Saint Thecla Roman Catholic Church

In 1923, a group of Polish workers had a dream – to build a church on the Northwest Side of Chicago. They asked Father Francis Rusch, superintendent of the Saint Hedwig Orphanage, to help them. Father Rusch introduced Father Paul Sobota to the project. Father Sobota became the organizer of the parish of Saint Thecla Roman Catholic Church. It stands where Devon and Newcastle avenues meet, a quiet neighborhood that was then just beginning to take shape. In the fall of 1924, a parcel of land was acquired for $7,500, and construction began soon after. The first Saint Thecla Mass was celebrated on August 15, 1925. Over the years, the church has seen several structural improvements, in part due to a growing school enrollment in the 1950s. The present church, standing majestically at 6725 W. Devon Ave., was built in 1962, a testament to the vibrant faith of its parishioners. A new rectory followed in 1973. In 1999, construction began on the 14,000-square-foot Falcon Hall, which includes a large gymnasium. From the early beginnings of a dream to the parish’s current status, the Saint Thecla Roman Catholic Church stands as a monument to faith, community, and the Polish workers who worked tirelessly to build their place of worship.