“Cicero factories boomed” It was the 1940s during World War II. Many Catholic families built homes in Boulevard Manor. This neighborhood was the newest area of Cicero. It was named for Austin Boulevard.
Let me tell you about Saint Dionysius Church. The church has a fascinating history. It’s closely linked to the community’s growth.
Rev. Edmund H. Long was the pastor of Saint Dionysius Church. It was formerly located at 49th Avenue and 29th Street. He saw the need for a Catholic church in Boulevard Manor. So, in 1943, he established a mission church. Mass was celebrated on Sundays at Lincoln School. It stood on 61st Avenue.
In August 1945, Father Long oversaw the construction of a church-school building. It was located at 3620 S. 57th Court. This task was not easy. Very little building occurred during the war. Building supplies were hard to get. The two-story structure contained a multi-purpose church and gymnasium. It was upstairs. Eight classrooms were downstairs.
Our Lady of Charity School opened in November 1945. Initially, 108 students occupied the church basement. Coal stoves heated the space for the first few months. Sister M. Romula was the first principal. There were four teachers. One was a lay teacher. Three were religious. Movable curtains divided classes. The upstairs gym served as both a gymnasium and a church. It hosted community athletic events. These included wrestling matches. There was even a live circus.
Samuel Cardinal Stritch dedicated the building in June 1946. It was named Our Lady of Charity Mission. Father Long and the nuns of Saint Dionysius served both schools and churches.
In 1954, the Mission became a Parish. The present school building was constructed. Rev. Maurice B. Kennedy was the Pastor. He renovated the gymnasium into a dignified church. He oversaw the construction of a seventeen-classroom school. A penthouse convent and a new rectory were also built. Classrooms were equipped for fifty students each. The kindergarten room had an outside door. It also had scaled-down bathrooms. The American Institute of Architects awarded the buildings a citation for architectural excellence. By September 1954, school enrollment was 642 students. The teaching staff included sixteen teachers. Ten were sisters. Six were lay teachers.
The school reached its peak in 1959. It then had 899 students. Later, Rev. Kennedy added the current parking lot. It has a three-hundred-car capacity. Our Lady of Charity and Saint Dionysius maintained close ties over the years. Saint Dionysius was closed in 1990. But its bell was gifted to Our Lady of Charity in 1991. The bell can be seen in the school lobby today.
Due to the school’s proximity to Midway Airport, the City of Chicago funded noise abatement renovations in 2007. Berglund Construction installed a new curtain wall. They added new windows. A new boiler and central air conditioning were installed. Millwork and landscaping were also included. This modernization prepared the school to serve young people for many years.
Saint Dionysius Church’s story reflects faith, community, and adaptation. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Chicago’s Catholic heritage.