Unforgettable experience. To live through such spiritual event is life altering. Gorgeous church. read more

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Incredible, one of the most beautiful, highly respected churches, I have been to. The clergy, priests and everybody there is so very kind and spiritual and treat people with the most respect. Patrons and parishioners, alike are super kind and fabulous. Great people. Such a great community to be in. The wonderful young that always takes photographs and puts them up on social media and website are fantastic she takes the best pictures. The visitors are very kind and respectful and so nice to be around here, especially when needing to have quiet time to pray to our Lord and savior. God bless us all always in Jesus's name, we pray Amen, thank you all right. read more

Beautiful, holy church with great sense of vibrancy. Its crowded on Sundays at 9 and 11am. Arrive early for parking. The music is incredible. They bring back traditions like roses falling from the oculus on Pentecost or a magnificent Procession on Corpus Christi. The livestreams are masterful. Great camera work. The priests are wise and approachable. They offer classes in Latin, Greek or Hebrew. Good programs for children. read more

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11/02/21 - St John Cantius Church had a mass coupled w/Mozart's Requiem to honor the day of the dead. I love the works of Mozart. "The Requiem in D minor, K. 626, is a requiem mass by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Mozart composed part of the Requiem in Vienna in late 1791, but it was unfinished at his death on Dec. 5th." We went to St John Cantius partly to see the church & partly for Mozart's Requiem. The church is magnificent piece of architecture @ 825 Carpenter Street builWe had to get there early to secure both a parking space (very limited parking) & to get a good seat to hear Mozart. It his was quite the ceremony w/the Knights of Columbus leading the entourage followed by about 50 seminarians, 20 priests & a bishop (Partridge in a pear tree lol ). I know that's blasphemous and I'm probably going to fry somewhere south of here, but that's another day & maybe my last review). Both the ceremony, the church & Mozart's requiem were beautiful but a bit too long @ 2hrs. St John's Cantius was read more

St John Cantius Church - Churches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the most incredible places on planet earth. I highly encourage anyone who's never been here to visit at 12:30pm on Sundays.

Possibly life changing for some. The Traditional Latin Mass is offered here in all forms:Low,High,Sung and Recited in Latin & English. When I went I came home smelling of incense which I love. It's a big,beautiful old church and the priests are very reverent and even have jokes. "I hate preaching in ugly churches;but this is not an ugly church" So far I've gone 3 times and attended a Low Mass on a weekday,Ash Wednesday and the Sunday after for a beautiful Sung Mass. They provide missals printed by the Biretta Books which is owned by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. It's a wonderfully busy,humming hive of activity prior to service. Please dress nicely when you enter the presence of the Lord in His house and show reverence. The priests take their worship seriously. read more

St John Cantius Church - St. John Cantius official Instagram photo. - Churches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Truly an amazing place on earth to worship our Lord! We've been attending since 1999, and absolutely love this parish community. read more

St John Cantius Church - Above the altar... - Churches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stunning, historic church that is in lovely condition. Parking was easy to find. In addition to being a beautiful place, there is so much to see here--I felt like I was in a museum! They also host events beyond masses to further engage with their church community. read more

Very formal Mass, much more so than any Mass I've been to in 50 years - but the church itself is beautiful with outstanding music. The priest had a very meaningful homily. Good experience read more

If you're seeking to find Jesus you will find him here. This a quiet and peaceful church where you feel our Lord.

Such a beautiful church and we came in as pilgrims, visiting this wonderful church. You feel GOD'S presence in this church it draws you in. We did not want to leave there we felt we were home. Come check this church out you will not be disappointed. we don't live in Chicago but if we did this would be our church. read more

An absolutely stunning church! We happened to be in the Goose Island neighborhood for lunch and were near this church. We stopped hoping the doors were unlocked...and they were! The group I was chaperoning filtered inside and made their way around the parish admiring the baroque interior and beautiful architecture. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. We were dining at Kendall College and this was a perfect addition to the afternoon. read more

