Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

Our Lady of Guadalupe is located at 91st Street and Brandon Avenue in the South Chicago community. It is the oldest Mexican parish in Chicago. This Roman Catholic parish started when Fr. William Kane S. J. began ministering to the religious needs of Mexicans in South Chicago in 1923. The area was inhabited by many Mexican Catholics that worked in the area's steel mills. South Chicago was a port of entry for incoming Mexican immigrants. A small wooden church was erected in 1924 at 9024 South Mackinaw Avenue. Father John Maiztegui, a Claretian priest, was named pastor in 1924 beginning a long history of the Claretians serving the parish. In fall of 1926 land was purchased at the corner of 91st and Brandon for a new church. The three story brick building was dedicated by Cardinal George William Mundelein on September 30, 1928. At the time there were about 8,000 Mexicans in the area. In 1929 Father James Tort established the National Shrine of St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes. In 1947 the parish built a new elementary school at 91st and Burley Avenue.