St. Vincent's Church (Chicago, Ill.)

Rev. Edward M. Smith, C.M. came to the north side of Chicago in 1875 at the request of Bishop Patrick R. Foley to establish a Catholic Church and school. Fr. Smith and future parishioners laid the cornerstone November 14, 1875 and Fr. Smith gave the first mass in the uncompleted church on Christmas Day of the same year. Upon completion and dedication, April 14, 1876, the building was described as simple and could "not boast of a single architectural beauty" due to costs. Sisters of Charity took charge of the parochial school at its opening in 1883 and by 1890 the enrollment had grown to 253 resulting in the construction of an additional building. Fr. Smith, having returned from New Orleans in 1891, found that the needs of the church had outgrown the structure set out to build a new church. Around 1892 or 1893 the construction of the "strikingly splendid French Romanesque" church began and did not see completion until 1897. Fr. Edward Smith died of cancer before this achievement and was succeeded by interim pastor Rev. Thomas Smith, C.M. until Rev. Peter Byrne, C.M. arrived in January 1899. Fr. Byrne continued to furnish the interior of the church. Under his guidance the main altar, organ, and rose window were installed. In addition, he expanded the parochial school with the construction four additional buildings. The failing health and resignation of Fr. Byrne resulted in the arrival of Rev. Francis Xavier McCabe, C.M. at St. Vincent's. Though the construction debt attributed to St. Vincent's Church was high, Fr. McCabe installed a marble altar and established a Day Nursery. In 1920, Rev. Thomas Levan, C.M. took over when Fr. McCabe left and during his tenure renovated and restored the church. A fire in the 1950s led to rebuilding a vast portion of the church and replacing the rose window a large undertaking for Fr. James Flannery, the pastor of the time. In 1997, Rev. Don Ours, C.M. initiated a capital campaign to fund major renovations which were completed in 2001, when the church was rededicated. Throughout its history St. Vincent's Church has devoted itself to the charitable cause of Vincent de Paul and striven to uphold the twin virtues of Love of God and Love of Neighbor.