A Century of Compassionate Presence: The Passionists in Chicago
Passionists have been serving the faithful through parish life, formation, education and theological leadership in the greater Chicagoland area since 1903.
Current ministries
Catholic Theological Union
Chicago, IL
Korean Martyrs Catholic Church
Chicago, IL
Province Offices
Park Ridge, IL
At the dawn of the 20th century, Chicago stood as a vital hub: America’s second city, a key rail center and a thriving bastion of Catholic life.
In 1903, Archbishop James Quigley invited the Passionists to establish a presence in the city to serve its expanding Catholic population.
A Home in Norwood Park
Father Felix Ward answered the call, searching for a suitable site and ultimately purchasing the 55-acre Burhan Estate in Norwood Park, just 11 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. That same year, a modest frame church was built to seat 300 parishioners and the existing estate home was remodeled to house the Passionist community.
Building for the Future
Planning for a permanent monastery began immediately. Completed in 1910, the three-story Victorian structure featured 60 private rooms, along with shared spaces including a chapel, refectory, library, recreation rooms and an infirmary. Both the new parish and monastery were placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception.
Growing Parish and Community Life
In 1910, the monastery chapel served as the temporary parish church while the original church building was converted into a school. A dedicated school building was constructed in 1924, with its auditorium functioning as the parish church until 1963, when the current Immaculate Conception Church was completed.
In 2011, the Passionists formally transferred pastoral responsibility for Immaculate Conception Parish to the Archdiocese of Chicago. Today, the parish continues to thrive, serving more than 2,000 families and standing as a vibrant center of Catholic life in the community.
Immaculate Conception Monastery Transformed into Senior Suites of Norwood Park
In 2011, the Passionists sold the historic Immaculate Conception Monastery to Senior Lifestyles, a developer specializing in senior living communities. Following an extensive renovation, the building was thoughtfully repurposed and reopened in 2015 as the Senior Suites of Norwood Park.
The new facility offers 84 modern apartments for senior citizens, while carefully preserving many of the architectural and historical elements that reflect its Passionist heritage.
At the dedication ceremony, Fr. Don Webber, CP, was honored to offer the invocation. Robert Gawronski, representing Senior Lifestyles, also participated in the event, marking the successful transition of this sacred space into a welcoming home for older adults.
Catholic Theological Union: A Center for Formation and Mission
In 1968, The Passionists of Holy Cross Province, together with the Franciscans and Servites, co-founded Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in the Hyde Park area of Chicago. Today, CTU is the largest Roman Catholic school of ministry in North America.
CTU focuses on preparing both religious and lay leaders to serve the Church through strong formation in biblical studies, theology, cross-cultural mission and pastoral ministry.
St. Vincent Strambi Passionist Community at CTU is a formation community devoted to study and prayer.
The Administrative Heart of the Mission
The Province Offices serve as the administrative and pastoral heart of the Passionist mission in Holy Cross Province. Located in Park Ridge, IL, the offices coordinate the work of Passionist communities and ministries across the province, offering leadership in areas such as formation, finance, communications and mission advancement.
Rooted in the Passionist charism, the offices support vowed and lay in proclaiming the message of Christ’s Passion through compassionate service, spiritual outreach and justice-centered ministry.