Saint Bernadette Church

Can a church be both a testament to faith and a casualty of change? Here at Saint Bernadette Church in Evergreen Park, that question hangs heavy in the air. Saint Bernadette Church has been a cornerstone of this community since 1947. It began humbly in the Ketchum Funeral Home, on land owned by Little Company of Mary Hospital. The first Mass at Saint Bernadette Church was celebrated in a borrowed chapel, just days after D-Day. Can you picture Father Kennedy leading the service, the echoes of war still reverberating across the world? By 1946, Saint Bernadette Church was bursting at the seams with over 250 families. A school, convent, and living quarters were constructed. The school opened its doors in 1947, with four Franciscan sisters from Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania, nurturing young minds. Saint Bernadette Church officially became a parish in 1948, with Father William Stricker as its first pastor. Mass was held in the school hall as the community eagerly awaited their new church. The dream finally took shape in 1957. Longtime parishioners Donald Johnson and Harold Bountin designed the very building we stand before today. The cornerstone was dedicated by Archbishop Patrick O’Boyle on December 14, 1958. Father Stricker celebrated the first Mass in the new church, with nearly 850 people filling every pew. The school thrived under Sister Emma, growing to over 1,100 students, 14 nuns, and 3 lay teachers by 1960. Saint Bernadette Church was more than just a building. It was the heart of the community. Sadly, after serving generations of families, Saint Bernadette Church merged with Queen of Martyrs Parish in 2022 under the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church program. The final Mass was held in June 2024, a poignant farewell to a beloved spiritual home. The crucifix and tabernacle were carried in a procession to Queen of Martyrs, marking the end of an era for Saint Bernadette Church. Even in its absence, Saint Bernadette Church stands as a reminder of the enduring power of faith and community, etched into the very fabric of Evergreen Park.