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The Catholic New World

St. Basil/Visitation
843 W. Garfield Blvd., Chicago

Pastor: Father Marco Cardenas, CMF
Masses: Sundays 9 a.m. English; 11 a.m. Spanish
Seating capacity: 560
Phone: (773) 846-3570
Merged Parish founded 1990

Photo by: Sandy Bertog
Parish Pride
by Dolores Madlener

St. Basil/Visitation
843 W. Garfield Blvd., Chicago

There is a spirit stirring in this parish. It is not just the beginnings of gentrification. It is in the soul of St. Basil and Visitation parishes, merged in 1990.

(The sacred space of St. Basil—a look-alike of the Byzantine church of St. Sophia in Istanbul—no longer exists.) The cornerstone of Visitation’s imposing greystone Gothic edifice was dedicated by Archbishop Patrick Feehan Nov. 19, 1899. At the time only four homes stood on Garfield Boulevard. From the start, both parish schools were taught by Dominican sisters. They staff the parish school today.

In response to the awakening spirit here, the parish is reaching out to the unchurched in Englewood. An evangelization program is emerging with combined efforts of African-American and Hispanic parishioners. There are plans for an ecumenical service with students, parents and neighboring pastors for Thanksgiving. There are thoughts of a combined Latino-African-American summer festival. Come, visit this renovated ageless beauty.