Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Parish

Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Parish. 53rd Avenue and 24th Street. Mary Queen of Heaven Parish was founded in 1911 when more than 100 families of Czech descent living in the middle of Cicero petitioned the Archdiocese of Chicago for a new church. , , A building on the northwest corner of 24th Place and 53rd Avenue was bought for $7,500. It had served as the Morton Park Clubhouse, the Methodist Congregational Church, a movie theatre and was a temporary Cicero Town Hall. The structure was blessed on September 11, 1911 by Archbishop James E. Quigley and named Mary Queen of Heaven, among the highest titles borne by the Virgin Mary. , , Thirteen parishioners died aboard the excursion ship Eastland when it capsized on the Chicago River in 1915. , , As the parish grew a larger church building was needed. Property was purchased on 53rd Avenue from 24th Place to 24th Street, and a rectory was constructed on the Northwest corner of 24th Street and 53rd Avenue in 1925. Ground was blessed and the cornerstone was laid in 1929 for a new church at the southwest corner of the intersection, and on May 18, 1930 it was dedicated by George Cardinal Mundelein. , , The cross-shaped structure is in the English Renaissance style of Sir Christopher Wren, architect of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It is built of rare split Plymouth granite with limestone trimmings. The spire rises to a height of 159 feet. , , Interior columns are Roman Doric and the altars are carrera marble from Italy. The church was designed to accommodate the 4,000 pipe organ, which was assembled in Quebec in 1898 for a Chicago parish. Two large mosaics were donated by parishioners, and one is based on the El Greco painting of the Assumption of Mary which hangs in the Art Institute in Chicago. Over half of the 27 stained glass windows illustrate the lives of Christ and Mary. , , Among the notable pastors who have led Mary Queen of Heaven are Monsignor William Griffin who was consecrated a bishop in 1935, Monsignor William Rooney who served as pastor for 28 years, and Reverend Esequiel Sanchez who renovated the church for the parish Centennial in 2011.