A Parish Renewed
St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish—or St. Padre Pio Parish—was established on July 1, 2020. This new parish combined two former parishes, St. Hilary and Transfiguration of Our Lord, as a result of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Renew My Church process, an initiative that seeks to ensure the sustainable growth of the Church of Chicago. The initiative's goals are to serve all faith communities with a vibrant, vital, and life-giving Church experience, provide pastoral leaders with the necessary resources to carry out Christ's mission, and inspire disciples to deepen their personal relationship with the Lord. Renew My Church calls us to face our challenges and boldly reimagine what it means to be Church. Rev. Aloysius Funtila became pastor of the newly formed St. Padre Pio Parish.
As St. Padre Pio Parish looks forward to the future, we remember the inspiring words of Pastor Emeritus Fr. Robert Darow (St. Hilary, 1984-2007).
As St. Padre Pio Parish looks forward to the future, we remember the inspiring words of Pastor Emeritus Fr. Robert Darow (St. Hilary, 1984-2007).
"What we have now is the result of what was;
what will be depends on what is now.
We follow an ongoing path."
A History of St. Hilary Parish
St. Hilary Church is situated in the heart of Budlong Woods. The area bounded by Western Avenue on the east, Peterson Avenue on the north, the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west, and Foster Avenue on the south, was originally the wooded area of the Budlong brothers' farm. The Budlong brothers developed their farm into one of the largest truck garden farms in the Chicagoland area. The farm gained its fame as the home of the Budlong pickles. With the spread of the city, the farm was sold. A golf course was started in 1921, but it soon gave way to land developers and their success is evidenced by the residential area now in the geographical limits of the parish.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Annen, who moved into the subdivision in 1919, found that they were part of St. Ita’s parish. At that time, they had to take a streetcar with three transfers to attend Mass on Sunday. In the next 7 years, 200 families were living in the area, and after many requests, the announcement was made that a new parish would be established – consisting of Arcadia Terrace, Peterson Woods, and Budlong Woods.
On the first Sunday of May, 1926, the first Mass for St. Hilary Parish was celebrated with about 150 people in attendance. The church was a portable structure procured from St. Timothy’s parish and was located on Lincoln Avenue between California and Fairfield Avenues. So began the life of Chicago’s 245th parish.
In April of 1928, the construction of a building began which would serve as a school and a temporary church. On November 12, 1928, one hundred and thirty two students were admitted to St. Hilary School and the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica taught them. There were three nuns teaching and one nun as principal. In 1931, St. Hilary Parish School sent forth its first graduating class of ten boys and ten girls. The original school housed the nuns on the second floor of the school building. In 1934, the school became too small for increased enrollment. The twelve rooms in the building were all needed for classrooms. During the next six years, a new convent and rectory were built.
During the 1950s, the pastor began the acquisition of land on Bryn Mawr Avenue. With cooperation of the City of Chicago, the “alley” parallel to Bryn Mawr Avenue was also acquired. The pastor convinced the parishioners that a separate church building could be a reality. Within five years of ground breaking, the “new” church was debt free. Approximately $750,000 was given by the people of St. Hilary, the total construction costs of their new church. On April 21, 1956, the last Mass was said in what was referred to as the “old church” (now the gym). The first Mass in the new church was said 30 years and one week after the First Mass was offered in the portable chapel on Lincoln Avenue. Cardinal Stritch dedicated the new church on June 10, 1956.
In 1926 when St. Hilary Parish was new, its residents were predominantly German, Irish and Italian. Today the congregation includes a large Filipino, Hispanic and East Asian population. Never a "melting pot," the parish always believed that people cannot and should not be poured into cultural molds; but rather, that each individual should remain unique, adding flavor to the whole—unity and diversity.
Saint Hilary had been blessed to have the following Pastors:
Noteworthy Dates
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Annen, who moved into the subdivision in 1919, found that they were part of St. Ita’s parish. At that time, they had to take a streetcar with three transfers to attend Mass on Sunday. In the next 7 years, 200 families were living in the area, and after many requests, the announcement was made that a new parish would be established – consisting of Arcadia Terrace, Peterson Woods, and Budlong Woods.
On the first Sunday of May, 1926, the first Mass for St. Hilary Parish was celebrated with about 150 people in attendance. The church was a portable structure procured from St. Timothy’s parish and was located on Lincoln Avenue between California and Fairfield Avenues. So began the life of Chicago’s 245th parish.
In April of 1928, the construction of a building began which would serve as a school and a temporary church. On November 12, 1928, one hundred and thirty two students were admitted to St. Hilary School and the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica taught them. There were three nuns teaching and one nun as principal. In 1931, St. Hilary Parish School sent forth its first graduating class of ten boys and ten girls. The original school housed the nuns on the second floor of the school building. In 1934, the school became too small for increased enrollment. The twelve rooms in the building were all needed for classrooms. During the next six years, a new convent and rectory were built.
