Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago (Latin: Archidioecesis Chicagiensis) was established as a diocese in 1843 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1880. It serves the more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, in the United States, an area of 1,411 square miles (3,650 km2). The archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries.
Archdiocese of Chicago
Coat of arms
|Territory||Counties of Cook and Lake|
|Area||1,411 sq mi (3,650 km2)|
|(as of 2017)|
|Sui iuris church||Latin Church|
|Established||November 28, 1843 (175 years ago)|
|Cathedral||Holy Name Cathedral|
|Patron saint||Immaculate Conception|
|Archbishop||Blase J. Cupich|
|Vicar General||Ronald A. Hicks|
Blase Joseph Cupich was appointed Archbishop of Chicago in 2014 (and Cardinal in 2016) by Pope Francis, and is assisted by six episcopal vicars, who are each responsible for a vicariate (region). The cathedral parish for the archdiocese, Holy Name Cathedral, is in the Near North Side area of the see city for the diocese, Chicago. The Archdiocese of Chicago is the metropolitan see of the Province of Chicago. Its suffragan dioceses are the other Catholic dioceses in Illinois: Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield.
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago from 1982 to 1996, was arguably one of the most prominent figures in the Church in the United States in the post-Vatican II era, rallying progressives with his "seamless garment ethic" and his ecumenical initiatives.
Arrival of missionariesEdit
A French Jesuit missionary, the Rev. Jacques Marquette, SJ, first explored the area that is now Chicago in the mid-17th century. On December 4, 1674, Father Marquette arrived at the mouth of the Chicago River where he built a cabin to recuperate from his travels. His cabin became the first European settlement in the area now known as Chicago. Marquette published his survey of the new territories and soon more French missionaries and settlers arrived.
In 1795, the Potawatomi tribe signed the Treaty of Greenville that ceded to the United States a tract of land at the mouth of the Chicago River. There in 1804, Fort Dearborn was erected and protected newly arrived Catholic pioneers. In 1822, Alexander Beaubien became the first person to be baptized in Chicago. In 1833, Jesuit missionaries wrote a letter to the Most Rev. Joseph Rosati, Bishop of Saint Louis and Vicar General of Bardstown, pleading for the appointment of a resident pastor to serve over one hundred professing Roman Catholics living in Chicago. Rosati appointed a diocesan priest, the Rev. John Mary Irenaeus Saint Cyr. Fr. Saint Cyr celebrated his first Mass in a log cabin owned by the Beaubien family on Lake Street, near Market Street, in 1833.
At the cost of four hundred dollars, Father Saint Cyr purchased a plot of land at what is now the intersection of Lake and State Streets and constructed a church building of 25 by 35 feet (7.6 by 10.7 m). It was dedicated in October 1833. The following year, the Bishop of Vincennes visited Chicago, where he found over 400 Catholics with only one priest to serve them. The bishop asked permission from Bishop Rosati to send Fathers Fischer, Shaefer, Saint Palais, Dupontavice, and Joliet from Vincennes to tend to the needs of the Chicago region. In 1837, Fr. Saint Cyr was allowed to retire and was replaced by Chicago's first English-speaking priest, the Rev. James Timothy O'Meara. Father O'Meara moved the church built by Fr. Saint Cyr to what is now the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Madison Street. When Fr. O'Meara left Chicago, Saint Palais demolished the church and replaced it with a new brick structure.
The First Plenary Council of Baltimore concluded that the Roman Catholic population of Chicago was growing exponentially and was in dire need of an episcopal see of its own. With the consent of Pope Gregory XVI, the Diocese of Chicago was canonically erected on November 28, 1843. In 1844, William Quarter of Ireland was appointed as the first Bishop of Chicago. Upon his arrival, Quarter summoned a synod of 32 Chicago priests to begin the organization of the diocese. One of Quarter's most important achievements was his successful petitioning for the passage of an Illinois law in 1845 that declared the Bishop of Chicago an incorporated entity, a corporation sole, with power to hold real and other property in trust for religious purposes. This allowed the bishop to pursue large-scale construction of new churches, colleges, and universities to serve the needs of Chicago's Roman Catholic faithful. After four years of service as Bishop of Chicago, Bishop Quarter died on April 10, 1848.
