ST. EULALIA

ST. EULALIA PARISH HISTORY: 1927-2019

St. Eulalia Parish was established by the Archdiocese of Chicago in Maywood, a western suburb of Chicago.

THE OFFERING OF A PARISH

His eminence George Cardinal Mundelein started it all on June 13, 1927 by appointing Father William Owens to organize a new parish for the care of Catholics in South Maywood, Broadview and even part of Westchester. The young priest wasted no time and began to celebrate Holy Mass on a covered-over orange crate altar on June 21st at Garfield School on 9th Ave. and Van Buren Street. After living for a time imitating Christ who had "nowhere to lay his head" the new pastor bought a house on July 27 and adjusted it for use as a rectory. The building is still located at 1845 S. 9th Avenue, though it is no longer used as the rectory.

1928 proved to be a year of giant strides at St. Eulalia. On May 13, with much joy, a cornerstone was laid for a combination church-school structure. Another home midway down the block south of Lexington on 8th Ave. was bought to provide quarters for the prayed-for nuns. In September, six Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary began a work for God in St. Eulalia school.

For only sixteen months was it necessary to use the makeshift, but appreciated, quarters at Garfield School for two Masses each Sunday. Father James Keane, a Servite, later very noted for inaugurating the famous Sorrowful Mother Novena, aided Father Owens on Sundays.

The church seating six hundred people, and the seven classrooms were dedicated on October 21, 1928 at a cost of $125,000 at the time. Seventeen proud boys and girls graduated from the school in June of 1929, forerunners of classes like the 107 graduates of 1964 from a total enrollment of 1,050 youths. An index of the parish and school’s success in imparting Catholic values was the loyalty shown by many graduates to the parish, either by maintaining parish membership after moving away, or returning for elementary school reunions.

On September 1, 1939 the "sound of Muzik" was first heard in Maywood. His Eminence George Cardinal Mundelein then transferred Father Martin Muzik from his teaching position at Quigley Preparatory Seminary to guiding St. Eulalia Parish, while Father Owens assumed the pastorate of St. Agnes in Chicago.

With the Great Depression a thing of the recent past and the second World War a reality, the parish began to grow rapidly. Two large building projects, one including the spacious convent and six new classrooms with a scoutroom, and the other three additional schoolrooms, were completed in 1947 and in 1956.

The parish now had no more room to grow, but gradually as homes in the church and rectory block became available, the parish quietly acquired them. By then, even with improvisation by multiplying Masses and using the Parish Hall as a chapel, time had caught up with the parish. Double Masses in the church and chapel for five Sunday hours after the earliest Mass, for a total of eleven Masses proved inadequate and even frustrating for the cramped parishioners.

Finally and suddenly, the parish owned title to all the houses on the Church-Rectory square block and several more immediately south of the parking lot on 9th Avenue. Father Muzik, now Right Reverend Monsignor since he was recognized for his devoted service in November 1953, went hat in hand before Cardinal Meyer. He petitioned for permission to build an adequate new church, a school addition to accommodate the waiting youths, and a modest rectory to reunite the four parish priests now separated in two houses.

Cardinal Meyer treated Monsignor Muzik kindly. At once under the co-chairmanship of Earl Brown and Albert Jantorni, a satisfying fundraising campaign set sail on a February 18, 1962 filled with snow. Complete permission from His Eminence followed so that on April 1, 1962 the entire parish was thrilled to hear Monsignor Muzik read the message of approval.

PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION

On November 11, 1962, a grizzled, elderly gentleman maneuvered his giant power shovel into that arid plain with the deftness of an Emily Post balancing peas on a fork. He neatly cut out the outlines of the school addition and the church which seemed very large indeed. The idea of a rectory had been delayed until some future date. The dug out earth was piled high to delight the smallfry who were sliding down Muzik Mountain all winter. The freezing days of Winter 1962-63 found not a hibernation of progress, but a beehive of activity in laying the sturdy concrete foundation for the "New Bethlehem" dubbed by the Monsignor in his Christmas talk. Some activity, it is true, took place under those amazingly strong plastic coverings where the heated concrete was becoming a solid to endure for many generations.

