About San Francisco de Asís · Chicago, Illinois
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Chicago's Near West Side, located at the corner of Roosevelt Road and Halsted Street. Founded in 1853 as a German parish, it became the spiritual home of Chicago's Mexican community and is known as "la catedral mexicana," hosting the city's first Spanish-language Mass in 1925. Today the parish is served by the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and celebrates all Masses in Spanish, offering a full sacramental life, religious education, and active devotional life. In 1996 parishioners famously occupied the church to prevent its demolition, and it was officially reopened that April.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- Saint Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asís)
- Rector
- Rev. Walter Mallo, IVE
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Chicago
Why belong here
Parishioners are drawn to St. Francis of Assisi for its deep Mexican and Latino heritage, warm Spanish-speaking community, and historic significance as a center of Catholic life on Chicago's Near West Side. The parish offers daily Mass, accessible sacramental preparation for all ages, religious education, and the missionary spirituality of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, all within a community that has proven its dedication to preserving its church through faith and action.
Mass times at San Francisco de Asís
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mondays–Thursdays: by appointment (call the office a day in advance) — English/Spanish
- Fridays: 6:30–7:30 p.m. — English/Spanish
- Saturdays: by appointment (call the office a day in advance) — English/Spanish
- During Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m. (May–August only), 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
- Saturdays: 5:30 p.m. (May–September by appointment)
History and Preservation
St. Francis of Assisi was founded in 1853 as a German Catholic parish on Chicago's Near West Side. As the neighborhood's Mexican population grew, the parish introduced a Spanish-language Mass in 1925 and became known as "la catedral mexicana." It survived 1961 urban renewal clearances for the University of Illinois Chicago campus, and in 1993–1994 the Archdiocese of Chicago proposed closing it. After the church was closed and fixtures removed, parishioners occupied the building in February 1996 to block demolition. Bishop John Manz ultimately pledged the church would stand, and it reopened on April 6, 1996.
Sacraments and Celebrations
- Baptism: Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. (in Spanish; English available by request)
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation for children, teens, and adults
- Marriage: by appointment, at least 6 months in advance; ceremonies in English and Spanish
- Reconciliation: by appointment Mon–Sat, and Fridays 6:30–7:30 p.m., plus during Sunday Masses
- Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, funerals, memorial Masses, and Quinceañeras available by arrangement
Staff and Leadership
- Rev. Walter Mallo, IVE — Pastor (Párroco)
- Vicario Parroquial, IVE
- Rosalinda Villaseñor — Director of Religious Education
- Rosa Milanés — Religious Education Assistant
- Verónica Hurtado — Store Manager and Finance Assistant
- Veronica Leyva — Music Ministry
Why Join St. Francis of Assisi?
St. Francis of Assisi offers a welcoming Spanish-speaking faith community rooted in Chicago history, daily prayer and sacraments, formation for all ages, and the missionary charism of the Institute of the Incarnate Word.