Two stone lions guard the entrance to St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church. They welcome parishioners to the only Chinese Catholic church in the Midwest. Established in 1904, this building originally housed the Santa Maria Incoronata congregation. It served the Italian community.
In 1947, Archbishop Samuel Stritch erected St. Therese Catholic Mission. This mission served Chicago’s growing Chinese immigrant population. Parishioners first met in a storefront church. It was located on Wentworth Avenue. The community grew. More room for worshippers was needed. By 1963, Santa Maria Incoronata consolidated with another church. The building was given to St. Therese.
Despite initial friction, the St. Therese Chinese community flourished. Italian Americans still celebrate Masses and feast days at the Alexander Street church. St. Therese has focused on providing resources to the community for 70 years. It helps immigrants struggling in a new country. The parish has Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking volunteers. They serve as translators at St. James Food Pantry. It holds monthly gatherings for Chinese-speaking university students. The church gives referrals for English and citizenship classes. These classes are at the Chinese American Service League and the Pui Tak Center.
Chicago’s Chinatown welcomes new immigrants each year. It maintains its cultural identity. Many counterparts have become tourist attractions or been gentrified. Father Francis Li has served St. Therese for over seven years. He has seen his flock grow. The area has experienced changes. These changes have tested the church’s ability to evolve.
Chinatown has seen an influx of Mandarin-speaking Chinese immigrants. They sometimes have trouble communicating with Cantonese-speaking immigrants. The church now serves over 200 families. It hosts regular Masses in Mandarin, English, and Indonesian. Masses are also held in Cantonese. Newcomers are attracted to the church. They want to learn about the Catholic faith. They also wish to maintain a connection to their Chinese culture.
Darlene Chan has been a lifelong member of St. Therese. She was born and raised in Chinatown. She grew up attending St. Therese. She attended school there. She continues to serve and be involved today. Her daughter Nicole was also baptized there. This continues a family tradition.
Chan says St. Therese is like family. The community has been very welcoming. She wanted to share that faith with her family. That need for spiritual growth has stuck with her throughout her life.
Chan sits on the parish council. She serves as a lector. She taught young children as a catechist for 11 years. She knows the church by heart. She knows the gold and white arches that hold the church up. She knows the crucifix on the left side of the church. Al Capone’s mother donated it. She knows the guardian angels painted on the light blue dome above the sanctuary. Gold Chinese characters adorn the side of the church. They read, “We are one happy family with God and love.”
St. Therese feeds people spiritually. It is heartwarming. People can come to the church in times of need. It’s a tight-knit parish. It is very diverse. Chan hopes the parish continues to welcome newcomers. This should happen regardless of background. Every time someone comes to the church, it’s a treasure.
Since its founding in 1947, the parish has been a stronghold in the community. Many parishioners are active in local politics. They fight for resources. Like Ping Tom Memorial Park. It was built in 1991 after residents pointed out the neighborhood’s lack of open space. In 2015, residents cheered the opening of a new library. Today, they are fighting for a new high school.
St. Therese is going strong. It’s the only Chinese Catholic Church in the Midwest. It is the Archdiocesan Center for Chinese Apostolate. It serves the Chinese in the Midwest. It’s flourishing.