St. Patricia Parish sits on the northwest side of 91st Street in Hickory Hills, a southwest suburb about twenty miles west of downtown Chicago, where the parish complex has anchored the community since Cardinal Albert Meyer established it in 1959. Parishioners travel in from Hickory Hills, Bridgeview, Justice, Palos Hills, Willow Springs, and other nearby villages to take part in a Catholic life that combines daily Mass, a parish school that has been educating students since 1960, religious education programs for every age, and a network of lay organizations. The parish carries forward a mission of proclaiming the Gospel through prayer, worship, formation, and service, and it stands as one of the longer-serving Catholic communities in southwest Cook County.
From a Borrowed Classroom to a Community of Two Hundred Sixty-Five Families
The story of St. Patricia begins long before its founding, in a Mission known as Sacred Heart that early settlers established along the Illinois and Michigan Ship Canal in the 1800s. From that mission, four parishes branched, each with its own boundaries, and the area grew as a farming community. In the late 1950s, the Archdiocese of Chicago acquired a twenty-acre site near 91st Street and Cork Avenue from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grotz, on the former location of their home, to serve as the grounds for a new parish.
On June 15, 1959, Cardinal Meyer appointed Father Thomas V. Brody to organize a new Catholic community in Hickory Hills. A month later, on Sunday, July 12, 1959, Father Brody celebrated the first Masses for the parish at Dorn School, 7840 W. 92nd Street, before the parish had any buildings of its own. Sunday Masses were held at Oak Ridge School, 10301 S. 88th Avenue, and weekday Masses were offered in the basement of a home at 9115 S. 87th Avenue that had been converted into a temporary rectory. By the end of September that year, Cardinal Meyer selected the name St. Patricia, and the parish boundaries were set: 79th Street to the north, 103rd Street to the south, Harlem Avenue to the east, and LaGrange Road to the west. Within those borders, Father Brody set about serving the two hundred sixty-five founding families.
The official groundbreaking for St. Patricia Church and School took place on February 21, 1960, with Father Brody and Father Francis M. Coyle, then pastor of St. Michael Church in Orland Park, officiating. After the ceremony, the Grotzes were given a wooden crucifix in thanks for their cooperation. Emil Mastandria designed both the church and school buildings, planning the church so that it could be converted into eight classrooms if a permanent church were ever built. The school originally held thirteen classrooms, three of which were turned into temporary living quarters for the teaching sisters. On the lower level, a hall and kitchen served the parish, and a five-foot statue of St. Patricia, designed by the Studio of Daprato, was erected outside the church entrance.
Construction moved quickly that fall, and by December 8 the altar, tabernacle, and side altars were in place, allowing the unfinished structure to host midnight Mass for Christmas 1960. Three hundred students began classes on September 13, 1960, taking their seats at card tables and folding chairs in a windowless school building. The teaching sisters from the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth commuted from St. Blasé in Argo until November 14, when they were able to move into a portion of the school prepared for their residence. On April 23, 1961, Cardinal Meyer formally dedicated St. Patricia Church and School in a procession led by the Knights of Columbus and the school children, witnessed by five hundred parishioners and fifty priests, including Monsignor William McManus, Superintendent of Archdiocesan Schools.
By 1965 the parish had grown to seven hundred fifty registered families and six hundred seventy-five students, prompting the parish to rent nine mobile classrooms from the Chicago Public School system. A 1964 fund drive led by the Parish Lay Advisory Committee, coordinated by Albert Danley, Ted Symanski, and Walter Kopping with two hundred fifty volunteers, financed a much-needed convent at 8601 W. 89th Street, dedicated in November 1967. Father Brody became Pastor Emeritus in February 1975, and Father Norbert A. Chappell was named pastor on February 5, 1975, leading a new wave of physical growth.
The new rectory was finally built south of the school on December 17, 1977, its meeting room named for Father Brody, who never had a chance to live there. The Religious Education program, which by 1978 was serving a thousand students under Sister Veronica Rose and Father Daniel M. Tomich, received new offices with a school addition that December, and a storage unit was attached to the garage in 1979.
The Renovation of 1980 and the Chair from Pope John Paul's Mass
The summer of 1980 brought an entirely new interior to St. Patricia Church, the result of a project designed in 1977 and brought to life through a community pledge drive. Angelo Gherardi, an artist with Daprato-Rigali Studios, oversaw the work. A monochromatic color scheme of pale yellow, gold, and rust tied the space together, with gold and orange behind the celebrant's chair forming the shape of a chalice. At the center, an off-white circle representing the Host was crossed with a delicately sponge-painted cross, over which a carved linden wood figure of the Risen Christ stood as the dominant element of the composition. Walnut furnishings in a contemporary style filled the sanctuary, with altars, lecterns, baptismal font, and chairs all matching. The celebrant's chair carries an unusual history: it had been used only once before arriving at St. Patricia, by a cardinal at the Grant Park Mass during Pope John Paul II's visit to Chicago on October 6, 1979. Faceted glass windows captured the color scheme, and the modern Stations of the Cross were imported from Italy.