Fire of 1871Edit
The southern section of the state of Illinois split from Chicago diocese in 1853, becoming the Diocese of Quincy. The Quincy diocese was renamed the Diocese of Alton in 1857, and eventually became Diocese of Springfield. The Diocese of Peoria was established in 1877 from another territorial split from the Chicago diocese.
From 1844 to 1879, the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Chicago held the title Bishop of Chicago. With the elevation of the diocese to an archdiocese in 1880, the diocesan bishop held the title Archbishop of Chicago. Since 1915, all Archbishops of Chicago have been honored in consistory with the title of Cardinal Priest and membership in the College of Cardinals. The archbishops also have responsibilities in the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. All but two diocesan bishops were diocesan priests before assuming the episcopacy in Chicago. Two came from religious institutes: the Society of Jesus (James Van de Velde) and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Francis George).
Our Lady of the Angels fireEdit
A fire occurred at Our Lady of Angels School on December 1, 1958, in the Humboldt Park area of western Chicago. The school, operated by the Archdiocese, lost 92 students and three nuns in five classrooms on the second floor.
In 1959 the National Fire Protection Association’s report on the blaze blamed civic authorities and the Archdiocese of Chicago for "housing their children in fire traps" – their words – such as Our Lady of the Angels School. The report noted that both the Chicago School Board and the Archdiocese continued to allow some schools to be legally operated despite having inadequate fire safety standards.
The Archbishop's Residence at 1555 North State Parkway is the official home of the Archbishop of Chicago and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1885 by the Most Rev. Patrick Feehan, first Archbishop of Chicago, it is a three-story, red brick building and is one of the oldest structures in the Astor Street District, according to the Landmarks Preservation Council.
When Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in 1979, he became the first Pontiff to stay at the residence, though two previous popes had stayed there as cardinals: Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, who became Pope Pius XII; and Giovanni Cardinal Montini who became Pope Paul VI.
Before the establishment of the Archbishop's Residence, the Bishops of Chicago were in residence at a home on LaSalle Street and North Avenue.
Bishops of ChicagoEdit
- William J. Quarter (1844–1848)
- James Oliver Van de Velde, S.J. (1848–1853), appointed Bishop of Natchez
- Anthony O'Regan (1854–1858)
- James Duggan (1859–1880)
Archbishops of ChicagoEdit
- Patrick Augustine Feehan (1880–1902)
- James Edward Quigley (1903–1915)
- Cardinal George Mundelein (1915–1939)
- Cardinal Samuel Stritch (1939–1958), appointed Pro-Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
- Cardinal Albert Gregory Meyer (1958–1965)
- Cardinal John Cody (1965–1982)
- Cardinal Joseph Bernardin (1982–1996)
- Cardinal Francis George, OMI (1997–2014)
- Cardinal Blase J. Cupich (2014–present)
Auxiliary Bishops of ChicagoEdit
- Alexander Joseph McGavick (1899–1921), appointed Bishop of La Crosse
- Peter Muldoon (1901–1908), appointed Bishop of Rockford
- Paul Peter Rhode (1908–1915), appointed Bishop of Green Bay
- Edward Francis Hoban (1922–1928), appointed Bishop of Rockford and later Bishop of Cleveland
- Bernard James Sheil (1928–1969)
- William David O'Brien (1934–1962)
