Immaculate Conception
508 Grand Ave., Waukegan

When you’re the “mother church” for all of Waukegan and your roots go back to a log cabin in 1841 with a circuit-riding priest—you’ve got cachet. This granite edifice with its four Corinthian columns and bell tower, designed by Joe McCarthy in Colonial style, was built in 1929 for $350,000 just before The Crash. The interior is flanked on either side with eight more columns, crystal chandeliers, various shades of marble, 14 large stained glass windows and 40-some clerestory windows. Over the altar is a reproduction of Murillo’s Marian masterpiece. Today’s parishioners are a mini-United Nations, but they try to be the People of God. It is a port-of-entry parish for some, as they move up economically and out. Thanksgiving Day Mass here is always a moment of special unity. Consistently there is outreach to the needy, a strong RCIA program, devotion and deep faith. Historically the parish has had four different names, but 150 years ago this December, when the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was promulgated, they knew they had a keeper.

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