How many churches can claim to be Chicago’s first Catholic parish? That honor belongs to Saint Marys Catholic Church. Its story began with a simple plea.
In April 1833 a group calling themselves the “Catholics of Chicago” sent a request. They needed a pastor for their growing city. The letter went to Bishop Rosati of St. Louis. It stated they numbered about 100 Catholics. They promised to pray for their request to be considered.
Saint Marys Catholic Church was first built in 1833. Its location was on the south side of Lake Street. It sat west of State Street. Three years later it moved. The new spot was the northwest corner of Michigan at Madison. The church expanded. An open belfry was added.
The Diocese of Chicago was established in 1843. Saint Marys Cathedral was then built. It stood on the southwest corner of Madison at Wabash. The original wooden church was cut in half. It moved to the cathedral grounds. Here, the first Catholic grammar school in Chicago opened in 1846.
The Great Fire of 1871 destroyed the cathedral. Plans were made for a new cathedral parish. This became Holy Name north of the Chicago River. The Plymouth Congregational Church survived the fire. It was purchased at 9th and Wabash. It then became known as Old St. Marys.
The Paulist Fathers took charge of the parish on October 12, 1903. Fr William Finn founded the Paulist Choristers in 1904. This was a sixty-five voice choir of men and boys. Fr Eugene O’Malley directed the choir. He served from 1928 until its final season in 1967.
Old St. Marys at 9th and Wabash fell into disrepair. It was torn down in 1971. The Old St. Marys Chapel at Van Buren and Wabash became the new site. This was for Old St. Marys Church. The parish dedicated a new church on July 21, 2002. It stands at 1500 S Michigan. Its architectural beauty is distinct.
Young families moved into the neighborhood. They wanted a faith-based education. Rooms from a former charter school existed on the new church site. Parents met in 2003. They voiced a strong need for an educational alternative. There was a lack of schools in the near South Loop. Especially those with a Catholic foundation. Old St. Marys Catholic School became a reality. It is a new adventure in faith. It mirrors the new adventure of the South Loop.
Old St. Marys Catholic School opened in September 2004. Barbara Spaniol-Smith was the first principal and teacher. A school board formed. The school’s reputation grew. A new school building opened in 2011. It housed over 260 students. Enrollment has increased each year since.
Saint Marys Church has a rich past. Father John Mary Irenaeus St. Cyr was its first priest. He was born in Lyons, France. He left France in June 1831. He arrived in St. Louis August 1 of that year. Bishop Rosatti ordained him priest on April 6, 1833.
Catholics in Chicago wanted a priest. They sent a petition to St. Louis. Thomas J. V. Owen and J. Bt. Beaubien were among the signers. They sought spiritual guidance. Bishop Rosatti appointed St. Cyr to Chicago. St. Cyr celebrated his first mass. It was in a small log cabin on May 5, 1833.
Saint Marys Catholic Church stands as a beacon of faith. It has served Chicago’s Catholics for nearly two centuries. Its story reflects the city’s growth and change. It continues to evolve. It welcomes all who seek spiritual nourishment and community.