Nine souls. That’s all it took to begin the story of Saint Cajetan Roman Catholic Church. Imagine July 3rd 1927. Father Daniel Murphy celebrated the first Mass. He stood in a public school assembly hall. Just nine people attended. This humble beginning marked the birth of Saint Cajetan. It was on the far edge of Chicago then. There were only a few scattered Catholic families.
Saint Cajetan Roman Catholic Church wasn’t built overnight. Father Murphy had little money. He started an intense fundraising campaign. This was during the roaring twenties. The stock market crashed three years later. The Great Depression followed. Yet Saint Cajetan persevered.
A tiny prefabricated church appeared in 1927. It sat at the corner of Artesian and 112th Street. The streets lacked paving sidewalks and streetlights. The parishioners worked tirelessly. They built a school and a rectory. They expanded that small church twice. They even found a home for the Sinsinawa Dominican sisters who taught there.
Father Meade became the second pastor. He oversaw further growth against tremendous odds. Father Sharp followed expanding the rectory and adding classrooms. He also broke ground for a new church. It was cleverly designed. It could double as a gym if needed. A convent Memorial Hall and more classrooms were added under his leadership. The church we see today was built and dedicated during his tenure.
Subsequent pastors continued the work. They built a new rectory. They shepherded the community of faith. The Millennium Campaign in 2000 brought further improvements. The church’s buildings were modernized. New roofs and boilers were installed. In 2005 the nave was renovated. New tile floors and pews were added. The sanctuary received a stunning update in 2015. A new altar ambo chairs and crucifix were installed. In 2019 new windows graced the lower grade center building.
Saint Cajetan Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith perseverance and community. From a humble start to its current glory. It is a beacon of faith in Chicago’s southwest side. A place where countless stories of hope and devotion are written and continue to unfold. A true testament to the unwavering spirit of its founders and faithful parishioners.