100th anniversary at St. Barts set
By Agnes Connolly
Saint Bartholomew Parish will hold a mass and a reception to celebrate its 100th year anniversary at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at the church, 3601 N. Lavergne Ave.
The celebratory mass will be in Spanish and English and the reception will be held in Krueger Hall. The Reverend Pastor Riccardo Castillo said that the celebration would feature food, decorations, visits from former parish staff, and a 100th anniversary video created by the community.
The grand prize of an anniversary raffle will be a new Jeep Patriot Sport, the second prize is $1,500 in cash and the third prize is $1,000 in cash. Tickets cost $20 each for the raffle and three tickets cost $40.
Castillo said that although the main event is planned to take place in Krueger Hall, both the church and school have cleared their schedules to make the celebration "as wide open as possible" if weather lets up.
"I hope it’s a really beautiful and sunny day so the celebration can be spread all throughout the campus," said Castillo.
"The students have been working on a project since last year," said Castillo. "They have been making a collage that shows the 100 years of St. Bart’s."
Castillo said the collage will be in the reception area and will be filled with history and memories of the parish.
Saint Bartholomew School has a current enrollment of about 215 students from preschool to eighth grade. The school recently introduced a new Chromebook program and new drama and music program that will produce a spring musical.
The parish is known in the neighborhood for its summer carnival that took place in June. Although Castillo said there were no special activities for the anniversary at this year’s carnival, he said the event prides itself on its traditions and its role in the community.
"We like to keep the vibrant environment of the community while also having a place for children to stay safe," said Castillo. "That is what is most important."
Archbishop George William Mundelein of the Archdiocese of Chicago established Saint Bartholomew Parish on Sept. 3, 1917. The first pastor of St. Bart’s was the Reverend William O’Shea, a professor at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. The school opened in 1921 by four sisters of Saint Dominic.
