2a A GUIDE TO 2006-07 A GUIDE TO 2006-07 3a A CHURCH BUILT BY IMMIGRANTS BY GRACE DUMELLE CONTRIBUTOR e don’t do things by It began with Irish and Whalf measures here. Germans in the 1840s and 1850s. Catholic visitors to the Chicago area— When the Diocese of Chicago was By 1860, Chicago had the fourth- and even residents—frequently seek established in 1843, a mere 10 largest Irish population in the familiar connections to their ethnicity. years after Chicago’s United States. By 1900, one out The Guide to Catholic Chicago lists incorporation, its boundaries were of every four Chicagoans was first- identical with Illinois. Today, or second-generation German. several places where tourists and confined to Cook and Lake Eastern and southern residents alike can find counties, the Archdiocese of Europeans followed in the 19th those connections. Chicago serves a population larger and early 20th centuries: Poles, See Page 5a. than 60 percent of the states in Slovaks, Slovenes, Lithuanians, the United States. Croatians, Italians, Greeks, What’s fueled this church has been immigrants, both internal wanted the same degree of and external. Chicago’s magnetic control over property and pull on people in other parts of finances that they had in the country is often overlooked. Lithuania. The idea that the In the early days many New pastor was the treasurer of Englanders and Empire State church funds and that the residents sought, and made, their archdiocese had title to the land fortunes here. We didn’t have a was foreign to them. Chicago-born mayor until 1897. On Sunday, Feb. 11, 1906, a As the city became a regional faction of trustees tried to take capital, it attracted those in Russians, Ukrainians, Bohemians. That diversity and Catholicity up the collection. More than smaller towns across the Midwest. Immigration laws in 1924 and has continued to draw 3,000 men and women poured Beginning in World War I, 1929 set up quotas for many immigrants. In a large city of into the street and tried to force African-Americans began their ethnicities, turning off the taps, many nationalities, newcomers their way into the rectory, where Great Migration from the South. so to speak, until after World War blend in more easily and can the pastor had fled for protection. European immigration had been II. Then Chicago saw refugees usually find an enclave offering They stoned the building with the foods and language of their bricks and paving blocks and the native land. Another important women used their long hatpins on factor is the catholic nature of the police. Four of the mob were Old St. Patrick’s, founded in 1846. Catholic New World/Sandy Bertog HAPPY 100TH! the church’s teachings—that our shot and six policemen were Three sisters, Lillian, Violet and Ella Spalla, gather around a birthday cake June neighbors are helped no matter injured. 4 marking the end of the 100th anniversary of St. Clement Church. The parish their religion or race. Besides conflicts over Old in the Lincoln Park neighborhood was originally formed in 1905 as a national Right from the beginning of World and New World ways, there parish to serve German families, but today the congregation runs to young and Chicago’s history, Catholic were conflicts between members old and across ethnic lines. The parish’s striking architecture resembles that of institutions—notably Catholic of different ethnic groups. St. Clement’s in Rome and includes wonderful Byzantine designs. Charities—provided social Immigrants who had been in the Catholic New World/Sandy Bertog services to whoever was in need, United States longer looked down from orphans and unwed mothers on more recent arrivals. The cut off and factories needed from the Baltics, Hungarians church grew and prospered. to unemployed workers and arrivals wanted priests who could workers for business expanded by fleeing the failed 1956 uprising, The migrations have cholera victims. Having a support preach and hear confessions in the war. Granted U.S. citizenship and Cubans who found continued. network has greatly facilitated their native tongue. St. Louis in 1917, Puerto Ricans began dictatorship of any political Beginning in the 1970s and immigrants’ attaining the Church, for example, was arriving in significant numbers in persuasion intolerable. After the 1980s, many Central Americans left American Dream. organized primarily for French the late 1940s. Their population fall of South Vietnam in 1975, armed conflict in their homelands. The melting pot hasn’t been Canadians. An Irish priest was is now second only to Mexicans Asians such as Cambodians and Africans and Arabs came for the without conflict. appointed pastor in 1858, who among Chicago-area Hispanics. Laotians settled here. same reason. Latin Rite and A hundred years ago, for not only did not speak French, But from a global perspective, So many of these transplanted Eastern Rite Catholics from many example, it boiled over at but preached in Gaelic, so even the world has truly come to Chicagoans brought with them nations all found a home in the