- William Edward Cousins (1948–1952), appointed Bishop of Peoria and later Archbishop of Milwaukee
- Raymond Peter Hillinger (1956–1971), appointed Bishop of Rockford
- Cletus F. O'Donnell (1960–1967), appointed Bishop of Madison
- Aloysius John Wycislo (1960–1968), appointed Bishop of Green Bay
- Romeo Roy Blanchette (1965–1966), appointed Bishop of Joliet
- John L. May (1967–1969), appointed Bishop of Mobile and later Archbishop of St. Louis
- Thomas Joseph Grady (1967–1974), appointed Bishop of Orlando
- William Edward McManus (1967–1976), appointed Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
- Michael Dempsey (1968–1974)
- Alfred Leo Abramowicz (1968–1995)
- Nevin William Hayes, O. Carm. (1971–1988)
- Plácido Rodriguez, C.M.F. (1983–1994), appointed Bishop of Lubbock
- Wilton D. Gregory (1983–1994), appointed Bishop of Belleville and later Archbishop of Atlanta and Archbishop of Washington
- Timothy Joseph Lyne (1983–2013)
- John R. Gorman (1988–2003)
- Thad J. Jakubowski (1988–2003)
- Raymond E. Goedert (1991–2003)
- Gerald Frederick Kicanas (1995–2002), appointed Bishop of Tucson
- Edwin Michael Conway (1995–2004)
- John R. Manz (1996–present)
- Joseph N. Perry (1998–present)
- Jerome Edward Listecki (2000–2004), appointed Bishop of La Crosse and later Archbishop of Milwaukee
- Thomas J. Paprocki (2003–2010), appointed Bishop of Springfield in Illinois
- Francis J. Kane (2003–2018)
- George J. Rassas (2006–2018)
- Andrew Peter Wypych (2011–present)
- Alberto Rojas (2011–present)
- Mark Andrew Bartosic (2018–present)
- Robert Gerald Casey (2018–present)
- Ronald Aldon Hicks (2018–present)
Other priests of this diocese who became BishopsEdit
- Peter Joseph Baltes, appointed Bishop of Alton in 1869
- John McMullen, appointed Bishop of Davenport in 1881
- Maurice Francis Burke, appointed Bishop of Cheyenne in 1887
- Edward Joseph Dunne, appointed Bishop of Dallas in 1893
- Thaddeus Joseph Butler, appointed Bishop of Concordia in 1897 (died before consecration)
- Edmund Michael Dunne, appointed Bishop of Peoria in 1909
- Stanislaus Vincent Bona, appointed Bishop of Grand Island in 1931
- Moses Elias Kiley, appointed Bishop of Trenton in 1934
- Francis Joseph Magner, appointed Bishop of Marquette in 1940
- Patrick Thomas Brennan, S.S.C.M.E. (priest here, 1928-1936), appointed Prefect of Kwoszu, Korea (South) in 1948
- Martin Dewey McNamara, appointed Bishop of Joliet in Illinois in 1948
- William Aloysius O’Connor, appointed Bishop of Springfield in Illinois in 1948
- Donald Martin Carroll, appointed Bishop of Rockford in 1956 (did not take effect)
- Ernest John Primeau, appointed Bishop of Manchester in 1959
- Romeo Roy Blanchette, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois in 1965
- Raymond James Vonesh, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois in 1968
- Paul Casimir Marcinkus, appointed titular Archbishop in 1968
- Thomas Joseph Murphy, appointed Bishop of Great Falls in 1978
- John Richard Keating, appointed Bishop of Arlington in 1983
- James Patrick Keleher, appointed Bishop of Belleville in 1984
- Edward Michael Egan, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York in 1985; future Cardinal
- Edward James Slattery, appointed Bishop of Tulsa in 1993
- Edward Kenneth Braxton. appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis in 1995
- Robert Emmet Barron, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles in 2015
Structure of the archdioceseEdit
The Archdiocese Pastoral Centers are Archbishop Quigley Center, 835 North Rush Street and Cardinal Meyer Center, 3525 South Lake Park Avenue, both in Chicago.
