Queen of All Saints Basilica

About Queen of All Saints Basilica

Queen of All Saints Basilica is one of only three minor basilicas in the Archdiocese of Chicago, serving the Sauganash neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side since 1929. The parish combines the architectural grandeur of a 1,200-seat Neo-Gothic sanctuary with a unified mid-century campus of buildings that includes a K–8 Catholic school, preschool, faith formation center, and the Benedict Center Chapel for Eucharistic adoration. It is a heritage Irish and German Catholic parish that has grown into a multi-generational community.

History

The parish was established in 1929 by Cardinal George Mundelein after local Catholics organized as the Calvert Club. Monsignor Francis J. Dolan, pastor from 1934–1969, is regarded as the true founder, having masterminded the construction of the school, gymnasium, rectory, convent, and the Neo-Gothic basilica completed in 1959/60. Pope John XXIII elevated the church to the dignity of a minor basilica on March 26, 1962.

• 1929 — Parish founded; first Mass in portable wooden frame church (formerly St. Giles, Oak Park) at Peterson & Knox
• 1932 — Queen of All Saints School founded
• 1934 — Monsignor Francis J. Dolan becomes pastor
• 1940–41 — First multi-use building (Keene Ave.) opens
• 1946 — 8-classroom Lemont Ave. building opens
• 1950 — Gymnasium, cafeteria, 'Rose Room,' and new rectory
• 1952 — Convent built for Sisters of Saint Benedict
• 1955/56 — Groundbreaking for current Neo-Gothic church
• 1959 — Current church opens for worship
• 1960 — Church consecrated; Keene Avenue old church converted to classrooms
• 1962 — Elevated to the dignity of a basilica by Pope John XXIII
• 1964 — Basilica Foundation established by Msgr. Dolan
• 1996 — School Endowment established under Father Clark
• 2002 — Millennium Campaign
• 2006 — Berghaus pipe organ installed
• 2016 — From Generation to Generation Campaign (former convent converted to preschool)
• 2018 — Father Simon Braganza becomes pastor

Architecture & Art

Designed by Meyer and Cook in the Neo-Gothic style, the basilica is built of Wisconsin Lannon stone, Indiana limestone, and Vermont slate. It measures 240 × 80 × 80 feet and seats about 1,200. Notable artistic features include T.C. Esser stained glass (Milwaukee), a great window over the choir loft depicting eight international Marian shrines, baptistery windows telling the story of the Treaty of Chicago and Chief Sauganash, and a Berghaus pipe organ installed in 2006. The ceiling was restored by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates.

• Architects: Meyer and Cook
• Builder/Engineer: L.J. Graf Construction Co.
• Stained glass: T.C. Esser Co. (Milwaukee, WI)
• Organ: Berghaus Pipe Organ Builders (Bellwood, IL) — 3 manual, 60 ranks
• Materials: Wisconsin Lannon stone, Indiana limestone, Vermont slate
• Dimensions: 240 ft long × 80 ft wide × 80 ft high
• Capacity: ~1,200 seats

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Preparation for First Eucharist, Confirmation (a two-year program for 7th–8th graders), and Marriage all begin through the parish office or Religious Education office. Adult initiation is through the OCIA (RCIA) process directed by Erika Tate, Director of Faith Formation.

• Baptism
• First Eucharist
• Confirmation (two-year preparation, grades 7–8)
• Marriage
• Reconciliation (Saturdays 8:30 AM)
• Anointing of the Sick
• OCIA / RCIA (adults and children/teen track)

Faith Formation & School

Queen of All Saints offers a full continuum of Catholic education: a parish preschool (created from the converted former convent), the Queen of All Saints Catholic School (K–8) led by Principal Emily Carlson and Assistant Principal Patty Collins, an after-school Religious Education program (grades 1–6 on Saturday mornings or Tuesday evenings; grades 7–8 Confirmation prep on Tuesday evenings), the SPRED program for teens with developmental disabilities, Youth Ministry, OCIA for adults and children, and a Women's Spiritual Spa.

• Queen of All Saints Catholic School (K–8) — Principal Emily Carlson
• Preschool (former convent, renovated 2016)
• Religious Education (Sat morning / Tue evening)
• SPRED — Special Religious Education for teens with developmental disabilities
• Youth Ministry (high school)
• OCIA / RCIA (Director: Erika Tate)
• Women's Spiritual Spa
• Totus Tuus Summer Program
• Catholic Heart Work Camp

Outreach & Service

The parish describes itself as 'proud to offer many different ministries to our parishioners and community,' with opportunities including QASPA (the parent association), holiday outreach such as Christmas Cheer & Holiday Lights, the livestream Mass ministry, and the Basilica Foundation and School Endowment stewarding the long-term financial health of parish ministries.

• QASPA (parent association)
• Christmas Cheer & Holiday Lights
• Mass livestream ministry (Saturday 5 PM and holy days)
• Basilica Foundation (est. 1964)
• School Endowment (est. 1996)

Visiting & Pilgrimage

Queen of All Saints is a popular destination for Catholic tours and pilgrimages on Chicago's northwest side. Pilgrims and visitors are especially drawn to the baptistery with its relics of hundreds of saints and its stained-glass windows depicting the 1835 Treaty of Chicago, the great choir-loft Marian window, the Mother's Chapel, and the eight-acre lawn fronting the imposing Gothic facade. The parish will often bring out relics significant to tour groups for veneration.

• Baptistery with relics of hundreds of saints
• Baptistery windows — 1835 Treaty of Chicago & Chief Sauganash
• Great choir-loft Marian window (8 international shrines)
• Mother's Chapel
• Berghaus pipe organ (2006)
• Eight-acre front lawn vista