The Second Vatican Council of 1963 brought many changes to the Roman Catholic Church, and St. Patricia embraced them. Two married parishioners, Norbert Weitendorf and Charles Keegan, were ordained as lay deacons. Norbert went on to minister to the sick in nursing homes, while Charles established a community services program that continues today. By the time the first twenty-five years drew to a close, the parish had grown to twenty-five hundred families served by eighteen archdiocesan priests over its lifetime. Today, with Father Andrzej Bartosz as pastor, Father Christopher M. Kituli as associate pastor, Father Marcel J. Pasciak and Father Michael G. Meany as pastors emeritus, and Deacon Charles Keegan continuing his ministry, the parish carries that legacy forward.
Sunday Mass, Daily Mass, and Confession
St. Patricia offers Mass throughout the week so that parishioners and visitors can worship on a schedule that fits their lives. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. Saturday Mass is at 4:00 p.m., with the sacrament of Reconciliation heard beforehand from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. in the Reconciliation room at the back of the church. Private confessions are also available by appointment. On Sundays, Mass is offered at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.
On the first Friday of each month, the parish gathers for Holy Hour at 6:30 p.m. On the first Saturday of each month, devotions are held at 8:00 a.m. before the regular Mass day. On Tuesdays, the faithful pray the Rosary at 8:05 a.m. before daily Mass. During Lent and Advent, the parish holds community Reconciliation services and adds extra times for school and religious education students. The parish office can be reached at 708-598-5222 during rectory hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the office closed for lunch between noon and 1:00 p.m.
St. Patricia School: Bobcats in the Southwest Suburbs
St. Patricia School opened its doors in 1960 and has educated students in preschool through eighth grade ever since, making it one of the longer-running Catholic elementary schools in the area. Today the school enrolls around one hundred ninety-two students, known as Bobcats, under the leadership of Principal Dawn Dion. The school philosophy, in place since its founding, frames the work clearly: "St. Patricia School is a faith community, dedicated to the total growth and development of the child. Recognizing the dignity and differences of individual students, the faculty strives to develop each child's spiritual, intellectual, and social potential."
The first faculty and staff included Mother Mariella as principal and three other teaching sisters, joined by three lay teachers. By 1965 the faculty had grown to eight sisters and six lay teachers serving six hundred thirty students, and by 1975 ten sisters and ten lay teachers with two aides and a secretary were instructing five hundred fifty-five. The Religious Education program continues as the core of the school's mission, and current families support the school through the Parents Club and the Bobcat Bonanza, a private Facebook raffle group that helped provide one-to-one Chromebooks for every student in kindergarten through eighth grade and has continued to fund improvements to the school lunchroom and after-school enrichment programs.
The school office is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Religious Education office, located inside the school building, is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with appointments available by calling 708-599-1221 or emailing reled@stpatriciaparish.com.
Religious Education from Kindergarten Through High School
For children attending public school, the parish's Religious Education program offers Catholic faith formation every Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., serving students from kindergarten through high school. The program follows the Archdiocese of Chicago's two-year preparation requirement for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, with First Reconciliation and First Eucharist generally received in second grade and Confirmation in the spring of eighth grade. A separate Teen Sacramental Program runs from September through March on Tuesday evenings for high school students who need to receive their sacraments.
Information and formational meetings for parents and children are required during the preparation year. Older children preparing for sacraments are accommodated through Sacramental Preparation Classes arranged by the Religious Education office. Maciek (Mac) Karaban serves as the Pastoral Associate and Director of Life Long Formation, overseeing the program. All volunteers who work with minors must complete the Protecting God's Children program and a CANTS form each year, in keeping with Archdiocesan policy.
Becoming Catholic Through the OCIA Process
Adults who wish to become Catholic, or Catholic adults who have not yet received all the sacraments of initiation, find a welcoming home in the parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults program. The OCIA catechist leads Monday evening classes from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., running from October through March or April, covering topics including the nature of faith, the person of Jesus Christ, Mary and the saints, the seven sacraments, the history of the Catholic Church, Scripture and how to use the Bible, the Mass and the liturgical year, prayer and devotion, the Beatitudes and Corporal Works of Mercy, and the Ten Commandments. Adults who complete OCIA celebrate Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation together at the Easter Vigil the night before Easter Sunday.
Sacraments for Every Stage of Life
St. Patricia takes seriously the celebration and preparation for each of the seven sacraments at the heart of Catholic life. Infant Baptism is generally celebrated on the third and fourth Sundays of the month at 1:00 p.m., with parents and godparents required to attend an information session beforehand. School-age and high school baptisms are arranged through the Religious Education office. First Communion for children is prepared over two years, beginning in first grade, with the sacrament received in the spring of second grade. First Reconciliation is also received in second grade, prior to First Eucharist.
