Perched along the edge of Interstate 90 in downtown Chicago is St. Patrick’s Church. It is the oldest public building in the city, and one of the few structures that survived the great fire of 1871. That “Old St. Pat’s,” as it is affectionately known, exists at all is surprising. In the late 1960s old brick tenement districts were leveled and a massive traffic corridor cut through the area. A last-minute public outcry saved the old church from the wrecking ball.
Alice and I had spotted the tawny brick structure with its two mismatched bell towers from our hotel room and had walked several blocks only to find it locked. A few days later, we tried a second time and entered through a side door. We discovered ourselves in a breath-taking interior surrounded by pastel Celtic designs of entwined bands, lines, dragons and long-tailed birds, marble and stained glass. A Confirmation Mass was underway, celebrated by a young bishop, several parish priests accompanied by a musical ensemble of a soprano, tenor, violin and flute players. Joining them were hundreds of well-dressed families of all nationalities. This was a parish fully alive. How this transformation came about is a remarkable story of rebirth.
A decade after its reprieve from demolition, the future of Old St. Pat’s remained bleak. Sitting amidst shuttered factories and flop houses, the church had only four registered parishioners. Then in 1983 a new pastor, Fr. Jack Wall, was assigned to the parish. He brought with him the dream of creating what he described as “a church for the marketplace.” The classical lines of Church life in Chicago had always been linear, an orderly, hierarchical approach to faith. But in the Celtic art of the old church he discovered a different paradigm: Curves and twists in which the elements of faith, nature, and daily life were intertwined. He envisioned a Church that was Catholic to the core but particularly attuned to the needs of young adults, ages 21 to 35. It would be a multi-faceted church with an interplay of elements that made it humanly and religiously attractive. As a social venue in a busy and often impersonal environment, it needed to be a place of “radical hospitality.” More importantly, however, the church needed to address deeper existential questions: “What is my life worth? And what is my life work? And how does work fit into my life.” It would address the need of the young to be grounded in something tangible that went beyond the immediate moment. “Being the oldest church structure had a symbolic force of saying these are our roots and here’s what it takes to become a new expression of Catholic community,” Wall explained. The result was a blending of elements to provide a fresh approach to faith, an energized liturgy, and an emphasis on service.
Tapping into the enthusiasms of young professionals and students of nearby University of Illinois Chicago, Wall’s efforts met surprising success. Fortified by vibrant music and folksy preaching, the Sunday services began to attract a following. The young parishioners embraced Fr. Wall’s mantra: “Bring good people together and watch what happens.” Within two years Old St. Patrick’s Sunday attendance had risen to 2,000; membership increased to over 1,000 households. Other changes followed. In 1985, the parish inaugurated what it dubbed the “World’s Largest Block Party.” Three years later, a school was opened, the first new Catholic grade school in the archdiocese in more than 25 years. In the spirit of the “crossroads” parish, the school, that first opened on a floor of a nearby office building was open to all faiths, and 40% of its students received tuition assistance. In the 1990s the parish, began a multi-million-dollar reconstruction and restoration project. Old Saint Patrick’s Church is regarded today as not only the oldest but one the most beautiful places of worship in Chicago.
Fr. Jack Wall retired as pastor in 2007, but Old St. Pat’s continues to thrive. The parish now offers six Sunday and two daily Masses with Saturdays reserved for weddings, often two or three a weekend. A typical church bulletin shows a community involving all age groups. A Family Ministry program sponsored Mother’s and Sons Bowling Evening; a men’s group hosted a Beer Tasting and Trivia Night. Encore, a program for those over 50, was holding a day of recollection by the parish guest theologian entitled “Life on the Brink: Holding the Center in the Whirlwind.” Bible Studies for Young Women were being offered on Sunday afternoons. In all, over 40 ministries were listed.
Today this inner-city church has a national following. Current membership is more than 3,000 households and 5000 associate members. Old St. Pat’s members and friends participate annually in church inspired programs that include job training and service to poorer communities in Chicago, Africa and South America. St. Pat’s annual Block Party, a fund raiser for Church outreach ministries, is a fixture in the city’s life and hosts 10,000 participants a year.