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Beautiful church, sacred mass, poignant homilies, inspirational. Easy to find parking, and if you prefer the mass in Latin, this is your place. We are new to the parish, but you can tell that it is a vibrant community and people seem very involved in the church. read more

Do you long for a traditional sacred Catholic Mass? In addition to the stunning beauty of this Church, the community is devout and thriving. If you miss the Church when you were a child, give this one a try. It is my forever home. May God Bless you. read more

Music lovers, here is your shrine! Actually, it's a Church to serve the Lord, but one way they do that is through a phenomenal sacred music program. I've also been to a couple of their concerts and was really blown away. I don't know the Latin Mass at all, and when I've gone a couple of times, I've always gotten a little lost. The ushers are very nice and made sure we got the books with translation when we arrived. But what I loved was the spiritual depth. God is mystical and awesome and amazing beyond our comprehension, and you sense that during Mass at this parish. It reminds you of the 2,000 year-old roots of Catholicism, the mystery that happens at Mass... Things I often forget. This isn't the parish for me for every Sunday, but I'm glad it's here. read more

St John Cantius Church - Churches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

IF YOU ARE VISITING CHICAGO, COME TO THIS CHURCH: REVIEW PERSPECTIVE: Primarily Ascetics. Come experience the liturgy that inspired the great classical composers like Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz....etc... And if you're lucky, you'll hear these great composers' work in the context which inspired it. This Church and it's liturgical schedule gives you the finest example of how instrumental the Catholic Church has been in forming Western Culture throughout history. They offer both the "new" Mass facing the traditional way, ad Deum, and the "Old" Mass. Both have exquisite choirs/schola...they have several choirs there, actually! The Gregorian Chant is good to excellent. Their cadence is a little disturbing at times, but nothing to dislike. It's overall great quality chant. The other music, the choirs and orchestras are truly remarkable, and blend well into the space which is highly "Polish" Gothic. The servers are marvelous, neither too militaristic, nor too relaxed. The Church itself is incredible. It is somewhat overdone with shrines and statues and looks as if they were later additions "forced" into a space. It fights the existing architecture and looks as if too much is crammed together. I appreciate the way the Church is being restored; re-gilding the old gold and I assume, repainting the ceilings and walls with scroll work and images. The ambo does not belong in that space. It should be removed entirely. It is a distraction and belittles the space as do the choir stalls. The new wood floor, from skilled tradesmen in Poland I'm told, is magnificent, and I feel guilty for even walking on it! It lends itself perfectly to the Church. I only ask the dear Fathers, and they are all fantastic men, to step up the homilies. This is not the 1950's. The SJC crowd knows the right answers, help them understand WHY they are the right answers. Give us a good theological exegesis. Give parishioners some ammunition to help evangelize. Fr. Scott is the very best preacher because he takes time to explain the reasons for the rituals, I am always so moved by them, and I hope Christina R would hear them, perhaps her criticisms would be less shrill. read more

This is a really beautiful Catholic church which is located in the heart of the Loop. The woodwork in this church is stunning. It actually was the largest church in all of Chicago when it was completed in 1898. Its design was meant to be reminiscent of the beautiful architecture in Krakow Poland read more

