History

The history of St. Mary of the Angels School begins with the history of St. Mary of the Angels Parish. It began in 1899, one of five parishes on the northwest side of Chicago organized by the Resurrectionist Fathers which grew out of St. Stanislaus Parish. Two city blocks totaling 96 lots at the corner of Hermitage and Cortland were purchased for $60,000. One was subdivided for residences while the other became the site of the parish.

The first pastor, Rev. Francis Gordon laid the cornerstone of the first building of what has become our school on July 2, 1899. The three story brick building was designed in the Renaissance style by Henry J. Schlacks and completed at the cost of $65,000. The basement contained meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and an auditorium. Twelve classrooms and convent quarters were constructed on the main floor; the church was located on the second floor; and living quarters for the priests were constructed in the attic. The dedication ceremony was led by the Archbishop and was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000 including the mayor, Carter Harrison. On February 15, 1900 four Sisters of the Congregation of the Resurrection opened St. Mary of the Angels School with an enrollment of 425 students. In 1905, the new building at 1849 N. Hermitage became the home of the novitiate for the sisters' order.

In 1909, Fr. Gordon began planning a new chuch building at the corner of Hermitage and Cortland. Work began on September 28, 1911 and continued for eight years and eight months, delayed numerous times because of World War I and shortages of building material. By 1912, SMA was now one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese with a membership of 1200 families.

On May 30, 1920 Archbishop Mudelein dedicated the new church. Designed by Henry Schlacks, the structure bears a remarkable resemblance to St. Peter's Basillica in Rome. It has been acclaimed as one of the finest specimens of Roman Renaissance architecture in the United States. By 1925, 1099 students were enrolled under the direction of 22 Sisters of the Resurrection. Over the years, additions, alterations, and improvements have been made in the parish complex. In the 1930's, the auditorium became known as the "Polish Aragon Ballroom" as hundreds attended weekly dances and concerts. When it was founded, SMA numbered about 300 families. During the peak years of the 1920's, more than 1600 families belonged and 1200 children attended the school. With the construction of the Kennedy Expressway in 1960, a sizable number of families and students left the parish.

By 1988, the church building was closed and slated for demolition due to deteriorating conditions. At the request of Cardinal Bernardin, then Archbishop of Chicago, the priests of the Prelature of Opus Dei assumed responsibility for the parish in 1991. The church restoration started in 1991 with major repairs of the dome, the roofs and the stained-glass windows. Repairs continued in 1997 with the church interior. As the year 1999 draws to a close, marking the 100th anniversary of the Parish, the church's interior decoration has been fully restored, new lighting, new doors and a new sound system have been installed. The 26 roof angels, fully rebuilt, are all present and accounted for, gleaming cheerfully from Saint Mary's roof tops. The parish is staffed by priests of the Prelature of Opus Dei. Founded in 1928 by Saint Josemaria Escriva, Opus Dei helps people seek personal sanctity in and through the ordinary circumstances of their daily lives. In recent years the school has also seen a renaissance: in 2008, more new families have enrolled than any previous year, and our students have become well-known for their academic achievements and charitable work.