St. Jane de Chantal Church
5252 S. Austin Ave., Chicago

Built during the post-World War II housing boom, returning servicemen and their wives began their families in this parish a half-mile from Midway Airport. A good portion of these same parishioners, present at the church’s dedication in 1964, are still here in its Golden Jubilee year.

This is a small- town parish in the big city— mostly Polish-Americans along with a medley of “Chicago.” Its hallmark is single-family bungalows, vegetable gardens and good cooks. When the new bell tower calls them to Mass, they sing their hearts out.

Besides restoring the tower, their Millennium Campaign generosity paid for re-roofing and insulation to keep jet roar at a minimum.

The Ladies Guild commissioned a bronze statue of their patron. Dedicated in August, it stands in the rear of the diamond-shaped church designed by Pavlecic & Kovacevic. Proud of their families, faith and traditions, parishioners will welcome the statue of Our Lady of the Millennium Oct. 4-18.

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