I highly recommend visiting this beautiful unique Catholic Church and attending Mass. Visit their website to see if the Mass time you are considering will have full choir and orchestra (highly recommended). Also, please don't worry if you chose a Mass time in Latin...you can try and follow along with the provided English translation or if you find it too difficult, do as I did and just be at peace enjoying this most beautiful Mass (Latin). Also, on a different note, there is a review of this church posted in Yelp by Brandon W. that I reported to Yelp. If interested please see my email string below; and if you agree with my thoughts, please take a moment to also request to Yelp that the Brandon W. posting be removed. Thank you. Begin forwarded message: From: David Date: October 27, 2018 at 2:03:17 PM CDT To: no-reply@yelp.com Subject: Re: An Update on the Review You Recently Reported [ 7400057 ] I appreciate your prompt reply. However, based on your answer I have to believe that either a) your content guidelines need to be amended/updated in order to allow you to agree with your two users who recommenced that this review be deleted, or b) look again at the review and possibly see a way that it does in fact go against your current content guidelines. Does this make sense? Here's another way to look at this situation (and possibly you can share this concept with your peers); let's say the review was of a elderly memory loss care facility, and the reviewer cleverly mocked the service/industry by saying something like, "nice place but everyone keeps forgetting my name, which is really convenient because I can eat everyone's dessert and no one knows....haha!" In my above example, who exactly is the reviewer's review benefitting? Surely not interested Yelp users....and isn't this the core purpose of Yelp? Common sense says my example review should be deleted (as well as the review I originally requested be deleted); maybe you or a brave support team member could champion this cause and remove the review by either the above listed a) or b) logic. I have faith you can do it!! Best regards, David On Oct 27, 2018, at 1:28 PM, Yelp HQ no-reply@yelp.com wrote: Hello, Thanks for reporting Brandon W.'s review of St John Cantius Church. We wanted to let you know that this review had already been reported to us by a user on Yelp, and that at that time our moderators decided to leave the review in place after carefully evaluating it against our Content Guidelines. Business owners can address concerns or misunderstandings via their Business Account by posting a public comment or sending a direct message to the reviewer. You can learn more about what we allow in reviews in our Support Center (http://www.yelp-support.com). - The Yelp Support Team read more

I first visited St. John Cantius out of interest as a friend had recommended that I check it out. I went early on a Saturday afternoon, took in the amazing beauty of the church, checked out the insane number of relics they have on display and settled in for the 5:00pm mass. Prior to the mass, about 13 Canon Regular Clerics came out, all in traditional black cassocks and they began their evening rosary and Vespers. There were several confessionals available and WOW...they were being used! Confessions continued throughout the mass, which was a very good typical mass, but with lots of acolytes helping out. After mass the clerics all returned to the front pews and began their evening Compline prayers which are all done in chant. This is something to both see and hear. VERY moving and spiritual. I have since returned to St. John Cantius Church and have met several of the priests and brothers. They have all been very welcoming and friendly. What is most striking about them is their age. They are a young group, which in and of itself is encouraging for the future of our Catholic Church. If you have a chance to visit, definitely do. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Bar none in Chicago, the most Solemn Mass I've ever attended in decades! I attended the Ordinary Mass on a Sunday ( 9am ) which was beautiful. Reminded me of my youth. Although I do not live in Chicago I may start going on a regular basis. Well worth the trip. Really. The priest celebrating Mass and the servers have so much reverence! Loved it ! read more

SJC is the finest church I have been to. The reverently celebrate Mass in all forms: - Ordinary: English - Ordinary: Latin - Extraordinary: Latin (Tridentine High Mass) - Extraordinary: Latin (Tridentine Low Mass) 8 priests who are very serious about their role in the church as servants to the parishioners. Very diverse, theologically thorough (a focus on the real presence in the Eucharist, the Rosary, 40 Hours Devotion, etc.). Never political, which I think is important! The music program is second to none and often features a choir/orchestra. Always features a schola performing Gregorian chant for certain portions of the Mass. Even the Pastor (Fr. Frank Phillips) takes a personal interest in getting to know his parishioners. Most people coming to SJC know what they're getting because they've heard about it from someone. Some are unaccustomed to the traditions of old (pre-Vatican II) or perhaps misunderstand the intention/purpose of the way things were because they might prefer what I call "feel-good" churches in today's world. But there is no equivalent in Chicago for what SJC offers and I think it could even be considered a moral duty for all Catholics in Chicago to spend a Sunday at SJC to get a picture in their minds of where the Church comes from. Many of our parents/grandparents/etc. only knew the Tridentine Latin High Mass and having a sense of history (especially as it relates to the sacred traditions of the Church) is only going to help complete the human experience as we attempt to understand life. So go on down to 12:30pm High Mass and see one of the country's most beautiful churches and experience the liturgy that started in 1570. And feel free to say hello to a priest after Mass...they will happily welcome you. read more

