Was this entire church built on a dream? A dream of freedom, of opportunity and a yearning for a new life. This is Saint Simon Catholic Church. The roots of this church are deeply entwined with the hopes and aspirations of Slovak immigrants who came to Chicago in the early 20th century.
Saint Simon Catholic Church wasn’t always housed in this beautiful structure. It all began in 1916, on the eve of the Fourth of July, when a small group of Slovaks led by Reverend Gregory Vanisciak, O.S.B. envisioned a place where they could practice their faith and pass it down to their children. Their original plan was to name the parish SS. Peter and Paul. But fate, it seems, had other plans. World War I put their dreams on hold, and it wasn’t until 1926 that their vision truly began to materialize.
Cardinal George Mundelein, recognizing the growing Slovak community, appointed Reverend Edward A Sendek to guide the formation of a new parish, this time christened Saint Simon the Apostle. Their first mass was humbly celebrated on October 3, 1926, in a parishioner’s residence. But these resilient souls were not deterred. They started with a simple wooden structure, a temporary home on South California that served as both a church and later a parish hall.
Then, in 1928, with a mix of hard-earned savings and a leap of faith, they laid the cornerstone for the magnificent edifice that stands before you today. On June 17, 1928, Cardinal Mundelein himself blessed the site, marking a pivotal moment in the history of Saint Simon Catholic Church. What began as a dream shared by a handful of immigrants blossomed into a thriving parish, a testament to their unwavering spirit.