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You are here: Home / Churches of Mount Prospect / Saint Cecilia’s Catholic Church

July 16, 2012 By HS Board

Saint Cecilia’s Catholic Church

When was it founded: 1945

Where is it located: 700 South Meier Road

Has it moved: No

First Pastor or Priest: James Prendergast

History and interesting stories about the church:

Established in 1945, Saint Cecilia’s was not fortunate enough to have its own house of worship. As a result, Sunday masses were held at Forest View High School; while, the Rectory chapel at 2009 West Scott Terrace observed daily masses, confessions, and baptisms. The first priest assigned to the church was Father James Prendergast who, as the church grew in June 1968, received assistance from Father William Barry. A church was eventually built to house Saint Cecilia’s congregation and it was dedicated for use on November 22, 1970. While the building was sufficient for the church at that time, as the years passed, as the congregation grew, it was no longer able to fulfill the church’s various needs. Recognizing this fact in 1996, Father Daniel Brady, Saint Cecilia’s third priest, spearheaded the campaign to expand the church building by roughly 6000 squared feet to incorporate multi-purpose rooms, restrooms, and music rooms. Also, plans were drawn to expand the parish hall by 8100 squared feet in order to provide more space for the church’s 1600 families. The expansion plans were approved, and a year later construction had stopped, the extensions were complete. Around that same time, in 1997, Fathers Sonny Rivera and Sam Cunningham began to lead weekly masses in Spanish in an effort to reach the growing Hispanic community in Mount Prospect as well as to develop a relationship with Hispanic Roman Catholics.

Filed Under: Churches of Mount Prospect

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Mount Prospect Historical Society
101 South Maple Street
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
847.392.9006
info@mtphistory.org

The Mount Prospect Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to preserving the history of Mount Prospect, IL, through artifacts, photographs and both oral and written memories of current and former residents and businesspeople.  On its campus in the heart of the Village, the Society maintains the 1906 Dietrich Friedrichs house museum, the ADA-accessible Dolores Haugh Education Center and the 1896 one-room Central School, which was moved to the museum campus in 2008, renovated and opened to the public in 2017, the 100-year anniversary of the Village.

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