St. Kevin Church
10509 S. Torrence Ave.

Steel mills once played such a major role in the life of this Southeast Side parish founded in 1884, they called the area “Irondale.” Today’s red brick combination church, school and basement auditorium is in modified Tudor Gothic style, dedicated in 1926. Very simple, yet its interior can boast carved wood art work by Jerzy Kenar and mosaics by Jean Morman Unsworth. While years have seen boom and lean here, the steelworks have now closed. Communal activity in this predominantly Hispanic parish surrounds cultural events like Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Feast, or the outdoor Good Friday procession with 150 marchers. Two evenings a week adults take English classes here, taught by a college staff. Its young adults tutor high school students, and an interfaith group assists adults in job-training. In the face of life’s adversity, these parishioners continue to be welcoming to newcomers, involved in their parish, and express a deep, abiding faith.

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