St. Hugh Church
4315 Joliet Avenue, Lyons

St. Hugh has known hard times. The Great Depression hit four years after the colonial-style church was built. Candles served as light at the early Mass if the electric bill wasn’t paid, and folks donated coal to heat the church.

Today's flock are mainly stalwarts of the World War II generation, while some newcomers from Latin America have joined them in recent years.

The edifice underwent refurbishing five years ago, and while its interior might be considered simple and unadorned, a half dozen large (and some smaller) stained glass windows by Chicago’s old Munich Studio say it all. This parish of bungalows, now in its 80th year, has added a garden space for prayer and quiet in a noisy world. The walk is lined with bricks that commemorate family events or loved ones.

Traditionally the parish welcomes back former neighbors and friends to a fall homecoming/October Fest, and for a yearly Irish Mardi Gras before Ash Wednesday.

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