Confirmation for young people typically takes place on a Sunday in the spring, with preparation beginning in seventh grade. Candidate and parent meetings on prayer and service are held in the second semester of seventh grade, formation continues through eighth grade in school or Religious Education classes, and a Day of Reflection helps young people discern their readiness for the sacrament. Adults seeking Confirmation can make an appointment with the parish office to discuss the journey and the appropriate preparation.
The parish welcomes the celebration of the weddings of registered parishioners and the children of registered parishioners, and asks couples to reach out to a parish priest at least six months before the anticipated wedding date. The parish also helps couples celebrate milestone anniversaries with the renewal of vows or a special blessing. The Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone facing serious illness, frailty from age, or major surgery, and may be received more than once as conditions change. To arrange the sacrament, or for communion to the sick and homebound, or a hospital visit, the parish office can be reached at 708-598-5222.
The Holy Name Society and Parish Organizations
The Holy Name Society of St. Patricia is a spiritual men's organization that sponsors some of the parish's largest fundraisers. Under the leadership of President Joe Mancuso, Vice President Alex Fojtik, Treasurer Hal Budach, and Secretary Hank Osakiewski, the society hosts the Annual Super Bowl Party and the Annual Lenten Fish Fry, supports the Support Our Troops mission, and runs the Split the Pot event at the annual Hickory Hills Street Fair. The men meet on the second Wednesday of each month, taking a break during June, July, and August. The society also funds a yearly scholarship program for seventh and eighth graders continuing their Catholic education, presented each May at the St. Patricia School awards banquet in cooperation with Lack and Sons Funeral Home.
Beyond the Holy Name Society, the parish is sustained by the active work of many lay organizations. The Parish Council, School Board, Parents Club, Athletic Association, Teen Ministry Group, Senior Citizens group, Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, Married Couples Social Club, and Scout groups all play their part in parish life, alongside SPRED for parishioners with developmental disabilities. Anyone can volunteer at an event or join a sponsoring committee, contributing in whatever way their time, talent, and treasure allow.
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Pastoral care at St. Patricia is coordinated through the Ministry of Care, which reaches out to those who cannot easily come to the church. Communion is brought to the sick and homebound, and visits can be arranged for parishioners in hospitals or nursing homes. The Ministry of Care also helps arrange the Anointing of the Sick for those facing surgery or serious illness, and assists with funeral and memorial commutations when families request them. The parish's Community Services program, rooted in the work Deacon Charles Keegan began in the years after Vatican II, continues as one of the parish's responses to the needs of the wider community.
Supporting the Parish: Giving and Events
St. Patricia uses GiveCentral for online giving, where parishioners can set up regular donations, contribute to the Sunday Offering, support the Parish Improvement Offering, and pay school and Religious Education fees. Giving online is offered alongside the traditional collection at Mass, and contributions are welcomed in any form. Beyond regular giving, the parish runs several ongoing community fundraisers, including the Queen of Hearts raffle, with weekly drawings held in the parish, and the Bobcat Bonanza Facebook raffle group that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the school. Trivia Night and Bunco Night bring parishioners together annually for fellowship and fundraising, and Sapaterre Mission support reaches beyond the parish to Catholic communities abroad.
The Patroness: Saint Patricia of Naples
The parish is named for Saint Patricia, a virgin martyr traditionally identified as the niece of Emperor Constantine, born in Constantinople around the year 30 of the Christian era. Brought up in the imperial court and trained in the Christian faith by a pious lady named Aglaia, she took the vow of virginity at a young age. After fleeing her paternal home and sailing to Rome, where Pope Liberius bestowed upon her the veil of Christ's Bride, she returned to Constantinople at her father's death, distributed her wealth to the poor, and set out for the Holy Land with Aglaia. A violent storm carried the vessel instead to Naples, Italy, where Patricia took refuge on a rock near the bay, afterward called Castel dell'Ovo. After a few months of penitential life, she died a saintly death at the age of twenty-one and was buried at the Church of the Martyr Saints Nicandro and Marciano.
In 1864 her remains were transferred to the Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, where pilgrims continue to venerate them. The most striking devotion connected to her shrine is the liquefying of her blood, which flows from her mouth on her feast day, August 25, and frequently in the presence of pious pilgrims - a miracle that has been repeated for twelve centuries. In Naples, every Tuesday is dedicated to St. Patricia, and the Sister Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament of her order keep her shrine.
The Parish Mission
The parish mission statement, written and renewed by the community, reads: "We, the people of St. Patricia, are a Catholic family of faith guided by the Holy Spirit and called by the love of Jesus. We proclaim the Gospel and through the example of St. Patricia give witness with prayer and worship in our school and our religious formation programs and in service to others by fostering justice, peace, solidarity and a sense of hospitality in our parish so that all may feel welcome."
Six decades after Father Brody celebrated the first Masses at Dorn School, St. Patricia continues as a Catholic family of faith in Hickory Hills, rooted in southwest Cook County and open to all who seek to share in its worship, formation, and service.