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Our Lady of Peace Serving
the faithful for 50 years, Our Lady of Peace Roman
Catholic Church celebrating its Golden Jubilee with a Mass on October, 18 at noon for over 5000 parishioners.
Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, Bishop of Joliet, recently
sent a letter to the parish. “May God’s blessing be with you as you celebrate
the 50th anniversary of the founding
of Our Lady of Peace Parish!
It gives me great pleasure to offer you congratulations and best wishes on this
very special occasion.” Celebrating
the Golden Jubilee Mass will be Marian Father Dan Cambra, M.I.C., Provincial Superior of the Marians and
former parochial vicar of Our
Lady of Peace Church; Father Alphonse (Al) Micka,
M.I.C., Pastor Emeritus; and Father Walter Dziordz, M.I.C., current Pastor.
Religious representatives from 12 neighboring Catholic
parishes have also been invited to celebrate the Mass, as well as other
religious who have served at the church since its inception. Founding
families will be invited to sit in a special section of the church during the
Mass. Bishop Sartain writes, “Fifty years ago, a
group of faithful Catholic families helped establish a new church. Fifty years
later, we find ourselves thankful for their hard work and example and that of
the thousands of parishioners who have been part of your parish since then.”
Parish organizations will be taking part in Mass as ushers, readers, lectors
and cantors. Local
dignitaries from government and other Christian
communities will be invited to the Golden Jubilee Open House, which is
being catered by the Our Lady of Peace Social Committee. A gourmet menu
is being planned. In addition, a commemorative DVD of the church’s 50 years in
review is being created and duplicated. A Dinner Dance will take place in the
evening. The
Diocese of Joliet was established in 1948 from seven counties because the
Diocese of Chicago was unable to serve the growing number of Catholics. As more
people moved to the suburbs, the Joliet Diocese needed more churches and
schools. St. Mary’s Tri-State Mission, also known as Tri-State Mission,
was made up of members of Holy Trinity,
Westmont; St Isaac Jogues, In
1959, the St. Mary’s Tri-State Mission became a parish, with Father Al Micka, M.I.C., as pastor. Still using the Marian Seminary,
the parish organizations were started. . . The Holy Name;
Marian Guild (Council of Catholic Women); and CCD (religious training for the
youth). Funds
were raised and in 1962, ground was broken for the school planned for eight
classrooms, a gym and offices. The Sisters of St. Casimir
accepted an invitation from Father Al to teach at St. Mary’s. The
gymnasium, which held 500 people, was used for services for the 2500
parishioners. In
1968, a rectory was built. As the parish continued to grow, plans to build a
church began in 1970. With pledges and fundraisers, the parish raised enough
money to build the church. The church groundbreaking took place in 1975 with
the first Mass being celebrated in May 1977 on Mother’s
Day. It was paid for in full. Because
of the number of “St. Mary” parishes in the Diocese, in 1982, St.
Mary’s became Our Lady of Peace. “I warmly congratulate you and
extend my prayerful best wishes for the next fifty years,” concludes Bishop Sartain. |