Saint Mary Church

Gazing at Saint Mary Church, have you ever considered its humble beginnings? Saint Mary Church, originally Saint Mary of the Assumption, started its journey in 1833. A small group of Chicago Catholics petitioned Bishop Rosati of St. Louis for a pastor. Their petition highlighted the growing need for spiritual guidance in the burgeoning city. The first Saint Mary’s Church was a modest wooden structure built on Lake Street. It was later moved and enlarged, eventually finding a home at the corner of Michigan and Madison. With the establishment of the Diocese of Chicago, a new St. Mary’s Cathedral was built on Madison at Wabash. The original wooden church building was then repurposed as Chicago’s first Catholic grammar school. Tragedy struck in 1871. The Great Chicago Fire destroyed the Cathedral. The congregation then acquired the Plymouth Congregational Church at 9th and Wabash, renaming it Old St. Mary’s. In 1903, the Paulist Fathers took charge of Old St. Mary’s. The renowned Paulist Choristers, a sixty-five voice choir, was established the following year. Old St. Mary’s at 9th and Wabash eventually deteriorated and was demolished in 1971. The parish moved to a chapel at Van Buren and Wabash. Finally, in 2002, the current Saint Mary Church was built on South Michigan Avenue. It stands as a testament to the enduring faith and resilience of the Saint Mary’s community. A new chapter began in 2004 with the opening of Old St. Mary’s Catholic School. This fulfilled a need for faith-based education in the South Loop. The school started small, with a single preschool class. It has since expanded, moving into a new building in 2011. Saint Mary Church and its school continue to serve the community, echoing the hopes and prayers of those early Chicago Catholics.