About St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish - St. Monica Parish Church · Chicago, Illinois
St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish is a Catholic faith community located on Chicago's northwest side, formed on July 1, 2022 by the unification of the adjacent parishes of St. Monica (founded 1948) and St. Rosalie (founded 1860). The combined parish worships at two church sites — St. Monica Church at 5136 N. Nottingham Avenue in Chicago (designated the parish church and home of the main parish office and sacramental records) and St. Rosalie Church at 6750 W. Montrose Avenue in Harwood Heights, Illinois — and operates St. Monica Academy as its parish school. The parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass in English and Polish, and belongs to the Archdiocese of Chicago under the Renew My Church initiative.
- Established
- 1948 (St. Monica Parish; St. Rosalie Parish founded 1860; parishes merged July 1, 2022)
- Patron
- St. Monica and St. Rosalie
- Rector
- Rev. Greg Lorens
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Chicago
Why belong here
St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish is one of the few parishes on Chicago's northwest side that maintains a robust bilingual (English and Polish) liturgical life across two worship sites. With six weekend Masses between the two churches, daily Masses Monday through Saturday, a Polish-language St. Monica Academy, an active youth ministry group, children's Liturgy of the Word, Cub Scouts Pack #3943, Boy Scout Troop #943, Girl Scouts, a religious education program, a music ministry led by a director and associate director, and ongoing outreach through parish ministries, it is a parish built on the union of two long-standing communities with deep roots in the area.
Mass times at St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish - St. Monica Parish Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Monday – Friday by appointment
- First Friday of the month 6:00 p.m. – 6:55 p.m.
Adoration times
- Weekdays 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. Rosary (Mon–Fri)
- Thursday 3:00 p.m. – Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Friday 9:00 a.m. – First Friday Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Worship With Us
St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish invites parishioners and visitors to worship at one of two inspiring church sites. Weekend Masses are celebrated at St. Monica Church (5136 N. Nottingham, Chicago) and St. Rosalie Church (6750 W. Montrose Avenue, Harwood Heights), with the majority of Sunday Masses held in English and several in Polish. The parish offers bilingual Liturgical, Music, and Pastoral Care ministries across both campuses.
- Saturday Vigil at 4:00 p.m. (St. Monica, English)
- Saturday Vigil at 6:00 p.m. (St. Monica, Polish)
- Saturday Vigil at 4:00 p.m. (St. Rosalie)
- Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (St. Monica, English)
- Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (St. Monica, Polish)
- Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (St. Rosalie, Polish)
- Weekday Masses Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m. (St. Monica)
- Thursday 7:00 p.m. (St. Monica, Polish)
- Wednesday–Friday 7:30 a.m. (St. Rosalie)
- Friday 7:00 p.m. (St. Rosalie, Polish)
- Saturday 9:00 a.m. (St. Rosalie, Polish)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Greg Lorens with Associate Pastor Rev. Lukasz Pyka. Resident priests Rev. Tom Campana and Rev. William Holbrook assist with ministry, and Deacons Rev. Mr. Ed Podgorski and Rev. Mr. Patrick Brenner serve liturgical and pastoral roles. Parish operations are supported by a Director of Operations, Business Office Coordinator, Parish Secretary, Religious Education Coordinator, Music Director and Associate Music Director, Maintenance Supervisor, Bulletin Editor, and an Office Clerk at the St. Rosalie campus.
- Rev. Greg Lorens — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Lukasz Pyka — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Tom Campana — Resident Priest
- Rev. William Holbrook — Resident Priest
- Rev. Mr. Ed Podgorski — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Patrick Brenner — Deacon
- Sharon Kells — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Patrick J. Schultz — Director of Operations
- Gwenn Suvada — Business Office Coordinator
- Joanna Szepiotko — Parish Secretary
- Lidia Kesik — Office Clerk (St. Rosalie)
- Kristina Nyberg — Music Director
- Tomasz Wojtarowicz — Associate Music Director
- Patrick O'Malley — Maintenance Supervisor
- Katarzyna Torres — Bulletin Editor
Parish Ministries
St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish maintains active Liturgical, Music, Pastoral Care, and Service ministries. The parish's website lists a wide range of opportunities for parishioners of all ages to participate, with contact through the Parish Office at 773-763-1661.
