Wondering where faith meets community in Chicago? This is Saint Barnabas Roman Catholic Church. It is a place with a rich history and a welcoming spirit.
Saint Barnabas Parish has deep roots in this neighborhood. In the early days Catholics were few. They stretched from 87th Street south to the city limits. They attended Mass at Longwood convent chapel. Then St. Margaret of Scotland Parish began in the 1880s.
In 1923 the parish was divided. George Cardinal Mundelein chose Father Timothy D. Hurley to lead the new parish. It was not easy for the early members of Saint Barnabas. Many neighbors did not welcome a new Catholic church.
Father Hurley wanted to build the church on a specific site. But neighborhood residents turned it into Hurley Park. Undaunted Father Hurley bought land where the church stands today. He also bought a Victorian home across the street for the rectory.
Construction of a combination church and school began. It finished near the end of the year. Father Hurley celebrated the first Mass on Christmas morning 1924. Fathers Mulligan and Dolan assisted him.
Saint Barnabas Parish and school grew with the Beverly community. More Catholic families moved in. The original boundaries shrank as other churches formed. St. Christina Church began in 1926. St. Cajetan Church followed in 1927. Christ the King Church was established in 1936.
Father Hurley fell ill in 1944. Reverend Norbert E. O’Connell became the second pastor in 1946. The parish needed larger school facilities. Father O’Connell began building a two-story school in 1958. It included a gymnasium, auditorium and social hall. The school was dedicated in 1959.
The final step was a new larger church. It would meet the needs of the growing community. The modern church you see today was completed by Christmas 1968. The first services were held then.
Father O’Connell resigned in 1970 after twenty-four years. He oversaw great expansion. Father George McKenna became pastor in 1970. Father Raymond E. Goedert succeeded him in 1976. Father Goedert praised the beauty and faith of the Beverly area.
In 1987 Father Goedert became vicar of clergy. Father Raymond Tillrock became the fifth pastor on July 1 1987. Father Tillrock fostered ecumenical dialogue. He built financial strength and encouraged lay involvement.
In 2007 Father Raymond Tillrock was reassigned. Father William E. Malloy became the sixth pastor. In 2017 Father Jim Donovan became the seventh pastor.
Saint Barnabas is more than a building. It is a community of faith family and friends. It continues to be a beacon of hope and a center for spiritual growth in Chicago.