EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Parishioners have started an online petition to save St. Bernadette Catholic Church, which is merging with Queen of Martyrs under Renew My Church. A town hall with the Archdiocese of Chicago is set for approximately 11:30 Sunday, Feb. 6, immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
The archdiocese has proposed combining the two Evergreen Park parishes into one, with records being kept at Queen of Martyrs. Over the next two years, St. Bernadette’s regular schedule of Masses will fully transition to Queen of Martyrs. Whether the St. Bernadette church building will become a satellite of Queen of Martyrs, leased or sold, is up in the air. Parishioners are appealing the Archdiocese’s decision and keep the church open. The archdiocese closed the parish grammar school in 2014.
Originally meeting in Ketchum Funeral Home on a piece of land owned by Little Company of Mary Hospital, St. Bernadette has served the Evergreen Park community since 1947. A 12-room parish school opened in 1949 with additional classrooms added during the 1950s. Parishioners were also holding fundraisers to raise money for a church building. St. Bernadette celebrated its first Mass on Feb. 5, 1958 at its present location, 9343 S. Francisco Ave.
Parishioners maintain that the archdiocese is violating Catholic Canon Laws 1732-1739, according to the Change.org petition.
“One of the rules is when a church is merged, they have to be in the same geographic community,” parishioner Rocco Carioto said. “The only parishes that should merging by Canon law are Most Holy Redeemer and Queen of Martyrs.”
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Carioto said St. Bernadette is on good financial footing, and has strong financial support from parishioners.
“St. Bernadette is a stabilizing presence on the east side of Evergreen Park,” Carioto added. “It is the only Catholic Church that exists and serves the east side of this village.”
Parishioners accuse the Archdiocese of Chicago of using and selling off resources to pay off big settlements and lawsuits. They also believe that OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center has its eyes on the St. Bernadette property.
“[The archdiocese’s] main mission should be to keep churches and schools open,” said Carioto, who teaches at a Catholic High School in the Indianapolis archdiocese. “The cardinal there goes out of his way to make sure churches and schools stay solvent.”
The petition has so far been signed by over 400 people. Carioto would like it to get out to the wider community. Those who signed the petition left comments, expressing how St. Bernadette was a part of them.
“Parishioners love their church & will continue to financially support it. They are loyal & devout & pray you will listen to their pleas to save St Bernadette’s.”
“Childhood parish, got married there, and my mom had her funeral mass there.”
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“This is going on all over the archdiocese. Our families, our parents worked so hard to support these churches. Archdiocese always required up front money for parish improvements, families made pledges of hard-earned money, and kept those pledges to keep their church vibrant. Its Archdiocese job to honor those pledges years later.”
