Have you ever wondered about a church that stands as a testament to faith? I’m talking about Saint Mary’s Byzantine Church. It’s located at 4949 SOUTH SEELEY AVENUE in Chicago.
Saint Mary’s Byzantine Church is a Catholic church. Catholic churches aim to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They also administer the sacraments and exercise charity. Mass is central to Catholic worship in all rites. Catholics believe that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. This happens through consecration by the priest. The Catholic Church believes in one God in three persons. These are God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Now let’s journey back to the roots of Catholicism in Chicago. The first Catholic society in Chicago was organized long ago. Father John Mary Irenaeus St. Cyr was its first priest. He was born in Lyons, France, in 1803. Catholics in Chicago wanted a resident priest. They sent a petition to St. Louis.
The petition was signed by many people. They included Thomas J. V. Owen and J. Bt. Beaubien. The Bishop of St. Louis responded to the petition. He appointed St. Cyr as priest of Chicago. St. Cyr arrived in Chicago on Wednesday, May 1. He celebrated his first mass on Sunday, May 5. It was held in a small log cabin. The cabin belonged to Mark Beaubien. George Beaubien was the first person baptized by Father St. Cyr.
Father St. Cyr began preparing to build a church. The first site was on Lake Street, near Market. Colonel J. B. Beaubien promised the lot for 200 dollars. St. Cyr couldn’t raise the money. He looked for another location. Later, Colonel Beaubien sold the same lot for much more. St. Cyr selected a canal lot near Lake and State streets. He erected a church building there. It was twenty-five by thirty-five feet. The lumber cost 12 dollars per thousand. Augustine D. Taylor was the architect and builder. The total cost of the edifice was about 400 dollars. The church was not plastered and had rough benches for pews. It had a simple table for the altar and pulpit. The outside of the building was not painted. It had no steeple or tower. Later, a low, open tower was added with a small bell.
The church building was later moved to Michigan Avenue and Madison Street. It was then moved to Wabash Avenue and Madison Street. A brick building was erected later. The frame church was moved westward in the same block.
Father O’Meara caused dissatisfaction among some Catholics. They refused to go to the new location. They hired a room where mass was celebrated. Later, the two portions of the church were reunited.
St. Xavier Academy stood on the lot south of the church. St. Palais began building St. Mary’s brick church in 1843. It was located at Madison Street and Wabash Avenue. The church had a stone foundation. It was fifty-five feet wide by one hundred and twelve feet long. It included a portico supported by four Ionic columns. The brick work was done by Peter Page. The wood work was done by Augustine D. Taylor. The church opened on December 25, 1843.
St. Cyr left Chicago in 1837. He was succeeded by Father O’Meara and then Father Maurice de St. Palais. Bishop Quarter became Chicago’s first Catholic Bishop. He died in 1848. Bishop Quarter established the University of St. Mary’s of the Lake. He also instituted the first community of nuns. Bishop Quarter secured the passage of a law. It incorporated the Catholic Bishop of Chicago.
Saint Mary’s Byzantine Church stands as a symbol of faith. It represents the history of Catholicism in Chicago. Its story is one of perseverance. It also reflects community. It is an integral part of Chicago’s religious landscape.