Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Archdiocese of ChicagoArchidiœcesis Chicagiensis |
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Holy Name Cathedral
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Territory | Counties of Cook and Lake |
| Ecclesiastical province | Chicago |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 1,411 sq mi (3,650 km2) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2017) 5.94 million 2,079,000 (35%) |
| Parishes | 216 (As of 1/2024) |
| Schools | 154 archdiocesan-run 34 non-archdiocesan-run |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | November 28, 1843 |
| Cathedral | Holy Name Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Immaculate Conception |
| Secular priests | 672 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Blase J. Cupich |
| Auxiliary Bishops |
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| Vicar General | Robert Gerald Casey |
| Emeritus Bishops |
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| Map | |
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The Archdiocese of Chicago is a large area of the Catholic Church in Northeastern Illinois, in the United States. It is led by an archbishop. This area became a diocese in 1843 and was made an archdiocese in 1880.
It serves over 2 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Illinois. This area covers about 1,411 square miles. The archdiocese is split into six regions called vicariates and 31 smaller areas called deaneries.
Blase Joseph Cupich became the Archbishop of Chicago in 2014. He was also made a Cardinal in 2016 by Pope Francis. He gets help from six other bishops, each in charge of a different region. The main church for the archdiocese, called Holy Name Cathedral, is in Chicago. The Archdiocese of Chicago is the main church area for the Province of Chicago. Other Catholic dioceses in Illinois, like Belleville and Joliet, are part of this province.
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin was the Archbishop of Chicago from 1982 to 1996. He was a very important leader in the church in the United States. He brought together different groups with his ideas about helping all people.
Contents
History of the Archdiocese
Early Missionaries in Chicago
A French Jesuit missionary named Jacques Marquette was one of the first Europeans to explore the Chicago area. This was in the mid-1600s. On December 4, 1674, Marquette arrived at the Chicago River. He built a small cabin there to rest from his long travels. This cabin was the first European settlement in what is now Chicago. Marquette shared what he learned about these new lands. Soon, more French missionaries and settlers came to the area.
Chicago's First Priest
In 1795, the Potawatomi tribe signed a treaty. This treaty gave the United States a piece of land at the mouth of the Chicago River. In 1804, Fort Dearborn was built there. This fort protected new Catholic pioneers. In 1822, Alexander Beaubien was the first person baptized in Chicago.
By 1833, there were over 100 Catholics in Chicago. Jesuit missionaries asked Joseph Rosati, a bishop from Saint Louis, to send a priest to Chicago. Bishop Rosati sent a priest named John Mary Irenaeus Saint Cyr. Saint Cyr held his first Mass in a log cabin owned by the Beaubien family. This was in 1833.
Chicago's First Catholic Church
Saint Cyr bought land at what is now Lake and State Streets. He built a church there that was 25 by 35 feet. It opened in October 1833. The next year, Bishop Simon Bruté visited Chicago. He found over 400 Catholics but only one priest. He asked for more priests to be sent to Chicago. In 1837, Saint Cyr retired. James Timothy O'Meara became Chicago's first English-speaking priest. He moved the church building to Wabash Avenue and Madison Street. Later, another priest tore down that church and built a new one made of brick.
The Diocese is Created
Church leaders saw that the number of Catholics in Chicago was growing very fast. They decided Chicago needed its own church leader, called a bishop. With the Pope's approval, the Diocese of Chicago was officially created on November 28, 1843.
In 1844, William Quarter from Ireland became the first Bishop of Chicago. When he arrived, Bishop Quarter gathered 32 priests. They started to organize the new diocese. A big success for Bishop Quarter was getting a law passed in Illinois in 1845. This law said the Bishop of Chicago could own property for religious purposes. This helped the bishop build many new churches, colleges, and universities for Catholics in Chicago. Bishop Quarter died on April 10, 1848, after four years of service.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
The church lost almost a million dollars worth of property in the Chicago fire of 1871. This caused problems for the church's leadership for many years.
Becoming an Archdiocese
In 1853, the southern part of Illinois separated from the Chicago diocese. It became the Diocese of Quincy. This diocese later changed its name and became the Diocese of Springfield. In 1877, the Diocese of Peoria was also created from part of the Chicago diocese.
