Historic Near West Side parish to close, move into nearby church

Holy Family Church, the city’s second-oldest church, will no longer host its parish after July, church officials announced Thursday evening.

The parish at Holy Family Church will be absorbed by the nearby Notre Dame de Chicago Parish as part of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church plan, which calls for a reconfiguration of staff and parishes in the Chicago area.

The two Near West Side parishes will unite on July 1. It’s not clear what will happen to the Holy Family church property, which is owned by the Society of Jesus, an order of priests also known as the Jesuits.

The church’s function will be decided on by the leadership of the new parish as well as the Jesuits, according to a news release from the archdiocese.

The Near West Side church was founded in 1857 and survived the 1871 Chicago Fire, according to Tribune archives. Its founding pastor, Father Arnold Damen, is the namesake of the Chicago avenue.

Other churches in the same Renew My Church grouping are not affected, including Children of Peace School, which will remain open.

The archdiocese also announced Thursday that Holy Ghost Church in south suburban South Holland and St. Mary Queen of Apostles Church in Riverdale will close.

Their parishes will merge with St. Jude the Apostle Church in South Holland.

The archdiocese has already announced a number of closings and mergers in connection with the program, including several South Side parishes.