Divine Mercy Chosen As Name For New Combined Catholic Parish

WINNETKA, IL — Two North Shore churches set to merge this summer as part of the Archdiocese of Chicago's consolidation. A new combined parish of Sacred Heart Church in Winnetka and St. Philip the Apostle Church will become Divine Mercy when they merge at the end of next month. The individual churches will keep the same names.

“The new parish names help mark new beginnings for these Catholic communities,” said Rev. Jason Malave, Cardinal Blaise Cupich's delegate for the Renew My Church initiative. “Throughout history, when God bestows a new name on someone it is always as part of a new mission. These parishes are embarking on the mission of Renew My Church: make disciples, build community and inspire witness to strengthen and grow our faith in new, creative ways.”

The archdiocese also announced the names of three other newly created parishes:

• St. Philomena, Maternity B.V.M., and St. Francis of Assisi parishes in Chicago will combine to form San José Sánchez del Río Parish. All three church sites will remain active.
• St. Celestine in Elmwood Park and St. Cyprian in River Grove parishes will unite to form St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish. Both churches will remain active worship sites in the new parish.
• St. Bede in Ingleside and St. Peter in Antioch parishes will unite to form Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, which will also keep both churches as active sites.

Parishioners were informed of the new name at services last weekend following a monthslong process that surveyed congregants' preference between hyphenating the names of the churches or coming up with an entirely new name, Pioneer Press reported. Of about 650 participants in surveys about the new name, Divine Mercy was the top pick among members of both churches before the cardinal made the final call.

Top photo: St. Philip the Apostle Church and Sacred Heart Church in Winnetka (Street View composite)