From 1844 to 1879, the head of the Chicago church was called the Bishop of Chicago. When the diocese became an archdiocese in 1880, the leader's title changed to Archbishop of Chicago. Since 1915, all Archbishops of Chicago have also been given the title of Cardinal Priest. This means they are part of the College of Cardinals. Most of Chicago's bishops were priests in the diocese before becoming bishops. Only two came from other religious groups.
International Eucharistic Congress
In 1926, the archdiocese hosted a very important event called the 28th International Eucharistic Congress. People from all over the world came to Chicago for this gathering.
Our Lady of the Angels School Fire
A fire happened at Our Lady of Angels School on December 1, 1958. This school was in the Humboldt Park area of Chicago. Sadly, 92 students and three nuns died in the fire. They were in five classrooms on the second floor.
After the fire, a report said that city leaders and the Archdiocese of Chicago were responsible. It said they allowed children to be in "fire traps" like Our Lady of the Angels School. The report noted that some schools were still allowed to operate even with poor fire safety.
Changes and Church Closings
In the early 1990s, the Archdiocese of Chicago closed almost 40 Catholic churches and schools. By 2016, the archdiocese planned to close or combine up to 100 churches and schools. This was due to rising costs, fewer people attending, and a shortage of priests. As of 2024, 37 Catholic churches in Chicago and 20 in the suburbs have closed for good. The total number of Catholic churches went from 344 down to 216 by 2024.
Catholic Churches in Chicago
In the 1950s, Catholics in the Chicago area often talked about which church they went to. Knowing someone's church could tell you a lot about them. A professor named Kathleen Sprows Cummings said it was "almost more identifiable than the particular neighborhood that they lived in."
Archbishop's Home
The archbishop's residence is at 1555 North State Parkway. It is the official home of the Archbishop of Chicago. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Patrick Feehan, the first Archbishop of Chicago, built it in 1885. It is a three-story, red brick building. It is one of the oldest buildings in the Astor Street District.
When Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in 1979, he stayed at this residence. He was the first Pope to do so. However, two future Popes had stayed there before when they were cardinals. These were Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, who became Pope Pius XII, and Giovanni Cardinal Montini, who became Pope Paul VI.
Before this residence was built, the Bishops of Chicago lived in a home on LaSalle Street and North Avenue. All archbishops of Chicago lived at the mansion until the current archbishop, Blase Cupich. He chose to live at the Holy Name Cathedral rectory instead.
Leaders of the Archdiocese
Bishops of Chicago (1844–1880)
- William J. Quarter (1844–1848)
- James Oliver Van de Velde (1848–1853)
- Anthony O'Regan (1854–1858)
- James Duggan (1859–1880)
Archbishops of Chicago (1880–present)
- Patrick Augustine Feehan (1880–1902)
- James Edward Quigley (1903–1915)
- Cardinal George Mundelein (1915–1939)
- Cardinal Samuel Stritch (1939–1958)
- Cardinal Albert Gregory Meyer (1958–1965)
- Cardinal John Cody (1965–1982)
- Cardinal Joseph Bernardin (1982–1996)
- Cardinal Francis George (1997–2014)
- Cardinal Blase J. Cupich (2014–present)
Current Auxiliary Bishops
- Mark Andrew Bartosic (2018–present)
- Robert Gerald Casey (2018–present)
- Jeffrey S. Grob (2020–present)
- Robert J. Lombardo (2020–present)
Former Auxiliary Bishops
- Alexander Joseph McGavick (1899–1921)
- Peter Muldoon (1901–1908)
- Paul Peter Rhode (1908–1915)
- Edward Francis Hoban (1922–1928)
- Bernard James Sheil (1928–1969)
- William David O'Brien (1934–1962)
- William Edward Cousins (1948–1952)
- Raymond Peter Hillinger (1956–1971)
- Cletus F. O'Donnell (1960–1967)
- Aloysius John Wycislo (1960–1968)
- Romeo Roy Blanchette (1965–1966)
- John L. May (1967–1969)
- Thomas Joseph Grady (1967–1974)
- William Edward McManus (1967–1976)
- Michael Dempsey (1968–1974)
- Alfred Leo Abramowicz (1968–1995)
- Nevin William Hayes (1971–1988)
- John George Vlazny (1983-1987)
- Plácido Rodriguez (1983–1994)
- Wilton D. Gregory (1983–1994)
- Timothy Joseph Lyne (1983–2013)
- John R. Gorman (1988–2003)
- Thad J. Jakubowski (1988–2003)
- Raymond E. Goedert (1991–2003)
- Gerald Frederick Kicanas (1995–2002)
- Edwin Michael Conway (1995–2004)
- George V. Murry (1995–1998)
- John R. Manz (1996–2021)
- Jerome Edward Listecki (2000–2004)
- Thomas J. Paprocki (2003–2010)
- Francis J. Kane (2003–2018)
- George J. Rassas (2006–2018)
- Alberto Rojas (2011–2019)
- Ronald Aldon Hicks (2018–2020)
- Joseph N. Perry (1998–2023)
- Andrew Peter Wypych (2011–2023)
- Kevin M. Birmingham (2020–2023)
How the Archdiocese is Organized
The main offices for the Archdiocese are at Archbishop Quigley Center and Cardinal Meyer Center in Chicago.