Providence of God Parish in Chicago. their Catholic faith. And the Archdiocese of Chicago. Pilsen. Lithuanian parishioners See Page 4a 4a A GUIDE TO 2006-07 IMMIGRANTS From Page 3a the English speakers could not understand him. The solution, for the early bishops of Chicago, was to create a system of territorial and national parishes. Territorial parishes had a mile-square boundary and were English-speaking. These were largely Irish in origin, staffed by diocesan priests and nuns of Irish descent. National parishes were organized by the particular language spoken and were often staffed by Come Home– religious orders with ties to a particular nationality, Providence of God Church to Resurrection such as the Resurrectionists Catholic New World/Sandy Bertog (Polish) and Scalabrinians (Italian). Official Archdiocesan Directory Outstanding senior living and caring choices Historian Edward Kantowicz (published by New World from Resurrection Health Care. talks about the “major leagues” Publications) lists 23 languages in and “minor leagues” of the which Mass is celebrated in Whether you’re looking for a retirement community where you can live Chicago Archdiocese, in place by parishes. independently, a nursing and rehabilitation center to care for a loved 1926. The major leagues were the The Archdiocese of Chicago is one, or adult day services for a relative so you can work or run errands, territorial, German, and Polish enriched by the traditions and parishes. The minor leagues were devotions brought here by many we are here for you. You will find personalized, compassionate care from Italian, Slovak, Bohemian, peoples: from the marching band dedicated professionals, short-term rehabilitation and respite services, Lithuanian, and a grab bag of for the feast of St. Rocco, to the and spiritual care to nourish the soul as well as the body and mind. other groups. travelling Advent novena While this system served both Simbang Gabi, to elaborately natives and newcomers well, it led patterned pysanki (Easter eggs). The things that are really important. to an overabundance of parishes As St. Paul says, “We being many You want communities where staff members treat each person like a in heavily Catholic areas. As are one body in Christ” (Romans immigrants prospered, they 12:5). family member, whether their stays are brief or long. Homes where moved to less-crowded areas of dedicated nurses, therapists and others have enjoyed working for years. the city and to the suburbs. This Dumelle grew up in Polish- Catholic homes where residents and family members report they are led to Cardinal Bernardin having Hispanic Pilsen and resides in the greatly satisfied. the unenviable task of closing and ethnic mosaic of Bridgeport. She consolidating many parishes in founded Heartland Historical 1990. Research Service (HHRS) in 1995, Just call today for more information or One can visit many Chicago helping clients from all over the to schedule a tour. churches today and see how United States and several foreign different groups come together to countries. Individuals and worship. St. Therese Church in institutions turn to Heartland to Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers Chinatown blends Italian and preserve important pieces of the Chinese decor in the former Santa past with house histories, oral Holy Family Nursing and Saint Benedict Nursing and Maria Incoronata Church. Our histories, and family history Rehabilitation Center Rehabilitation Center Lady of Guadalupe shares pride of projects. Dumelle authored Des Plaines 847-296-3335 Niles 847-647-0003 (Independent Living also available) place at St. Adalbert. Spanish and “Finding Your Chicago Ancestors: Maryhaven Nursing and Polish are the predominant A Beginner’s Guide to Family Rehabilitation Center Saint Francis Nursing and foreign languages in area History in the City and Cook Glenview 847-729-1300 Rehabilitation Center parishes, but one can also hear County” (Lake Claremont Press, Evanston 847-316-3320 Korean, Lao, Latvian, Mandarin, 2005). She lectures and teaches Resurrection Life Center Villa Scalabrini Nursing and Croatian, Bielorussian, Hungarian on genealogical topics. She can be Chicago (northwest) 773-594-7400 Rehabilitation Center and Vietnamese. In fact the reached at [email protected]. Northlake 708-562-0040 Resurrection Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Park Ridge 847-692-5600 Retirement Living Bethlehem Woods Resurrection Retirement Community Retirement Community LaGrange Park 708-579-3663 Chicago (northwest) (Licensed Assisted Living 773-792-7930 also available) Saint Andrew Life Center Casa San Carlo Niles 847-647-8332 Retirement Community (Licensed Assisted Living Northlake 708-562-4300 and Intermediate Nursing Care also available) Adult Day Care Services Resurrection Adult Day Services Chicago (northwest) 773-237-3784 Resurrection Health Care is committed to fair housing. Its retirement communities include Visit our website at features for persons with disabilities, as required by the federal Fair Housing Act.