During the 1950s, the pastor began the acquisition of land on Bryn Mawr Avenue. With cooperation of the City of Chicago, the “alley” parallel to Bryn Mawr Avenue was also acquired. The pastor convinced the parishioners that a separate church building could be a reality. Within five years of ground breaking, the “new” church was debt free. Approximately $750,000 was given by the people of St. Hilary, the total construction costs of their new church. On April 21, 1956, the last Mass was said in what was referred to as the “old church” (now the gym). The first Mass in the new church was said 30 years and one week after the First Mass was offered in the portable chapel on Lincoln Avenue. Cardinal Stritch dedicated the new church on June 10, 1956.
In 1926 when St. Hilary Parish was new, its residents were predominantly German, Irish and Italian. Today the congregation includes a large Filipino, Hispanic and East Asian population. Never a "melting pot," the parish always believed that people cannot and should not be poured into cultural molds; but rather, that each individual should remain unique, adding flavor to the whole—unity and diversity.
Saint Hilary had been blessed to have the following Pastors:
- 1926: Fr. James E. O'Brien
- 1927-1943: Fr. Thomas J. Burke,
- 1943-1949: Fr. Cyril Meade
- 1950-1966: Fr. John Patrick Halligan
- 1966-1968: Fr. William P. Dunne
- 1968-1974: Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Grady
- 1974-1980: Fr. Robert O. Youngs
- 1980-1984: Fr. Roger Caplis
- 1984-2007: Fr. Roger P. Darow
- 2007-2014: Fr. William Eddy
- 2014-present: Fr. Aloysius Funtila
Noteworthy Dates
- 1927: Cornerstone for Church was laid
- November 12, 1928: St Hilary School Opened
- May 13 1956: First mass at the current church location
- 1976: 50th year jubilee
- 1982: Introduction of Christ Renews His Parish
- 2001: 75th year jubilee
- 2016: 90th year jubilee
A History of Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish
As the 1800s slid into the 1900s, onion fields and small farms stretched for miles over the area. St. Matthias Church lay at the edge of the city. A small band of Polish emigrants arrived and were welcomed by the pastor, Fr. Thiele. Though accepted at St. Matthias, the newcomers didn't feel at ease in the German environment there, and had to travel long distances to churches where the Mass was read in Polish & where they could receive instruction in their native tongue.
The area was called Bowmanville, and as the number of families grew, the need for a new "national" parish was evident. A petition was presented to Archbishop Quigley. He granted the request and appointed Rev. Francis Wojciechowski as pastor.
The succeeding Pastors were as follows:
Noteworthy Dates:
The area was called Bowmanville, and as the number of families grew, the need for a new "national" parish was evident. A petition was presented to Archbishop Quigley. He granted the request and appointed Rev. Francis Wojciechowski as pastor.
The succeeding Pastors were as follows:
- 1918-1941: Fr. Felix Prange
- 1941-1951: Fr. Dominic Zuchowski
- 1951-1957: Fr. Francis E Plaszek
- 1957-1969: Fr.. Aloysius Komosa
- 1969-1989: Fr.. Sylvester M Urbanek
- 1989-2002: Fr.. John Rudnik
- 2002-2009: Fr. Terence Keehan
- 2009- 2010: Fr. John Sanaghan
- 2010-2013: Fr. Alfredo Salera
- 2013-2020: Fr. Jose Fernando Zuleta
Noteworthy Dates:
- July 1912: Dedication of Newly built Church; parish school opened
- Oct 8, 1961: 50th Anniversary celebration
- September 14, 1986: 75th Diamond Jubilee celebration
- 2000: Hosted the Our Lady of Millennium statue
- 2001: 90th Anniversary
- 2002: School merged with St. Matthias and one pastor served both parishes until 2013
A Glimpse into the life of our parish patron St. Pio of Pietrelcina
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"Pray, Hope, and Don't." Saint Padre Pio was an Italian priest who was known for his charity and love for the people around him. He bore the wounds of Christ (known as the stigmata), which is still something that cannot be explained. Padre Pio, original name Francesco Forgione, also called St. Pio of Pietrelcina, (born May 25, 1887, Pietrelcina, Italy–died September 23, 1968, San Giovanni Rotondo; canonized June 16, 2002; feast day September 23), an Italian priest and saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
Born into a devout Roman Catholic family, he consecrated himself to Jesus at age 5. At age 15 he joined the Capuchin order and took the name Pio in honor of St. Pius I. In 1910, the year in which he became a priest, he received the stigmata (bodily marks corresponding to the wounds suffered by the crucified Jesus) for the first lime, though they eventually healed. He was drafted into the Italian military in 1915 for medical service during World War 1 but was shortly discharged because of his poor health. He received the stigmata again in 1918, and this time they remained with him until his death. Countless experts and doctors looked at the wounds throughout the years, but could find no explanation. Some questioned their authenticity, and others could not find any sure diagnosis or cause, while others did not keep any record of what they saw and what they thought. Padre Pio never had a fever or any drops in blood pressure, but the wounds bled day after day. These and other signs of his holiness (such as his reported ability to be in two places at once and his gift of healing) drew growing numbers of pilgrims to him. He was noted for his charity and piety and was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. |
