Holy Name Cathedral
175 YEARS
Celebrating of Faith in Action
Office of the Archbishop
835 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2030
312.534.8230
archchicago.org
Congratulations and best wishes as we celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Holy Name Cathedral. May you be blessed in remembering the past, celebrating the present, and envisioning the future as a community of faith rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese. It is also the parish home of so many in the heart of the city. The cathedral enjoys a history of great music and prayerful liturgy in its beautifully appointed structure. It has hosted Saint Pope John Paul II in 1979, as well as, throughout the years, cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, sisters and visitors from around the world.
The cathedral community has also always kept the social mission of the Church in mind as it has ministered to Christ’s most vulnerable. For the past 175 years members of Holy Name Cathedral Parish have welcomed the immigrants, given food to the hungry, educated generations of children and preached the Gospel with a desire to create “A World in Communion with Jesus Christ,” as our vision statement declares.
When Bishop William Quarter founded the Catholic University in Chicago in 1844, he could not have foreseen how that “lovely pastoral setting,” the site of Holy Name, would emerge into the residential, commercial, and recreational center of a thriving world-class city.
The 175th celebration of Holy Name reminds us to embrace with grateful hearts the generations past even as we look to the future and renew our commitment to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Across the years, the Holy Name Cathedral community has generously supported the needs of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the universal Church. I pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen your efforts to evangelize and serve in His Holy Name.
May the Lord bless each of you in a special way during this 175th Anniversary Year. My heartfelt thanks to the Very Reverend Gregory Sakowicz for his faithful leadership and to all the priests, deacons, sisters and staff who serve this community so faithfully each day.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Archbishop of Chicago
Holy Name Cathedral 175th Anniversary November 18, 2024
Holy Name Cathedral
Dear Friends in Christ,
Anytime we celebrate an anniversary be it a wedding, ordination or a birthday we remember the initial moment of the event, we celebrate in the present embracing our blessings and we believe that, in the future, good things will continue to be a part of our lives.
So it was with Holy Name Cathedral 175 years ago.
In 1849 some very faithful Catholic folks, settling in this area, petitioned the Archbishop of St. Louis, then the head of this province, to establish a parish here gathering together the faithful to pray, to receive the sacraments, especially the Eucharist at Mass and then to go out serving the poor and most vulnerable in His Holy Name.
So it is with the Holy Name Cathedral Faith Community today. The future has come and we gather this year with grateful hearts remembering those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Their faith is a living memory reminding us of the first disciples’ legacy of faith which they have bequeathed to us.
Now it is our turn to continue to remember where we came from, to celebrate where we are today as a Faith Community and to believe that our journey continues with Jesus Christ calling us to be His disciples. Please come and celebrate our 175th anniversary throughout the coming year. Take time with us to pray, to worship, and to create new memories with one another.
My heartfelt thanks to all who have planned our 175th Anniversary Celebrations and always remember: You are the Church and Together We Are the Body of Christ.
I am humbled and honored to be your Rector. Looking forward to many new memories that we will create together this year as I extend to you and your loved ones God’s choicest blessings.
Gratefully yours in Christ,
Very Rev. Gregory Sakowicz Rector
HolyCathedralName 175
th ANNIVERSARY PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we are thankful for Holy Name Cathedral, a place of prayer and sanctuary for 175 years.
We thank you for the faith, friendship, and generosity that has flowed so freely through this parish and remember with gratitude the generations who have come before us in this sacred space May we continue to welcome all with love, faith, and hospitality, and be united in our shared mission, serving as joyful disciples of Christ. Amen.
Highlights of our upcoming year of celebration
Our Holy Name Cathedral Faith Community celebrates a major milestone this year. Nov. 18, 2024 marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of Holy Name Parish. We are planning a year-long celebration. The 175th Committee has been working hard to plan a celebratory year that has something for everybody.