Beauty thru sacred art and music is exactly what St. John Cantius represents. It's a slice of heaven on earth for sure. The church hosts numerous concerts throughout the year, as well as Tridentine Masses (Latin) on Sundays as well. It was voted last year as the most beautiful in America, and certainly lives up to the honor. The Canons Regular, which consist of religious men who are dedicated to the restoration of the sacred, live full time at the rectory and abundantly make available all of the sacraments. They have the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) available nearly all of the time, which after receiving the sacrament is truly a joy and are invested in making you a better person. My wife and I were able to receive the Sacrament of Marriage earlier this year, celebrated by Fr. Brendan; which was an incredible day. Such a great order of men who love their vocation and love showing everyone, non Catholic and Catholics alike, the awesome beauty of the church. It's a must see for anyone who lives in Chicago or are just visiting the area. read more

I'm a staunch atheist, but have to admit that the Tridentine Masses here are truly beautiful. It's fun -- seriously. You really owe it to yourself to go if you like pomp and circumstance once in a blue moon just for the sake of, well, pomp and circumstance. read more

Amazing. Inspirational. Traditional. I first visited St. John Cantius out of interest as a friend had recommended that I check it out. I went early on a Saturday afternoon, took in the amazing beauty of the church, checked out the insane number of relics they have on display and settled in for the 5:00pm mass. Prior to the mass, about 13 Canon Regular Clerics came out, all in traditional black cassocks and they began their evening rosary and Vespers. There were several confessionals available and WOW...they were being used! Confessions continued throughout the mass, which was a very good typical mass, but with lots of acolytes helping out. After mass the clerics all returned to the front pews and began their evening Compline prayers which are all done in chant. This is something to both see and hear. VERY moving and spiritual. I have since returned to St. John Cantius Church and have met several of the priests and brothers. They have all been very welcoming and friendly. What is most striking about them is their age. They are a young group, which in and of itself is encouraging for the future of our Catholic Church. If you have a chance to visit, definitely do. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Simply stunning. Stunning facilities, stunning Masses. We visit whenever we get the chance when visiting Chicago.

This place is a real treasure to anyone who practices the Catholic faith. Going to 12:30 Latin High Mass on Sundays is like going into a time machine. I personally find it so beautiful and moving even though I do get lost or confused at times. There is a missal at the front of the Church that helps you follow along with what is going on in Latin. The whole mission of St. John Cantius is the restoration of the sacred. That includes sacred liturgy, music, and art. It seems that so many modern churches are throwing our sacred and replacing it with the secular. St. John Cantius is going against this trend and is doing a wonderful job at it. It is a must stop for all Catholics to just get a better idea of what the Church was like before Vatican II. read more

This church is old-school, very traditional, and that's why we love it. Three of the four Sunday masses are performed in Latin, and we attend the Ordinary Mass in English. The previous reviewers are correct: there are no women who take part in the Masses. That is because SJC is the home of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius http://www.canons-regular.org/go/about/ a religious community of men dedicated to the Restoration of the Sacred. There are many different types of religious life in the Catholic church. Benedictine monks live in monasteries. Friars went out among the people to preach, such as the Dominicans and Franciscans. Canons Regular are just another type of religious order with their own very distinct characteristics. The only other "big" Catholic churches I've been in are Holy Name in downtown Chicago and St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. And SJC is more beautiful than either of those. My husband and I take our two boys (3 and 5 yrs old) to SJC as often as we can (they love the music and the outright splendor of the church). Although we live in a different parish in the city, and our children will attend Catholic school in our home parish, it is our privilege to to be able to worship at St. John Cantius whenever we can. And, no: I am not a "mantilla-clad baby machine" as another reviewer observed so bitterly. My husband and I both are professionals with many, many interests in life. It just so happens that our children and our family life is at the top of that list of interests, and a traditional Catholic church serves our needs. So, if you're looking for a non-traditional mass, SJC is not for you. But if you enjoy a beautiful, lyrical traditional Catholic mass that espouses traditional values and morals, you'll love this place. :-) read more

