Rating based on:
Architecture/Church Property
Pleasant Parishioners
Website
I just realized that I hadn't been here in about 40+ years - - and St. Joseph Church and Parish Properties seem to have actually improved with age. Pretty cool, isn't it?!?
MEMORY LANE /a little history
St. Joseph Parish is the only Back of the Yards "Polish Parish" to survive over the years. Two others: Sacred Heart of Jesus (46th St. & Wolcott Ave.) closed June 30, 1990 and St. John of God (52nd St. & Throop) was closed in 1992, then bulldozed in 2011. Although I had never been to Sacred Heart, I have fond memories of both St. Joseph and St. John of God. Fortunately, St. Joseph appears to be doing very well.
St. Joseph Parish was formed in 1887 with the assistance of St. Mary of Perpetual Help. What is now St. John Paul II Hall was the original church. The current church opened in 1914.
Additional church history:
https:stjosephparishchicago.org/
https://www.localprayers.com/US/Chicago/267805416602743/St-Joseph-Parish---Chicago-%28Hermitage%29
https://johnamallin.com/project/st-joseph-hermitage/
BUILDINGS/Property of St. Joseph
The CHURCH is on the SE Corner of 48th Street and Hermitage Avenue. Like most churches built in its era, St. Joseph is a beautiful church. (Useful tip: Restrooms can be found on either end of the vestibule.)
The RECTORY is at 4821 S. Hermitage Avenue.
St. Joseph Plaza is now where the convent was once located--behind the rectory. It is an area with pavers that form a rosary. The pavers were purchased by the families that funded the project. St. Joseph Plaza opened in 2015.
St. John Paul II Hall and St. Joseph Child Development Center, which once was St. Joseph's Elementary School, is located at 4800 S. Paulina St.
Originally St. Joseph High School, Chavez Upper Grade Center is at 4831 S. Hermitage Avenue This building is now leased to Chicago Public Schools.
PARKING
There is a parking lot south of Chavez Upper Grade Center, however, it is my understanding that it can only be used on days when the school is not using it.
According to the website, there is also parking on Sundays in the Chavez Elementary parking lot at 48th St. and Marshfield Avenue.
There is also street parking available.
WEBSITE
St. Joseph's website was easier to find and to navigate than some other churches. I like that it mentions the church's history.
The current Pastor is Father Ernesto Caicedo of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Masses:
Monday to Saturday
7:30 AM (English)
Sunday 7:30 AM (Spanish)
9:00 AM (English)
10:30 AM (Polish)
12:30 PM (Spanish)
5:30 PM (Spanish)
MY RECENT VISIT
Saturday, September 14, 2019
My timing was very good since the church happened to be open. I learned from some friendly parishioners that a Quincinera had just taken place. Since no other church services were going on at the time, I could visit the church and take some photos without disturbing anyone. (Yeah!)
As I was taking pictures of my old high school (now Chavez Upper Grade Center), a nice gentleman stopped to chat. The gentleman works part-time for the church and I really enjoyed talking to him. He figured that I had probably gone to school here. It seems that I am not the only one that stops by to take new photos of a church and school with old memories.
Church Review #5
Back of the Yards/New City - Review #8 read more