For the latest updates, check out our website, the weekly bulletin and newsletter, the 175th monthly newsletter, and social media. Scan the QR code to visit our webpage. If you have any questions, please email 175@holynamecathedral.org
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Mother Cabrini Statue Gift to Pope Francis
Holy Name Cathedral, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Carol Christiansen, is donating a replica of the same Mother Cabrini sculpture on the Holy Name Cathedral campus to Pope Francis and the Vatican. It will be unveiled and dedicated on the grounds of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s feast day of Nov. 13.
There are 21 pilgrims from HNC and 60 other Chicago friends traveling on a pilgrimage to Italy in honor of Mother Cabrini who will be in attendance at the dedication ceremony in Rome. While the time difference makes viewing a livestream challenging, we are making plans to share the video of the ceremony with everyone at a later time.
For more information, contact Deacon Dennis Robak at drobak@holynamecathedral.org.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Mass Celebrating “Holy Name
Cathedral Day” in Chicago
To honor our 175th anniversary, the Chicago City Council has passed a resolution declaring Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 as “Holy Name Cathedral Day” in the city of Chicago.
On that date, the regular 12:00pm Mass will include a special presentation of the city proclamation by Ald. Brendan Reilly to our Rector, Fr. Greg Sakowicz. For those who cannot make it in person, we will livestream this Mass.
For more information, contact Fr. Andy Matijevic at amatijevic@holynamechicago.org.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024
Opening Liturgy with Cardinal Cupich
We hope you will be able to join us at our official kickoff to our celebratory year. Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and the Pastor of Holy Name Cathedral, will be the main celebrant and homilist for our opening liturgy at the 12:30pm Mass on Nov. 24, 2024. The Mass will be concelebrated with previous and current priests who have served at Holy Name Cathedral. Everyone is invited to join in our celebration. For more information, contact Fr. Andy Matijevic at amatijevic@holynamechicago.org.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024
Rector’s Fifth Annual ‘Sounds of the Season’ Christmas Concert
This festive evening of holiday music and entertainment features Rich Daniels and members of the City Lights Orchestra performing many of your favorite holiday songs. The concert begins at 7:00pm, followed by complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets are free of charge and available online only. Limit four tickets per person. Please consider supporting this event as a sponsor or with a donation. Proceeds from the event will go to the mission and ministries of Holy Name Cathedral. Go to tinyurl.com/Sounds2024 to register to attend, to donate or to be a sponsor.
For more information, email Director of Stewardship Regina Zielinski at rzielinski@holynamecathedral.org.
WINTER
2025 Green Star Movement Mosaic Coming to Holy Name’s Courtyard
Holy Name Cathedral wishes to celebrate the 175th Anniversary with a mural that speaks to our rich Faith Community as well as engages the community in its creation. The Cathedral is partnering with the Green Star Movement, a nonprofit that inspires through the creation of public art, by working collaboratively on the design, assembly and installation of a mural made of mosaics for our Courtyard. Our theme for the mural design, chosen by Cardinal Cupich, is “A Pilgrim People.” Design work will begin this fall.
Then this winter, volunteers from the Faith Community will be invited to participate in the creation of the mural using mosaic tiles. Artists from the Green Star Movement will teach our volunteers artistic techniques such as creating a mosaic by working with tiles and grouting during interactive workshops. The finished mural will be installed in the Courtyard in the spring and dedicated on Friday, May 30, 2025 at our annual Grace & Gratitude reception.
A special thank you to Mrs. Maryam Sweet and her family who are funding this project in memory of her dearly departed daughter, Bita.
The Green Star Movement Mosaic project at Holy Name is coordinated by the Parish Pastoral Council. For more information, please email 175@holynamecathedral.org.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025
Faith and Fitness Wellness Fair
Our popular “Faith & Fitness” series with Fr. Louis J. Cameli and Michele Sotak, which explores the connection between spirituality and wellness, will present a free Wellness Fair and panel discussion on Sunday, January 5, 2025. It’s timed to honor the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Jan. 3). It is also the perfect time as we begin a new year to help with our 2025 spiritual and fitness goals.