We are registered parishioners of SJC, but due to moving out to the burbs we rarely make it down there now and instead go to our local parish (thank you so much, OPEC gas prices). Yes, this is a VERY Traditional church, but it is the epitome of what Vatican II envisioned. They offer Masses in English and Latin. The English Mass is at 9 am. The Latin Mass is at 11:30, and the Latin Tridentine Masses are at 7:30 am and 12:30 pm. All of the Masses are celebrated with great dignity and care for the rubrics. The 11:30 Mass has the MOST beautiful music, oftentimes with soloists who can be found at the Lyric Opera House, and with full orchestral accompaniment. One of my favorite things is that you can ALWAYS go to Confession during Mass, and they are the old-school anonymous confessionals where you and the priest cannot see each others' faces. Even though the Mass environment is very solemn, I have yet to have someone give me a dirty look if my kids are not wearing their angel wings. Some churches are not very inviting of kids (odd, I know) but the parishioners here understand that kids get unruly from time to time, but that is no reason to not bring them to Mass. Baby #3 comes in a few days and I can't wait to have him baptized at SJC. Oh, by the way....6 years ago when we were planning our wedding I worked very closely with the choir director in selecting music. I grew up singing sacred music, and he knew it was very important to me, and although I only had a budget of $500 he was able to accomplish the MOST beautiful ensemble for us! We had 4 vocalists, strings, organ and trumpet. SOME DAY I intend to make a huge donation to the music program, in his honor. I have friends (accomplished musicians themselves) who still comment on how lovely the music was at my wedding. It was one of the most cherished memories of my wedding day. read more

My favorite church (besides my home parish). St. John Cantius is run by the Cannons Regular of St John Cantius. The mission of the Canons is the restoration of the sacred. They do this through devout and reverent liturgies, devotions, sacred art, and sacred music. Spending time at this beautiful church is a little bit like sneaking a peek at what heaven will be like. read more

I drive into the city most weeks for mass at St. John Cantius. The entire Church is wonderful. The music, liturgy, and atmosphere are beautiful. During Sunday mass there are usually four or five confessionals available. There are traditional Tridentine masses as well as mass in the ordinary form (Latin and English are offered on Sundays). SJC is staffed by the Cannons Regular of St John Cantius. Their mission is to "help Catholics rediscover a profound sense of the sacred through solemn liturgies, devotions, sacred art and sacred music, as well as instruction in Church heritage, catechesis and Catholic culture in the context of parish ministry." The Cannons Regular are doing a fantastic job fulfilling their mission. If you get a chance, check this place out. read more

My sister in law, a devout Catholic suggested that my husband and I stop at this church on our trip to Chicago. I casually mentioned this to my Uncle. What a beautiful surprise that he drove us to this church. Father Joshua (on the steps outside) invited us in, was so kind, and not only told us the story of the church, but of Christ through the art as was intended. Thank you Father Josh! read more

St John Cantius Church - Churches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perhaps the last vestige of unwatered down Catholicism in the city. If you truly love your faith, this is the place to go. The homilies will make you uncomfortable at times, but it is in this that we grow in our faith. read more

Here's the thing: during the midst of the WORST part of Chicago Blizzard 2015, my darling friend and I were running auditions for our alma mater at the Chicago Academy. My dear friend had decided to drive that morning (terrible idea) and by 5pm was completely snowed in. So, envision this...2 young girls stranded in the middle of blowing snow attempting to shovel out a Ford Focus with merely our boots. Suddenly, we look to the right and see this gorgeous church has left a bunch of shovels on their stairs. We are assuming this is to the benefit of poor slobs like ourselves. Unfortunately, this only gets us a liiiittle of somewhere. Next, this young man comes out of what we now know as the rectory and asks if we need help. He also mentions having a bunch of guys. Naturally I say " I really think we need a bunch of guys"! Then, out walk 6 or 7 fully robed and collared young men who proceed to spend the next hour pushing and shoveling Kate's car to safety. We owe these guys a major thank you! Also, if their behavior is any sign of the heart of this church- I can't wait to make my way back here one day! read more