When spring unfolded, carpenters swarmed about. The area looked like a leafless forest when scaffolds sprang up to support the workers building the wooden forms to receive the load of cement. For the first time, interested sidewalk superintendents observed the distinctive swell of that roof, now just a mass of wooden forms supported by massive pillars.

Passersby gaped on May 13, 1962 when they saw two absolutely gigantic cranes swinging load after load of ready mixed cement to be swallowed up by those gaping forms. From seven in the morning until eight in the evening they poured in one continuous operation. Eighteen ready mix trucks could be counted at one time leaving, being unloaded and waiting. Then came a time of allowing the raw gray concrete to harden according to the lines of its wooden cradle. Tons of wood were removed revealing the gaunt skeleton of a large lovely building--a mystery to so many speeding by on the expressway. The nine distinct gentle swells of the massive roof marked a strength and grace soon to be joined by other features of equal durability and attractiveness.

Bricklayers and stoneworkers anchored piece after piece for week after week. The giant main entrance yawned cooly, framing the picture of many artisans quietly going about a task the parishioners were supporting, but couldn't personally accomplish. These good men, craftsmen drawn from so many areas of our country and abroad, have earned the gratitude of St. Eulalia people permanently. Their careful workmanship for long years have stood out as a testimony of their and St. Eulalia parishioners' effort.

Bishop Raymond Hillinger came on September 8th to officiate at the cornerstone laying for the church and the blessing of the school annex. After praying the powerful prayers of the church, the Bishop gently slid into place the impressive stone engraved "St. Eulalia, Virgin and Martyr - 304 A.D. and 1963," the year of principal construction. Immediately the six room school annex was joyously filled by three classes of first graders and three classes of second graders. Promptly too, the new school structure took on the deserved title of "Muzik Hall".

Glaziers, air conditioners, and heaters, electricians, and carpenters swarmed about during the following weeks and months, each one contributing his bit to the project of devotion. The faintly amber-tinted upper windows and the new-looking skylights in the sacristies and above the altar always bathed the scene in gentle light. The graceful drop-ceiling shielding so many essential, but almost unsightly tubes and tunnels took lovely shape. About then the animal kingdom paid an official vote of confidence to the new church when a lone pigeon paused on the loft, weary but content.

The new Church for the Thanksgiving weekend was closed and heated. Shirt-sleeved men then poured and polished the terrazzo sanctuary and vestibule floor covering. A delicate gold-like grill set off the choir area to the right of the altar. Rugged looking cabinets framed the large sacristies. Asphault tires were then set in place for the eight different pew sections. Slender chandeliers were hung. Comfortably-sized confessionals, four of them, filled in at each corner of the side aisles.

March 3rd of 1964 witnessed a rare sight. The front of the church, enclosed by a tough plastic since Thanksgiving, now sported a giant stainless steel panel fronted by a majestic blue cross. The 3,000 pound mass was tenderly eased into place by another of the giant cranes which have become familiar sights about the church. After so many months they were applying the finishing touches. St. Eulalia's blue cross became a reality.

Expert marble-workers assembled the banquet tables of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the altars and the communion rail, using an awesome variety of glowing marble. Palm Sunday approached, and much remained to be accomplished. Pew installers worked punishingly long hours.

LAYING THE CORNERSTONE

A crucifix covered with purple of Passiontide took the place back of the tabernacle of the delayed permanent crucifix. Meanwhile the magnificent statues of Our Lady and her Spouse were misdirected to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Outside, cold workmen on St. Patrick's day gingerly erected the landmark tower for the crucifixion mosaic remembering their costly accident which had destroyed one of the three supports in November.