We are seeking vendors, organizations and community partners that support health and wellness as a way of life. We have various sponsorship levels for companies and organizations that would be interested in participating in the Wellness Fair.
If you are interested in participating or have ideas for vendors and sponsors, email Michele Sotak at msotak@holynamecathedral.org or call her at (312) 573-4416 for more information.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2025
‘Damien’ Play with Wayne Messmer
We will have a special presentation of “Damien,” a one-man play by Aldyth Morris starring Chicago sports personality Wayne Messmer as Father (St.) Damien of Molokai on Sunday, March 2 at 7:00pm. The play tells the story of St. Damien and his work with a 19th century leper colony in Molokai. There will be a reception after the performance. Special thanks to our Knights of Columbus for sponsoring the play and the Daughters of Isabella for sponsoring the post-play reception.
For more information, email Deacon Dan Welter at dwelter@holynamecathedral.org.
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025
Second Annual
Bishop Kevin Birmingham Lecture
In partnership with the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Holy Name Cathedral will host the second annual Bishop Kevin Birmingham Lecture on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The program will focus on Pope Francis’ second encyclical, Ladato Si’ (ecology and art). It will be presented by Dr. Gloria Groom, who is the chair of Painting and Sculpture of Europe at the Art Institute of Chicago and Fr. Louis J. Cameli, a Cathedral resident and Cardinal Cupich’s Delegate for Formation and Mission. This lecture series is dedicated to the late Bishop Kevin Birmingham.
For more information, contact Mark Teresi at mteresi@holynamecathedral.org or Anne Shea, president of the Illinois Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums at birminghamlecture@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025
Mass with AGLOChicago
Founded in 1988, AGLOChicago is the Archdiocese of Chicago’s outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Holy Name Cathedral was one of its six founding parishes.
To celebrate this relationship, we will have a special Mass with Fr. Andy Matijevic as main celebrant and homilist and Fr. Greg Sakowicz concelebrating on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 7:00pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 708 W. Belmont Ave. A reception will follow afterwards.
For more information, contact Angelina Rossi at angelina@aglochicago.org.
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025
Grace & Gratitude Reception / Courtyard Mosaic Dedication
During our annual Grace and Gratitude reception, which thanks our dedicated ministers and volunteers, we will have a special dedication and blessing of the new parish Courtyard mosaic. In 2025, our event will take place on Friday, May 30, beginning with the 5:15pm Mass.
For more information, contact Lori Doyle at ldoyle@holynamecathedral.org.
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2025
‘The Road to Emmaus’ Revival
Everyone is invited to an afternoon of praise and celebration sponsored by the Young Adults Ministry on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025. The revival, entitled “The Road to Emmaus,” reflects the journey of all Christians - a path where we may feel discouraged but where Christ and His Church are always present to guide us back to Jerusalem with renewed hope.
The event will include inspiring speakers, Mass, personal testimonies, an opportunity for Adoration, a Eucharistic Procession and will conclude with a bonfire, dinner and fellowship. All are warmly invited!
For more information, email Fr. Ton Nguyen at tnguyen@holynamecathedral.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2025
Sacred Heart of Jesus Sculpture
An original bronze sculpture of the Sacred Heart is being created by artist and retired Chicago priest Father Anthony J. Brankin. The new sculpture, which is a contemporary interpretation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is appropriately timed with Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Dilexit nos (“He loved us”). This statue is to be dedicated on Friday, June 27, 2025 on the feast of the Sacred Heart and will be placed within the Cathedral. A special thank you to Dr. Christine Lawless who is funding this project to make this work possible.
For more information, contact Deacon Dennis Robak at drobak@holynamecathedral.org.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
International Rosary Dinner & Reception
The Cathedral Filipino Network will host a special international Rosary, featuring a variety of cultures participating in the Rosary — each decade will be prayed in a different language — followed by a dinner celebrating the cuisine of each of the various cultures.
