STA Church Celebrating 25th Anniversary - 1937

Note: This article, although mostly correct concerning dates and events, seems to err when it speaks of the date the Parish was founded.  This discrepancy is addressed in A History of the Parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago, published in 1980, as well in the contemporary short article in The New World, September 25, 1909.

Feast of St. Thomas is Solemnly Observed Here

History of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish - 1908

In the measure of territory covered, St. Thomas Aquinas parish is one of the smallest in the Archdiocese.  Its group of buildings is prominently set out by the curve in Washington Boulevard near Laramie Avenue, the beautiful broadside of the church commanding a full view of this busy thoroughfare entering the city from the west.  Here is really the center of the four-street strip of parish from east to west, but from north to south the location is on the last street south.

Founded in 1908

Second niche to the west of the entrance

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish was established in August, 1908 by the Rev. Daniel Luttrell from St. Genevieve's in Cragin, His Grace, the Rt. Rev. James Edward Quigley then presiding as Bishop of the Archdiocese. The deeds conveying title to the property were signed at Boston, August 17, 1908.  That same afternoon building material was delivered on the property and volunteer men from the neighborhood immediately began work on a temporary structure to serve the needs of the new parish.  On the Saturday following, the building was completed to accommodate four hundred and fifty people. The altars and statues, confessionals, stations and pews were all in place.  The first Parochial Mass was celebrated in this building, Sunday, August 22, just five days after its beginning.  A new record was made in church construction. Continuing the pace, two weeks later saw ground broken for what was to serve as a three-story combination church and school building.  This edifice was solemnly dedicated July 5, 1909.  The school was opened in September with the Mercy Sisters from St. Patrick's Academy in charge.  Joan of Arc was to have been the name of the parish, but when it came time for the dedication of its buildings, this saint was not as yet fully enrolled in the catalog of approved patrons.  Her statue in one of the niches in the facade of the church is to remind the parishioners of what was intended in her honor.  Toward the close of that same year, 1909, a new rectory was completed and occupied by the priests.  To house the Sisters a convenient flat building on Laramie Avenue was purchased and renovated.

Left Work Unfinished

After a few years more than a decade of administration, in a brief sketch telling of the beginning and progress of the parish and prepared for the Diamond Jubilee of the archdioceses, Father Luttrell pays a rare tribute to the worth, to the zeal and cooperation of his first assistants - the one "a dynamo of energy, zeal and optimism," the other "kindly and courteous in manner, cultured and scholarly in attainment."  It is a compliment that should ever endear them in the hearts of the people of St. Thomas.  In that same letter he proudly announced that the parish was free of all indebtedness on buildings, grounds and equipment.  He was now ready to undertake the erection of a new church edifice, a church that would fittingly express a proper sense of gratitude for heaven's blessings and since God came to dwell among us, to offer Him a worthy home for His condescension from heaven to earth in the Sacrament of Love.  He planned the structure and started the work but, sad to tell, never lived to see the realization of his dream.  On April 25, 1924, he was made a Domestic Prelate with the title Monsignor, and on December 13 following he died.  His funeral Mass was the first said in the new church just barely under roof.

Father Dondanville's Pastorate

On January 1, 1925, His Eminence, George Cardinal Mundelein appointed the Rev. Edward L. Dondanville of Maternity Church to be second pastor of St. Thomas.  His immediate task was to complete the work of enlarging and converting the combination building into a sixteen-room school at an approximate expense of what the whole structure had cost in the beginning.  In the meantime the church must be finished and partly put in order to accommodate the congregation.  Then through the fat years and the lean years began the steady grind to reduce the heavy debts accumulated.  In the year 1931 it was decided possible to erect a suitable convent for the Sisters.  Ground was purchased on Leamington Avenue, just North of the church and a model convent and school gymnasium were set in place. This completed the present parish plant.  Today, as Monsignor Luttrell announcement toward the close of his pastorate, Father Dondanville can also boast that the entire indebtedness of the parish is well in hand and easily manageable.  Like his predecessor he too attributes much of his success to the fine assisting priests appointed to go along the way with him.  Best of all, however, are the people themselves, ever most generous, steadfastly loyal, interested and proud of their church

