Imagine arriving in 1889 when St. Genevieve Parish began as a small mission. It served the Catholics of Cragin a growing community. A committee petitioned Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan for a mission. He granted their request.
Mass was held in a schoolhouse at St. Louis and Homer Avenues. Priests from St. Sylvester’s Church led services every Sunday from 1889 to 1894. The Reverend James A. Hynes took charge of the mission in 1894. He was also pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church.
Land was donated for church property at 2013-2017 N. Lavergne Avenue. In December 1901 a frame building was built. It housed the church and a hall. Bishop Peter J. Muldoon dedicated it. The mission became St. Genevieve Parish. The Reverend Thomas Kearney became the first resident pastor on February 7, 1902.
In 1904, Reverend Daniel Luttrell became pastor. He built the parochial residence and made other improvements. Archbishop James E. Quigley appointed Reverend Timothy D. Burke as pastor in 1912. Father Burke eliminated the parish debt. He then planned a new building program. A new site was secured at Montana Street and Lamon Avenue.
Construction began on March 17, 1924. It included a church, school, and hall. The project was completed in early 1928. The new church could seat 700 people. The old frame church was dismantled. The rectory was moved to 4838 W. Montana in May 1925.
Cardinal George Mundelein dedicated the church on October 25, 1925. A convent for the sisters was started on December 8, 1930. It was completed on May 11, 1931. As the school grew another floor was added in 1931.
St. Genevieve Parish needed a larger church. Father Burke chose a modernistic Byzantine/Romanesque style. Drawings included an upper and lower church with the rectory as one unit. Each church could seat 1000 people. Construction began on September 14, 1939 and finished on October 20, 1940.
The first Mass in the lower church was on June 16, 1940. The first Mass in the upper church was on October 20, 1940. The old school building became classrooms. Cardinal Samuel Stritch dedicated the present St. Genevieve Church on June 8, 1941. Kindergarten classes started in the former rectory in 1942.
Reverend Luke H. Lyons became pastor on November 26, 1944. He built a new kindergarten building in 1948. Another floor was added in 1954 for kindergarten and first-grade pupils. Monsignor Lyons acquired property at 4851 W. Montana for parking and a play area.
On December 16, 1962, St. Genevieve Parish celebrated its 73rd anniversary. In July 2020, St. Genevieve Parish and St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish united. They formed Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish. St. Genevieve is the Parish Church and office location. Today St. Genevieve stands as a testament to faith. It shows the strength of community.