Fancy stepping back in time to an era of faith? Let me tell you about Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville. This church stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its community.
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church was founded in 1846. It is the oldest continuously operating Catholic parish in DuPage County. Imagine a small group of pioneers gathering in homes for mass. A priest would travel 20 miles on horseback from Joliet once a month.
The first church was named St. Raphael’s. It was a small frame building across the street from where the present church stands. In those early days, Saints Peter and Paul Church served about 25 families. Today, it serves 4000 families.
The first official act at Saints Peter and Paul Church was a wedding. Mr. Robert Le Beau married Miss Emily Beaubien on September 8, 1846. The parish also purchased an acre of land for a cemetery.
By 1864, the parish had grown to about 250 families. They renamed the parish Saints Peter and Paul. A new stone church was built on the site of the present church. Parishioners quarried the stone locally from the DuPage River. The new stone church building was dedicated in 1866.
In 1892, Saints Peter and Paul built a new brick school building for 200 students. It cost 30000 dollars. Saints Peter and Paul also built a new rectory.
The area around Saints Peter and Paul Church became known as “Piety Corners”. This area included other denominational churches and Northwestern College. Northwestern College was renamed North Central College in 1926.
In June 1922, the old stone church was destroyed by fire. The parish rebuilt the church in a magnificent red brick cruciform shape. The church was dedicated on September 25, 1927. Cardinal George Mundelein participated in the dedication ceremony. This is the church building that exists today.
The stained-glass windows of Saints Peter and Paul in Naperville are historically significant. They were made in Innsbruck, Austria. Between 1870 and 1930, German and Austrian art glass came to America. Much of it went to Chicago’s churches. The windows often displayed action-packed scenes from the Bible.
The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven and the Assumption of Mary into Heaven are depicted in the stained glass. The Ascension of Jesus shows Christ surrounded by clouds. He wears a multi-colored robe. Eight angels representing the hierarchy of angels surround Jesus. Mary and the 12 apostles are at the bottom of the window.
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven shows Mary standing on a crescent moon. She wears a blue cloak and a white robe. Twelve angels surround her. God the Father blesses the scene. The Holy Spirit emanates in the symbol of the dove.
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church stands as a symbol of faith. It represents community and artistic beauty. Its stained-glass windows tell stories of faith and hope. They were created by European artists. This church stands as a legacy for generations to come.