Nears Completion

St. Thomas Aquinas Church is a fine specimen of the Tudor Gothic style of architecture set off with a conventualized Eucharistic tower to lift up the cross and point to heaven. When it was first completed the editor of the rotogravure section of the News pronounced it one of the outstanding "architectural gems of the city."  Since Father Dondanville had nothing to do with the design of the church he decided to leave his impress in its interior appointments.  These must be in keeping with the dignity and style of the setting provided.  Accordingly, there is not a single commercialized, standardized or catalogued piece in all its equipment.  The altar is in colored terra cotta with a thirty-foot solid cast bronze Eucharistic tower for tabernacle.  For the Communion rail there is in place a replica of DaVinci's Last Supper table, as significant of welcome as a rail is of separation.

Shrine of St. Thomas

The Shrine of St. Thomas is a wood carving in life-sized figures from Feurstein's picture of St. Thomas before the Cross. The stations of the Cross are a Ceramic-Mosaic composition made in France and designed by a brother of the priest director of Liturgical Art in Rome.  The font in the baptistry strives for an adaptation for practical use without the loss of artistic values.

The Windows

Best and richest of all, however, are the stained glass windows with their ember glow of living colors and the graceful elongated figures of the Saints in an upward swing emphasizing the verticality of Gothic lines.  In the sanctuary as tribute to the pastors is featured the sacrifice of the altar with the patron saints, Daniel and Malachy, Edward and Louis.  In the front cross section of the Church the founders of the religious orders and communities are honored.  In panels richly set with the symbols of heraldic art stand in deserved honor the Soldier, Monks or Gallant Knights of old.  The larger transept window presents the life of St. Thomas in twenty-one medallions and the other follows the seven Sacraments in their prefiguration, gospel fulfillment and present use.  Under the clerestory are pictured the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary and on the opposite side the seven spiritual and corporal works of mercy illustrated in practice with some best exponents.  An odd window in this group is in honor of St. Oliver Plunkett on Tyburn's bloody scaffold, donated by Mr. Plunkett and his two brother missionary priests, distant relatives of the great martyr.

The upper clerestory windows in the body of the church change to the grisaille type so as to admit more light.  Each window is like a "common" in the Missal or Breviary and presents four of the most interesting Saints in its class -- Virgin Martyrs, Virgins, Queens, Widows of Great Mothers (sic) -- and on the mens' side, Martyrs, Popes, Priests, and Laymen.  These windows will be in place by Easter time.  There are no ancient monks or spiritualized nuns here for the laity to imitate but rather the great ones in honor; who won their crowns in the ordinary pursuits of life.  In the large choir window, just installed, is glorified the Queen of Angels surrounded by the different ranks of these heavenly beings all aglow in robes of mingled flames.   The whole layout is like the illustrations in a story book of religion in which childhood and old age, rich and poor, the learned and ignorant, may study their favorite interest or pore over a specially loved picture reminding them of a reality beyond this life to which the church itself is but the portal.  Two or three times during the year the school children visit the church in a body and are instructed on the significance of these things to give them appreciation and a love for sacred art.  During the Lenten season the older folks look forward to their turn for the same favor.

Organ Heard Around the World

The new organ in the loft completes the full furnishing of the church.  It is the one built with so much exacting care for the Century of Progress and to answer the strict requirements accompanying the famous soloists, choral societies and orchestras and all who came here to give us their best in music.  Its beautiful tone qualities were made familiar to all the land as the great masters of many a cathedral loft brooded over its keyboard and the radio carried their harmonies as far as stretch the heavens.

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish has passed its building days, is well established, and now takes its place among the older churches of the archdioceses to give the very best of service to its people and to carry on the work of religion in God's Holy Name.

The New World, March 12, 1937, page 8.

Photo courtesy: Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin