Saint Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church

In 1912, Archbishop James E. Quigley saw a need. A small group of Catholic families in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood needed a spiritual home. He established Saint Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church. Let’s step back in time to that era. Saint Philip Neri Church started modestly in a borrowed chapel at 72nd and Clyde Avenue. The first mass was held on December 1, 1912, led by the newly appointed pastor, Father William J. Kinsella. The church’s early parishioners were mostly Irish-American, reflecting the neighborhood’s demographics. Saint Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church served this community faithfully. South Shore itself was a mix of sandy stretches, truck farms, and nurseries. The South Shore Country Club had been established a few years prior, but the residential area didn’t truly boom until after World War I. The parish boundaries, set in 1912, remain largely unchanged today. They encompass the area from Jackson Park at 67th Street south to 75th Street, and between Cregier Avenue and Yates Blvd. This includes the Jackson Park Highlands and the Bryn Mawr section. Over the decades, South Shore’s demographics shifted. By the 1960s, African American families began to move into the area. While the neighborhood became predominantly African American, Saint Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church retained its integrated nature, welcoming people from all backgrounds. Today, you can visit Saint Philip Neri at 2132 East 72nd Street. Weekly mass is held on Sundays at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Weekday mass is held Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM. If you need to, confession is available on Saturdays from 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The church has faced challenges. In July 2020, Saint Philip Neri merged with several other South Side parishes to form the St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. This resulted in the closure of some other church buildings, leaving Saint Philip Neri as the primary worship site. It stands as a testament to its enduring presence in the community.