant turning points such as the World Wars and the Great Triduum, which have defined the parish's role within the community and the broader religious landscape of Chicago. These moments of change and evolution have not only tested but also strengthened thebonds among it's members resulting in a congregation that is deeply interconneced and supportive.
The Parish's Founding
This is an image of the Church Committee for St. Gregory the Great parish in the formerly Summerdale neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. This committee was founded in the spring of 1904 due to a need for a German- speaking parish in this neighborhood to accommodate a community of immigrants from Luxembourg. This committee petitioned to Reverend Archbishop J. E. Quigley and the Archdiocese for the creation of this parish. They had collected the names of potential parishioners and promised this parish would foster a beautiful community. These devoted committee members eventually accomplished their goal after a lengthy period of communication with the Archdiocese. Their proposition to establish the parish of St. Gregory the Great was accepted late in 1904. This committee continued to be integral after the building of the original church building commenced. They were responsible for proposing the appointment of the founding pastor and organizing the first meetings of the parish.
This document is a letter to the Reverend Archbishop J. E. Quigley from the original founding committee of St. Gregory the Great church petitioning its creation. The committee members argue the need for a German- speaking parish in the heart of the North Ashland neighborhood to accommodate a population of immigrants from Luxembourg. The committee promises strong support for this parish and that it would foster a flourishing community. The committee even describes the specific plot of land they would like the church to stand on and expected membership. This evidence in the letter insinuates the careful and vigorous planning for this parish. Even though there was a need for this parish, there were months of petitioning to the Archbishop, making the creation of the church a long process. Following this integral letter, the counsel of the Archbishop voted to establish the parish in 1904. Building started swiftly, the community coming together and donating upwards of $8,000 to build the church building.