St. Catherine of Alexandria

Welcome to St. Catherine of Alexandria!

Early in 1957, the Catholic people of the Ranch Manor District of Oak Lawn petitioned his Eminence Samuel Cardinal Stritch for a church and school in their area. One June 26, 1957, Reverend John M. Kane was appointed to establish a new parish. On August 21, 1957, St. Catherine of Alexandria was established and canonically erected.

Brother Rice High School was the site of Sunday Masses until the church was built. Daily Mass, Confessions, Baptisms, Lenten Devotion and consultations were held in the basement of the temporary rectory at 4107 West 107th Street. The men of the parish helped build a beautiful chapel and office in the basement. The first parish census in September of 1957 reported 367 families.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held on January 19, 1958 for the church and the eight room school. These buildings were dedicated on November 23, 1958 by Bishop Raymond Hillinger. In 1960, 12 additional classrooms and the convent were built. The permanent rectory and an addition to the convent were constructed in 1968. Air conditioning was installed in the church in 1972 Our beautiful church was refurbished and re-dedicated on May 3, 1974 by Bishop William McManus.

In 1978, Father Kane became our Pastor Emeritus. Father George McKenna became our pastor, followed by Father Joseph O'Brien in 1982, and Father William Lion in 1989. Our current pastor is Father Patrick Henry, who has led us since 2002.

Our parish now consists of over 1800 families and we are sure that it will continue to grow and change. As part of our thirtieth anniversary in 1988, the Community Center was constructed. The building houses a gym, an auditorium a deluxe kitchen and meeting rooms, which provide facilities for our athletic programs and parish social functions.

Message from the Pastor

Who could have imagined back on August 21, 1957, when we were officially established as a parish in the Archdiocese of Chicago, what would be happening now? Now, over 50 years later, we can look back at the growth, the achievements, and most importantly, the development of a unique community where Faith, Family, and Friendship are not just words but lived out and truly touching lives.

As we move into the future and all it holds for us, I invite you to look forward with the same faith and courage our founders had. And, at this time, to explore our new website and all the possibilities it holds out for us. It's a sign of our ongoing growth and belief in continuing to build our community in this special manner. As we go forward, may God continue to bless and guide us as we build upon our legacy and expand our technological ways.

Sincerely,

Fr. Pat Henry

Important Information!

Sunday, May 13, 2012 - Keep the Dream Alive Annual Raffle $75,000 Click the "Fundraising" tab for more information! We are only selling 2,000 tickets and we already have over 70% of the tickets sold. Cost is $100 Per Ticket for a chance at winning $75,000. Get your ticket today.

From Our Principal

St. Catherine School is an integral part of the St. Catherine parish family. We strive to instill in our students values which promote human dignity and embrace diversity. We invite you to contact us if you would like to learn more about our school.

St. Catherine of Alexandria 10621 S. Kedvale Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453 School Phone: (708) 425-5547 School Fax: (708) 425-3701 Rectory Phone: (708) 425-2850 Rectory Fax: (708) 425-2313

Last Modified: Wednesday, Apr. 04, 2012