The decor and high rating of this establishment left me very excited to finally see if there was any truth to this good news I've seen spread around. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly disappointed by my dining experience. The menu is severely lacking, I barely had any choice; they served me perhaps the most bland cracker abomination I've ever tasted. The only beverage available was a very harsh red wine, which I felt paired quite poorly with this so called "supper" of a single unflavored slice of cardboard. While I am typically quite a fan of small plate restaurants, this simply left me too unfulfilled and looking for something more. Overall, the decor was the only saving grace here, but it was not enough to overcome the brutally hushed atmosphere and mediocre cuisine. 1/5 read more

the high mass 12:30 pm is magnificent! your body transcends to another level .. you just have to go with an open heart and aloud yourself to just live the most reverent moment of the calvary of christ sacrifice is taking place! read more

I have been a parishioner here for twenty years and have come to feel this is my spiritual home. It is indeed very traditional and this is part of what makes the Masses her so solemn and beautiful. These are people of deep faith who center the Mass around the Real Presence at the altar and not some happy-clappy celebration of themselves. People dress modestly when they go to Mass here, and you should too. Remember, you are here to see Jesus and you should dress accordingly. Yes, the atmosphere is "very conservative" if by that you mean holding to traditional Christian moral beliefs, but this does not translate into political conservatism. I have never had to hide my socialist views nor have I ever been made to feel unwelcome because of my vocal concern for social justice. I am simply baffled by people who have said this place is "cold" or "unwelcoming" as I have always felt very welcome there. I am familiar with many cases where someone started attending mass at this church just to hear the beautiful music and was eventually converted to the faith by the earnest piety of the clergy and people there. If I were to name any shortcomings, it would be that while the liturgies are magnificent, the preaching often dwells on sexual sins, and the pastoral care (advice and counseling) is basically unavailable. read more

When I lived in Chicago, this was my church. I have never seen a more beautiful church in the United States than St. John Cantius. It will take your breath away. It is a traditional Catholic church (VERY conservative) that offers both Latin and English Masses. I've been to both language Masses and the music at both is incredibly beautiful with the choir. I usually sit in the first few rows because I love the smell of the incense that is freely used during the Mass. The Church offers confession right before all Masses which is very convenient. I miss their choir music...so much so that I purchased a few CDs from their web site. Their Christmas music CD is so beautiful...men singing in traditional gregorian chant. Fantastic. read more

This is a wonderful parish. The Masses (low Tridentine, Missa Normativa/English, Missa Normativa/Latin, and high Tridentine)are done beautifully. Anyone who's heard about the Motu Proprio & wonders about the Tridentine Mass---come on down & see! And you'll find not only a gorgeous church, not only a beautiful Mass, but some of the nicest, friendliest people ever. There's also a parish library, and a cafe. Oh, and have you ever seen a priest wearing a cassock & biretta (outside of an old Bing Crosby movie, that is)? You'll see it here---and not elderly priests, either. St. John Cantius has no shortage of young deacons & priests (they are able to offer confession DURING Mass because they have enough priests to do it). Everybody, please, come to this parish at least once!!! read more

It's depressing to know that a church this out of touch with tolerance, community and society exists. I attended Easter mass with my parents and listened to a fascist sermon about how being a muslim or a jew is like running INTO a burning building instead of out...those were his exact words. He also managed to rail against "living in sin"...seriously? Now, mind you, none of this fire and brimstone had ANYTHING to do with the day's gospel or the importance of the Easter holiday in Christianity. And he was preaching to a room full of women in their 30s with eight children and wearing mantillas--yes, mantillas. The last complaint I will register is that the altar was filled with about fifty priests, deacons and, ahem, altar boys (surprise!) and not one woman of the cloth present...mantilla-clad baby machines notwithstanding. Maybe this is what you want out of a service. I want spirituality, to be brought closer to God and to be encouraged to love my neighbors. read more

The Mass here is beautiful, whether in English or Latin. I love that they have Gregorian Chant. It's awesome. Highly recommended!