So many times churches are closed due to fear of vandalism and you can't get in. We saw people going in and out, scaffolding all around the church, and it was very intriguing. So we walked in. This church has beautifully painted murals on the ceilings. Intricate iron grids over some of the window openings. Very traditional stained glass throughout the church that is beautifully painted as well.
This is a very active church and while there a prayer vigil was going on. Pam and I stopped for a while, kneeled down and prayed the rosary in English and Spanish - although the Spanish was not something either one of us could join in on. The whole time we were taking in the beauty of the building and the vibrancy of the church. I was impressed that during this depressed economic time, the church was able to fund a huge renovation effort including work to their bricks, roof, paint, etc.
A bit of info from the History page of their website includes: W E L C O M E - B I E N V E N I D O
...to Our Lady of Lourdes - a wonderfully, diversified parish! We are considered the "Mother Church" of this region, because of our original boundaries which included English speaking Catholics in the area bounded by Devon Avenue to the north, Belmont Avenue to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, and the Chicago River to the west - an area which now encompasses ten parishes. In 1916, the Spanish Renaissance-style church with its distinctive red-tiled domes replaced the original frame church.
It is well worth a visit to their church, their website, and I would love to get pictures of the interior that can be shared if anybody has them.
Pat Deere
LINKS: Our Lady Of Lourdes Church website.
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