St. Kieran Parish History

The history of St. Kieran Parish began before it had a name. Rev. Joseph W. McCarthy was appointed pastor on May 20, 1960. His parish was a "no man’s land" that was unincorporated, unimproved and unimpressive. The land was located in a corn field along 195th & Halsted Street. The parish began life as a temporary mission of St. Joseph Parish in Homewood, and Fr. McCarthy lived there as a guest of Fr. Burke. Initially, Fr. McCarthy was assisted by the Redemptorist Fathers of Edgerton, Wisconsin and the Basilian Fathers of Gary, Indiana. Their transportation was provided by dedicated parish drivers.

St. Kieran, one of three names submitted as a patron saint, was approved by the Chancery Office.

The first Mass was celebrated on June 25, 1960, in the Mechanical Arts Room at Marian Catholic High School. This was a small room with a makeshift altar, an uneven floor, and decorated with raised electrical apparatus. After a large canvas was secured, Masses were moved to the Marian gym. For years to follow, parishioners would be offered the opportunity to "put up, take down, and move over there" — anything needed to convert a hall to a church!

In March of 1962, the "no man’s land" was annexed to the City of Chicago Heights. In April, contracts were awarded for the construction of an assembly hall that also would serve as the church. The cornerstone was laid on July 1, 1962. The stone contained earth and rocks from Clonmacnoise Abbey, Ireland. The first Mass was offered by the people of St. Kieran in their new "church" (which was the assembly hall) on October 28, 1962. Efforts then turned to finishing the rectory and convent (located on Holbrook Road), the school, and the church.

As a result of the growth of the parish, the "put-them-up and take-them-down" days of making hall and church would soon be over. By 1982, parishioners and friends of St. Kieran Parish had pledged $710,000 to begin building a new church. Permission to build a church had been granted by Archbishop Bernardin. Funds were rapidly being collected and so the foundation of the new church was laid in July 1983. On July 22, 1984 Cardinal Joseph Bernardin blessed and dedicated the new St. Kieran Church.

The life and work of this very special place, St. Kieran, goes on. Many have been born here; many have died here; many have been raised here; many have moved; many have worked here; and many have worshipped here. We salute the past - - and in the years ahead, may we socialize, work and pray with each other so that we may recognize the Risen Lord, our Joy, in our midst.