The Second Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday 1964, dawned. Palms, very many of them, lay waiting at noon to be blessed at the final Mass after the usual double Mass schedule. The church, capacity six hundred people, seemed much more filled. Monsignor Muzik blessed and distributed piece after piece of palm. Then the procession reminiscent of Christ's triumphal entering Jerusalem began.

St. Eulalia's people led by their pastor and priests sadly but gladly left their well-loved first church and proceeded misty-eyed to their new church. Though finishing touches would be necessary, the labor of love in presenting Christ with "a new Bethlehem" had been accomplished.

MONSIGNOR QUINN AND FR. QUINLAN

1967 marked a new phase in parish history with the appointment of Monsignor William Quinn as pastor. While the social upheavals of the 1960’s gripped the nation and Chicago, Maywood itself was undergoing profound racial change, from majority white to a majority black community. Msgr. Quinn established a reputation for leadership in building an integrated, diverse parish, while also addressing social justice concerns at both local and national levels. For example, Quinn hosted Cesar Chavez at the parish for organizing meetings. In the 1970’s, Fr. John Boyle and Sr. Shirley Fineran OSF founded St. Eulalia Community Helping Others (ECHO), a parish program that provided services to parishioners and the neighboring community, including a soup kitchen, food pantry, and second hand store. Later, Sister Ettienne expanded upon the food pantry making it what is today. Msgr. Quinn’s leadership on social justice issues was continued with the appointment of Fr. James Quinlan as pastor in 1986. While continuing the Quinn legacy, Fr. Quinlan used his marketing background for fundraising, beginning a long campaign of rejuvenation for the aging buildings.

THE NEW MILLENNIUM

The year 2000 marked a transition phase for the parish with the closing of the elementary school. With the decline in Catholic population in Maywood, the Archdiocese considered closing the parish, but ultimately decided to keep St. Eulalia as the only Catholic Church in Maywood. In 2004, new pastor Fr. Frank Latzko worked with West Suburban PADS to address homelessness by establishing a PADS headquarters and west suburban support center in the former convent. Parishioners volunteered one night a month providing overnight shelter.

THE QUINN CENTER

In 2011, new pastor Fr. Carmelo Mendez converted the unused school building to a multi-purpose community center, named for Monsignor Quinn. The Quinn Community Center began operation under the direction of Gabriel Lara, working part-time; the director position became full time only in 2012. Prior to coming to St. Eulalia, Mr. Lara worked extensively in organizations guided by a philosophy of participatory learning such as Universidad Popular in the southwest side of Chicago, and Casa Hospitalidad in San Antonio, Texas.

Since September, 2011, the Quinn Center has become the organizing umbrella for parish social concerns (soup kitchen, food pantry, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, tutoring and youth mentoring programs, a senior organization, development of a computer lab and training programs, English and Spanish language classes). In 2012, St. Eulalia was a finalist for the 2012 Halo Award from the organization Partners for Sacred Places recognizing St. Eulalia’s meaningful use of space for community transformation.

In July 2013, St. Eulalia marked a new leadership transition, as the Blessed Sacrament Fathers were assigned to the parish. Fr. Mike Arkins brought more than 39 years of experience as pastor of large and small congregations.

In September 2013, a Quinn Center Advisory Board was formed to assist the director. 

In 2017, the Quinn Center received public recognition and acclaim when it was honored by Loyola University with the presentation of its prestigious Martyrs Award, a testament to the scores of volunteers who contribute more than 600 hours of service per month.

THE UNIFICATION - SACRED HEART & ST. EULALIA PARISH

As part of the Archdiocesan-wide Renew My Church effort, Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park was merged with St. Eulalia Parish on July 1, 2019. Two became one under the name "Sacred Heart & St. Eulalia Parish" and continued under the leadership of Pastor Francisco Ortega.
Both worship sites remained open as "Sacred Heart Church" and "St. Eulalia Church".

Click here to learn the history of the unified Sacred Heart & St. Eulalia Parish.