Our Lady At St. Germaine Continues Legacy Of Two Great Parishes

OAK LAWN, IL —Two local parishes are now one under the Archdiocese of Chicago’s “Renew My Church” strategic plan. Our Lady at St. Germaine honors the history of Our Lady of Loretto, of Hometown, and St. Germaine Catholic Church, of Oak Lawn, in their respective communities. The merger took effect on July 1.

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced a new structure for parishes along the South Side's "Pulaski corridor.” The restructuring is part of the archdiocese's Renew My Church revitalization plan. Included in the plans were the merger of Our Lady of Loretto with St. Germaine. Both parishes are located approximately two miles apart.

Rev. Thomas Cabala, the full-time pastor at Our Lady of Loretto, will be taking over as pastor of Our Lady At St. Germaine, replacing the retiring Rev. Mike Furlan. Administrative operations for both parishes will be housed in Oak Lawn.

“The combination of names continues the rich tradition of both parishes,” Fr. Cabala said. “Our Lady of Loretto is the patron of hospitality. St. Germaine is known for her compassion. Both parishes care for the poor and being hospitable to the people. They’re carrying on the legacy.”

In the interim, the newly merged parish maintain two campuses. The Hometown and Oak Lawn locations will continue to operate community food pantries. The Community Nutrition Network, which provides meals-on-wheels service to older adults and disabled persons, will operate out of Our Lady of Loretto in Hometown.

The Oak Lawn parish grammar will continue to be known as St. Germaine School. Fr. Cabala says he’ll be at the school every day teaching religion classes and will support parents in fundraising for the school.

St. Germaine’s well-known COURAGE ministry for young pregnant women and single parents, Messengers of Mercy, and the 500 Club for parish grammar school alumni, will remain intact without disruption.

“The school is expensive but it’s a blessing,” Fr. Cabala said. “It’s our future is our children and grandchildren. I’m looking forward to school starting. The kids will get tired of seeing me.”

Both former parishes will also merge their traditions, such as the Our Lady of Loretto’s Ladies Guild and St. Patrick’s Day party, and St. Germaine’s Queen of Hearts raffle. The Hometown and Oak Lawn parishes also ran successful Lenten fish fries, which will also combine.

“We have more similarities than dissimilarities,” Fr. Cabala said. “It’s going well. People have been friendly and welcoming.”

The Our Lady at St. Germaine Parish Carnival also returns for a second year from Aug. 22 through Aug. 25 on the Oak Lawn campus located at 9711 S. Kolin Ave.

Fr. Cabala said that the Our Lady of Loretto building in Hometown will remain open at 8925 S. Kostner Ave. for the time being. The Hometown location will still hold Sunday mass and be available for weddings and funerals. For how long depends on attendance.

Weekday masses will be held at St. Germaine at the following times:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 6:45 a.m., 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Thursday - 6:45 a.m. communion service, 8:30 a.m. mass

Weekend Mass At St. Germaine:

Saturday: 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m.
Sunday Mass: 7 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11 a.m. (beginning Aug. 25 with outside Carnival Mass at 11 a.m.) after which, mass will switch to 11:30 a.m.

Our Lady of Loretto

Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m.

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