Parish, St. Margaret Mary
St. Margaret Mary Parish Soundex Code C620
http://smmschool.com/parish/parish.htm
On March 27, 1921 Cardinal George Mundelein established St. Margaret Mary Parish and named Reverend George McCarthy as its first pastor. When the parish was established it consisted of 135 families.
St Margaret Mary Parish was established to meet the needs of the Luxembourg community who was willing to work to build a fine parish where they could worship the God who blessed them and to build a school to educate their children.
The first mass for the newly formed St. Margaret Mary Parish was said at the Frank Lenz residence at 2340 W. Touhy Avenue on April 1, 1921.
In March of 1924, Cardinal George Mundelein approved the plans for a two-story plus basement building that would house the church on the first floor and eight classrooms on the second. The basement would house the social center/gymnasium. The church/school was dedicated June 21, 1925 and the Sisters of St. Joseph from LaGrange, Illinois were asked to staff the school.
In June of 1937 construction of the present church started. It was dedicated on December 18, 1938.
Since then the building on Claremont Avenue was purchased and became the parish convent. Following WWII the rectory was built and the Activity Center completed the campus.
Since its beginnings in the 1920s, St. Margaret Mary Parish has grown to 800 families with a school of 180 students and a Religious Education program that serves over 50 young people in their parish community.
From that small group of people from Luxembourg, the parish now hosts people from all over the world. The makeup of the parish has changed so dramatically that on Pentecost they celebrate The Diversity of Culture and the Oneness of Faith. It is a joy that St. Margaret Mary Parish welcomes diverse people who gather as one in faith to celebrate the Eucharist.
St. Margaret Mary Parish looks forward to many years of service to God’s people in the West Ridge community and welcomes everyone.
Photos
The S077 and S090 series of photos were donated to the Society by St. Margaret Mary Parish.
RPWRHS photo C005-73367 shows St. Margaret Mary Parish - Dedication Day, 1926 on Barton Street (now Claremont Avenue).
RPWRHS photo C005-73388 shows Mary Welter, the first child baptized at St. Margaret Mary Parish on Sunday, April 3, 1921.
RPWRHS photo S013-0460 shows St. Margaret Mary Parish, 2324 W. Chase Avenue, February 1984.
RPWRHS photo S077-0106 shows what was originally a second chapel for St. Margaret Mary Parish at 2849 W. Chase Avenue and Francisco Avenue, circa 1951. This became the Mart Mariam Chaldean Catholic Church. In late 2011, this church was sold to a group of Jewish investors.
RPWRHS photo S077-0301 shows St. Margaret Mary Church - Concert. No date given. 7318 N. Oakley Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S077-0303 shows St. Margaret Mary Church - Concert. No date given. 7318 N. Oakley Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S077-0304 shows St. Margaret Mary Church - Concert. No date given. 7318 N. Oakley Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S077-0305 shows St. Margaret Mary Church - Concert. No date given. 7318 N. Oakley Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S077-0306 shows St. Margaret Mary Church - Concert. No date given. 7318 N. Oakley Avenue.
RPWRHS photo T006-6012 shows the Frank Lenz residence at 2340 W. Touhy Avenue circa 1960. 1st mass for the St. Margaret Mary Parish said here Monday, April 1, 1921.
RPWRHS photo W002-38718 shows an outdoor Mass for St. Margaret Mary Parish being conducted on Monday, May 30, 1921. No further information is given.
RPWRHS photo S013-2000 shows St. Margaret Mary Church Statue Head Closeup, taken Thursday, May 9, 2002, 2324 W. Chase Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S013-2001 shows St. Margaret Mary Church Statue, full length, taken Tuesday, May 7, 2002, 2324 W. Chase Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S013-2002 shows St. Margaret Mary Church Statue, rear view, taken Tuesday, May 7, 2002, 2324 W. Chase Avenue.
RPWRHS photo S013-2204, St. Margaret Mary Church, 7318 N. Oakley Avenue. Saturday, September 1, 1984.
