title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAINT CONSTANCE PARISH
WHEREAS, in 1916, in a small Northwest Side neighborhood of Chicago, a group of 90 Polish families, members and volunteers of the Polonia Club at Our Lady of Victory Parish identified the need for a new parish to serve the Polish Catholic community; and
WHEREAS, with a growing community, these members met with then Auxiliary Bishop Paul Rhode to ask for his permission to pursue the opening of Saint Constance Parish in what is now known as Jefferson Park; and
WHEREAS, with the final approvals and blessings from the Bishop, Father Alexander Knitter was appointed as the first pastor and was tasked with establishing the new parish and its community. Once the Parish's location was chosen at Lawrence and Central Avenues, renovations began while parishioners heard their first Masses in the home of Valentine Wachowski at Lawrence and Long Avenues; and
WHEREAS, the Jefferson Park Community continued to develop at rapid rates and it was evident then that St. Constance Parish would soon need larger facilities. A new site was obtained at Ainslie and Strong Streets and on November 1st, 1916 ground was broken for what would be the new church and a new school; and
WHEREAS, less than a year later, Archbishop George Mundelein presided over the dedication and Father Knitter held the church's first Mass in what is now the current home of St. Constance Parish at 5843 W. Strong Street, Chicago, IL. Within its first 30 years, the St. Constance Community grew to include over 1,000 families; and
WHEREAS, during the community's continuous growth, Parish societies were organized such as the Original Polonia Club, Rosary Sodality, Holy Name Society, Handmaids of the Lord, Church Ushers and the Saint Constance Choir. By the end of 1917, Sisters Mary Waltrudis, Mary Giovanna and Mary Martha of the School Sisters of Notre Dame welcomed the first class of 72 students to the Saint Constance School; and
...
Click here for full text