St. Kevin Will Remain Open in Catholic Church Consolidation

SOUTH DEERING — Contrary to published reports, St. Kevin Catholic Church will remain open as part of the Archdiocese of Chicago's sweeping "Renew My Church" consolidation.

This week, the Archdiocese announced that 23 area parishes would be consolidated into nine parishes. On the far Southeast Side, the consolidation plan called for merging St. Kevin, St. George , St. Francis de Sales and Annuciata into one new parish on July 1.

"Annunciata will be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept. Annunciata School will serve as the parish school," according to the Archdiocese announcement.

Some parishioners believed that would leave St. Kevin, 10509 S. Torrence Ave., shuttered.

As things turn out, St. Kevin Church, home to about 225 parishioners and about 600 weekly worshipers, will "remain open as a second site in the new parish," an Archdiocese spokesman said.

"There was some confusion and a lot of misinformation at first. When we found out masses and sacraments would still be taking place at St. Kevin there was a sense of relief, and also a sense of sadness seeing our fellow parishes come to this end," said Rosario Orozco, St. Kevin's business manager for 33 years.

"It's a bitter sweet moment. We hate seeing our fellow parishioners suffer the loss of their church being closed. We do hurt"

After 13 years at St. Kevin, the Rev. Pedro Campos is set to get a new pastoral assignment, Orozco said. The new parish, which is expected to get a new name nominated by parishioners and approved by Cardinal Blase Cupich, will be led by Annunciata Church's pastor, the Rev. Walter Yepez.

Also on the Southeast Side, four Catholic churches located in South Shore and Jeffery Manor neighborhoods —St. Bride, Our Lady of Heaven, Our Lady of Peace and St. Philip Neri — will form a new parish on July 1.

More information on Archdiocese of Chicago consolidations is available here.