St. Philip Neri History
St. Philip Neri Church at 72nd and Merrill Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago was organized in October 1912 by Archbishop
James E. Quigely. At the time, only 40 Catholic families lived in the area south of Jackson Park between Stony Island Avenue and Lake Michigan. These families attended Mass at either St. Laurence Church at 72nd and Dorchester Avenue or St. Bride Church at 78th and Coles Avenue.
At the turn of the century, South Shore was composed of sandy stretches of land which were used as truck farms and tree nurseries. Although South chore Country Club was organized in 1908, the neighborhood itself did not develop until after World War I.
The parish boundaries are essentially the same today as they were in 1912: North Jackson Park at 67th Street; South – 75th Street from Cregier Avenue to Yates Blvd., and from 67th to 73rd St. Included in this territory is the area known as the Jackson Park Highlands as well as the Bryn Mawr section of South Shore.
For decades after its founding, St. Philip Neri was a predominantly Irish-American parish. The South Shore neighborhood remained heavily catholic and Jewish until the 1960’s when African American families began to settle in the area. Although the South Shore community today is predominantly African American, St. Philip Neri has remained an integrated parish.
Archbishop Quigley appointed Rev. William J. Kinsella to organize this parish. He came to South Shore from Libertyville, Illinois, where he had been pastor of St. Joseph church, Father Kinsella celebrated mass for the first time on December 1, 1912 in the chapel of a Catholic Church Extension Society building which was located at the northeast corner of 72nd and Clyde Avenue.
James E. Quigely. At the time, only 40 Catholic families lived in the area south of Jackson Park between Stony Island Avenue and Lake Michigan. These families attended Mass at either St. Laurence Church at 72nd and Dorchester Avenue or St. Bride Church at 78th and Coles Avenue.
At the turn of the century, South Shore was composed of sandy stretches of land which were used as truck farms and tree nurseries. Although South chore Country Club was organized in 1908, the neighborhood itself did not develop until after World War I.
The parish boundaries are essentially the same today as they were in 1912: North Jackson Park at 67th Street; South – 75th Street from Cregier Avenue to Yates Blvd., and from 67th to 73rd St. Included in this territory is the area known as the Jackson Park Highlands as well as the Bryn Mawr section of South Shore.
For decades after its founding, St. Philip Neri was a predominantly Irish-American parish. The South Shore neighborhood remained heavily catholic and Jewish until the 1960’s when African American families began to settle in the area. Although the South Shore community today is predominantly African American, St. Philip Neri has remained an integrated parish.
Archbishop Quigley appointed Rev. William J. Kinsella to organize this parish. He came to South Shore from Libertyville, Illinois, where he had been pastor of St. Joseph church, Father Kinsella celebrated mass for the first time on December 1, 1912 in the chapel of a Catholic Church Extension Society building which was located at the northeast corner of 72nd and Clyde Avenue.