- Liturgical ministries
- Music ministry (choir, cantors, organist)
- Pastoral Care ministries
- Service / outreach ministries
- Contact: Parish Office, 773-763-1661
Faith Formation & Youth Programs
The parish runs a Religious Education Program coordinated by Sharon Kells, a Children's Liturgy of the Word for ages 3–11 at most 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses, and a robust youth ministry. The St. Monica Youth Ministry Group is a youth-based organization focused on community service, charity fundraisers, prayer, and leadership, led by Deacon Pat Brenner. The parish also sponsors Boy Scout Troop #943, Cub Scout Pack #3943, and Girl Scouts.
- Religious Education Program (Sharon Kells, 773-763-1661 x122)
- St. Monica Youth Ministry Group (led by Deacon Pat Brenner)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 3–11, Sundays)
- Altar Servers (grades 5–12)
- Boy Scouts Troop #943 (grades 5 and up; Scout Master Steve Mathes)
- Cub Scouts Pack #3943 (K–5th; Cub Master Dave Quillin)
- Girl Scouts (K–8th; Coordinator Angie Magnine)
St. Monica Academy
St. Monica Academy (5115 N. Mont Clare Avenue, Chicago) is the parish-governed Catholic school of the united parish. Under the 2022 Renew My Church decree, the academy continues as the parish school serving students from both predecessor parish communities, supporting the Polish-language and broader parish heritage of the northwest side.
- St. Monica Academy — parish-governed Catholic school
- Located at 5115 N. Mont Clare Avenue, Chicago
Our Two Worship Sites
St. Monica Church — the parish church and main office campus — sits at 5136 N. Nottingham Avenue on Chicago's northwest side, one block east of the intersection of Harlem and Foster Avenues. St. Rosalie Church — the second worship site — is at 6750 W. Montrose Avenue in Harwood Heights, Illinois, roughly 1.3 miles from St. Monica. Both churches retain their own names in the combined parish.
- St. Monica Church: 5136 N. Nottingham Avenue, Chicago, IL 60656 (Parish Church & Main Office)
- St. Rosalie Church: 6750 W. Montrose Avenue, Harwood Heights, IL 60706
Contact and Office Hours
The parish can be reached at the main office (773-763-1661, [email protected]) or through the St. Rosalie office (708-867-8817). Main office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00 noon–1:00 p.m.); closed Saturday and Sunday. St. Rosalie office: Monday–Wednesday 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Main Office: 5136 N. Nottingham Avenue, Chicago, IL 60656
- Phone: 773-763-1661; Fax: 773-763-4917
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Rosalie Office: 6750 W. Montrose Avenue, Harwood Heights, IL 60706
- St. Rosalie Phone: 708-867-8817
History: From Two Parishes to One
St. Monica Parish was established in 1948 on Chicago's northwest side; St. Rosalie Parish in neighboring Harwood Heights was established in 1860 and had been served by the Pauline Fathers since 2002. Both parishes experienced significant Sunday Mass attendance declines between 2000 and 2020. As part of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Renew My Church process, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich announced in January 2022 that the two parishes would be united effective July 1, 2022 into a single territorial parish with two worship sites, one pastor, and one pastoral team. The decree was signed March 14, 2022.
- St. Monica Parish — established 1948
- St. Rosalie Parish — established 1860
- Pauline Fathers staffed St. Rosalie Parish, 2002–2022
- Renew My Church decree issued March 14, 2022 (Prot. N. 2022 RMC-8)
- Unification effective July 1, 2022
- Rev. Greg Lorens named first pastor of the united parish
Sacraments and Sacramental Records
Sacramental records of both predecessor parishes — St. Monica Parish and St. Rosalie Parish — are collected and maintained at the St. Monica Church campus, in coordination with the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The united parish celebrates Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and other sacraments across its two sites.
- Sacramental records kept at St. Monica Church campus
- Coordinated with the Bernardin Archives & Records Center, Archdiocese of Chicago
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry supports parish liturgies in both English and Polish at the two worship sites, under the leadership of Music Director Kristina Nyberg and Associate Music Director Tomasz Wojtarowicz.
- Music Director: Kristina Nyberg ([email protected])
- Associate Music Director: Tomasz Wojtarowicz
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Greg Lorens2022–present
First pastor of the united St. Monica and St. Rosalie Parish, appointed by Cardinal Cupich when the two parishes merged effective July 1, 2022 under Renew My Church.
- Pauline Fathers (Society of St. Paul)2002–2022
Staffed St. Rosalie Parish for twenty years prior to the merger.