The Archbishop gets help from an Administrative Council. This council includes:
- Robert Casey, Vicar General
- Stephen Kanonik, Moderator of the Curia
- Daniel Welter, Chancellor
- Auxiliary Bishops: Jeffrey S. Grob, Mark A. Bartosic, Robert J. Lombardo, Andrew P. Wypych, Joseph N. Perry
- Thomas A. Baima, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary
- Michael M. Boland, Director, Catholic Charities
- Betsy Bohlen, Chief Financial Officer
- George Puszka, Director, Finance
- Christopher J. Cannova, Department of Personnel Services
- Peter de Keartry, Interim-Director, Department of Human Services
- Peter Wojik, Director, Department of Parish Vitality and Mission
- Jim Rigg, Superintendent, Archdiocesan Board of Catholic Education
The Archdiocese also has many departments and offices. Some of these include:
- Catholic Cemeteries
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
- Catholic Schools
- Communications and Public Relations
- Diaconate
- Financial Services
- Legal Services
- Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
- Office for Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship
- Office for Peace and Justice
- Office for Persons with Disabilities
- Office of Professional Responsibility
- Respect Life
- Vocations
- Young Adult Ministry
- Youth Ministry Office
Catholic Schools in Chicago
The Office of Catholic Schools manages and supports Catholic schools in the archdiocese. Catholic education in Chicago started on June 3, 1844, with a school for boys. Chicago's Catholic schools served many different groups of people. These included Irish, Germans, Poles, and Mexicans. Many local nuns also started and ran Catholic schools.
The building of new schools slowed down when Cardinal John Cody was archbishop. He decided to limit new school construction. Due to changes in the population, the archdiocese closed more than half of its city schools between 1966 and 2005.
From 1984 to 2004, the Office of Catholic Schools closed 148 schools. In 2015, the Chicago Tribune newspaper called the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools the largest private school system in the United States. In the 2020-2021 school year, the archdiocese ran 160 elementary schools and three high schools. There are also other Catholic schools in the area not run by the archdiocese.
In January 2018, the archdiocese announced five school closures. In January 2020, five more schools were announced to close permanently. As of 2022, there are 33 Catholic high schools in Cook and Lake counties. These include all-girl, all-boy, and co-ed high schools.
Respect Life Office
Cardinal Francis George created the Respect Life Office within the archdiocese. This office works to support the cause of life through prayer and action. It offers educational materials and speakers. It also holds yearly conferences, retreats, and rallies for young people and adults. The office also runs programs like Project Rachel and the Chastity Education Initiative for youth.
The Respect Life Office has organized many events in Chicago. These include the local 40 Days for Life campaign. They also arrange annual trips for college and high school students to the March for Life events in Chicago and Washington, DC.
Seminaries
Seminaries are schools where people study to become priests.
- University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary) – This is a major seminary.
- St. Joseph College Seminary – This was an undergraduate program for the Archdiocese of Chicago. It closed in 2019.
- Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary – This was a high-school seminary. It closed in 2007.
Province of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago is the main church area for the Province of Chicago. This province also includes other Catholic dioceses in Illinois:
- Diocese of Belleville
- Diocese of Joliet in Illinois
- Diocese of Peoria
- Diocese of Rockford
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
See also
In Spanish: Arquidiócesis de Chicago para niños
- The Catholic New World, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Glenview, Illinois), one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese
- Polish Cathedral style churches of Chicago
- St. Anne Catholic Community, another of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Chicago
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago
- List of the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of the Roman Catholic cathedrals of the United States
- List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Shrine of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest; in Chicago, Illinois