Administrative Council to the Archbishop
Most Reverend Ronald Hicks, Vicar General
Stephen Kanonik, Moderator of the Curia
Jeffery Grob, Chancellor
Mark A Bartosic, Auxiliary Bishop, Episcopal Vicare, Vicariate II
John R. Manz, Auxiliary Bishop, Episcopal Vicar, Vicariate IV
Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop, Episcopal Vicar, Vicariate VI
Alberto Rojas, Auxiliary Bishop, Episcopal Vicar, Vicariate I
Robert Casey, Auxiliary Bishop, Episcopal Vicar, Vicariate III
Andrew P. Wypych, Auxiliary Bishop, Episcopal Vicar, Vicariate V
Thomas A. Baima, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary
Michael M. Boland, Director, Catholic Charities
Betsy Bohlen, Chief Financial Officer
George Puszka, Director, Finance
Christopher J. Cannova, Department of Personnel Services
Peter de Keartry, Interim-Director, Department of Human Services
Peter Wojik, Director, Department of Parish Vitality and Mission
Jim Rigg, Superintendent, Archdiocesan Board of Catholic Education
Departments, agencies and offices include:
- Amate House
- Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women
- Archives and Records, Assistance Ministry
- Catholic Cemeteries
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
- Catholic Chaplaincy at O'Hare
- Catholic Schools
- Communications and Public Relations
- Divine Worship
- Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
- Family Ministries
- Financial Services
- Food Service Professionals
- Formation, Lay Ecclesial Ministry
- Legal Services
- Liturgy Training Publications
- Metropolitan Tribunal
- Ministerial Evaluation
- Ministry in Higher Education
- Office of Catholic Schools
- Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
- Office of Information Technology
- Office for Peace and Justice
- Office for Persons with Disabilities
- Office of Professional Responsibility
- Ongoing Formation in Ministry
- Parish Life and Formation
- The Protection of Children and Youth
- Racial Justice
- Research and Planning
- Respect Life
- Stewardship and Development
- Young Adult Ministry
- Youth Ministry Office.
Office of Catholic SchoolsEdit
The Office of Catholic Schools operates, manages, and supports diocesan and Catholic primary and secondary schools. Catholic education in the Chicago area began on June 3, 1844 with the opening of a boys' school. Chicago parochial schools served various ethnic groups, including Irish, Germans, Poles, Czechs and Bohemians, French, Slovaks, Lithuanians, Puerto Rican Americans, African Americans, Italians, and Mexicans. Many local nuns living in convents established and operated Catholic schools.
The school construction boom ended when Cardinal John Cody, archbishop at the time, decided to limit construction of Catholic schools in Lake County and suburban areas in Cook County. Due to changes in demographics, the archdiocese has since closed more than half of its urban schools since 1966.
Between 1984 and 2004, the Office of Catholic Schools closed 148 schools and 10 school sites. An August 27, 2015, article in the Chicago Tribune refers to the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools as the largest private school system in the United States. In the 2015/2016 academic year, the archdiocese ran 193 elementary schools and 36 high schools. As of 2015[update], the Superintendent of Catholic Schools is Jim Rigg, Ph D.
Respect Life OfficeEdit
Cardinal Francis George established the Respect Life Office within the archdiocese. "It promotes the cause of life through advocacy and prayer. It has available educational resources, a speakers bureau and sponsors annual conferences, retreats and rallies for adults and youth. The Office also maintains Project Rachel, a program of reconciliation for those who participated in an abortion; and the Chastity Education Initiative, which serves youth and young adults of the Archdiocese, inspiring them to make positive choices about the gift of human sexuality."
The Respect Life Office has coordinated several pro-life initiatives in the Chicago area. These include the local 40 Days for Life campaign, annual trip to the March for Life in both Chicago and Washington, DC, for college and high school students.
- University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary) – major seminary
- St. Joseph College Seminary – undergraduate seminary program of the Archdiocese of Chicago (affiliated with Loyola University Chicago) ((closed 2019))
- Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary – high-school seminary (closed 2007)
Province of ChicagoEdit
- Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
- The Catholic New World, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Glenview, Illinois), one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese
- Polish Cathedral style churches of Chicago
- St. Anne Catholic Community, another of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Chicago
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago
- List of the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of the Roman Catholic cathedrals of the United States
- List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Shrine of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest; in Chicago, Illinois
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