St. Rosalie celebrating Golden Jubilee

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Vincent and Antoinette Bellisario are members at St. Rosalie. Vincent hand carved the crucifix statue (shown in background) in the church. The Church is celebratings its Golden Jubilee. | Tamara Bell~Sun Times Media

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Updated: November 10, 2011 5:20PM

Norb Adams, 82, of Harwood Heights, recalls the early beginnings of St. Rosalie Parish, and remembers the first shovel of dirt dug as a symbolic gesture towards building the actual church structure in 1960.

In recognition of its 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee, St. Rosalie will celebrate with a special Mass at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 9, immediately followed by a lunch at the Ridgemoor Country Club, 6601 W. Gunnison St., Chicago. Advance reservations are mandatory. Tickets cost $50. For tickets or more information, call (708) 867-8817 or (708) 867-8820.

“I was an original founder of St. Rosalie,” Adams said. “We started out meeting in the basement of Union Ridge School; they let us use it on Sunday.” “In the beginning, Father Stephen Ryan was our priest and then Father Clement Conrad took over.”

After meeting for a time in the basement of Union Ridge School, a home at 7000 W. Windsor Ave., was purchased as a temporary rectory and commonly referred to as “St. Union Ridge.”

As the ’50s rolled on, it became apparent that the basement of Union Ridge School and the temporary rectory, which now had another makeshift chapel that held daily Mass, baptisms, confessions, and a few weddings, would not suffice indefinitely.

In 1956, the Archdiocese of Chicago decided that people in the newly founded town of Harwood Heights needed an additional place of worship.

In 1960, the Rev. Conrad was commissioned by the Archdiocese to determine if the residents of Harwood Heights could support a new church, both financially and through involvement.

On Sept. 7, 1960, Conrad was granted permission from the Archdiocese to build a new church with $205,000, and was appointed pastor.

While still living in the temporary rectory, Conrad named the soon-to-be church, St. Rosalie.

Several building sites were considered for the new church, but the 7.5 acres of land at 6750 W. Montrose Ave., was chosen as the desired location.

Following a Dec. 4, groundbreaking ceremony in 1960, the church was finished in time for the first communion ceremony of 100 children on July 2, 1961.

The old rectory on Windsor Avenue was sold before the church was completed to help cover the expenses.

“The residential home that served as the rectory is still there,” Adams said. “I believe a family lives there now.”

In its early stages, approximately 1,300 families belonged to St. Rosalie.

“We had church groups like Altar, Rosary, a women’s organization and a Holy Name Society,” Adams said.

Additionally, in 1964, construction was completed on a convent and school, east of the church.

During Conrad’s 21-year reign, many associate priests came and went.

The Rev. Marion Snieg took over as leader in 1981.

In 1982, Snieg organized the first ever St. Rosalie Carnival. Although his carnivals were more suited toward adults, attendance continually increased.

The parish celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1985, with ceremonial gifts from parishioners, letters of congratulation from various Chicago and Illinois authorities, as well as a letter from then-President Ronald Reagan.

In 1990, due to declining enrollment, the St. Rosalie closed the grammar school.

Snieg left St. Rosalie in 1992.

Despite some challenges in the 1990s, St. Rosalie achieved its highest membership total in 1993 — 4,075 members. That same year the Rev. John Cain was appointed as new pastor.

Following Cain’s retirement in late 2002, a new generation and nationality of priests came in.

Aware of Harwood Heights’ growing Polish population, two Pauline priests were brought in from Poland by Cardinal Francis George.

The new Polish Mass, brought a new personality and expanded parish activities in a new direction. Today, the parish has about 1,000 families as members.

For health reasons, Adams no longer attends mass at St. Rosalie.

“They bring Communion to my home,” Adams said.

To read more about St. Rosalie’s history, visit its website at saintrosalie.org.