Something new is in the air at this nearly 100-year-old parish. Credit is due in part to the city’s public works effort to transform the Kenwood neighborhood.

Rental apartments are disappearing, long-time African-American home-owners are welcoming younger, upscale (some multi-racial), first-home buyers as neighbors and parishioners. Now the historic Gothic church, designed by parishioner Zachary Taylor Davis and completed in 1926, is being refurbished through a parish capital campaign that has included tuckpointing and exterior repairs, a new roof, and entrances made accessible for the handicapped.

New electronic millennium bells have been installed in memory of parishioner Maude Rand. Their ancient call to worship now resounds through the neighborhood.

Work on the interior will include restoration of its Belgian stained glass windows—a point of particular pride. The center window over the entrance depicts a Mass with uniformed military personnel of World War I at prayer.

There is a strong sense of faith and ownership. With one-tenth the Catholics who once worshipped here (wealthy Irish families) core parishioners have sacrificed to maintain the church with far less resources.

As new and younger residents step up to fill leadership roles, there is a sense of “passing on the faith” by senior members who have held it together for decades.

Pastor: Father David A. Jones
Masses: Saturdays 4 p.m./ Sundays 10 a.m.
Parish founded: 1904
Phone: (773) 624-3697

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