For more information, contact Jay Bayot at jay.bayot@gmail.com or Isabel Juan at Isabeljuan@aol.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
Holy Name Cathedral Dedication Liturgy and Rector’s Banquet
Cardinal Blase Cupich will be the main celebrant for the Mass to close our 175th Anniversary Year as a parish and mark the 150th Anniversary of Holy Name as a Cathedral. This Mass will take place at 5:15pm on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, the same day when the Cathedral was dedicated in 1875. To honor the Cathedral, all archdiocesan priests and bishops will be invited to attend.
The Mass will be followed with a celebration of these milestones with the Rector’s Closing Banquet. More details will be forthcoming about this event.
For more information, contact Fr. Andy Matijevic at amatijevic@holynamechicago.org.
175TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE 175TH COMMITTEE FOR THEIR MANY HOURS OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN PLANNING THIS YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL!
Leaders: Fr. Greg Sakowicz, Deacon Dennis Robak
175th Anniversary Co-Chairs: Claire Gregoire, John Silver
Rector’s Planning Consultant for Special Projects: Mark Teresi
Directors: Fr. Andy Matijevic, Fr. Ton Nguyen, Sr. Katie Mitchell, Ken Ortega, Lori Doyle, Regina Zielinski
Finance Manager: Ronald Birch
Representative to the Archdiocese: Deacon Dan Welter
Parish Pastoral Council Leaders: Ken Henriksen, Tanya Sanders
Additional Committee Members:
Jay Bayot (CFN)
Pat Cowhey
Rich Daniels
Fr. Tom Franzman
Isabel Juan (CFN)
Christine Lawless
Stephanie McIntyre
Margaret and Kevin Owens
Angelina Rossi (AGLO)
Michele Sotak
Fr. Joe Tito
Grace and Win Villamora
KEY DATES FOR OUR 175TH CELEBRATION
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13
Mother Cabrini Statue Gift to Pope Francis in Rome
MONDAY, NOV. 18
Holy Name Cathedral Day and Mass. Official 175th Anniversary of the founding Holy Name Cathedral as a parish
SUNDAY, JAN. 5
Faith & Fitness Wellness Fair
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
“Damien” Play with Wayne Messmer; and Reception
MONDAY, APRIL 28
Second Annual Bishop Kevin Birmingham Lecture
SUNDAY, MAY 4
Mass with AGLOChicago at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
FRIDAY, MAY 30
Grace & Gratitude / Courtyard Mosaic Dedication
2025
SUNDAY, NOV. 24
175th Opening Liturgy (12:30pm Mass) Cardinal Blase Cupich, Main Celebrant and Homilist
FRIDAY, DEC. 13
Fifth Annual Rector’s Christmas Concert
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
“The Road to Emmaus” Revival. (Pentecost Sunday)
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
Sacred Heart of Jesus Sculpture Dedication
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
International Rosary Dinner and Reception
FRIDAY, NOV. 21
150th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral (5:15pm Mass)
Additional events and programs are in the works. Please watch the bulletin and website for more information.
For more information about Holy Name Cathedral’s 175th anniversary celebration, please scan the QR code.
There are many opportunities throughout the year to volunteer, attend, and sponsor our 175th programs. For additional information, contact any of our 175th Anniversary co-chairs:
Claire Gregoire (claire@kamdenstrategygroup.com)
John Silver (johnsilver3@gmail.com)
Mark Teresi (mteresi@holynamecathedral.org)
Or for general inquires, please email 175@holynamecathedral.org
To learn more about how to sponsor an event, please contact Regina Zielinski at rzielinski@holynamecathedral.org.
Sign up for our 175th Newsletter!
For the latest on events surrounding the 175th anniversary of Holy Name Cathedral, visit out website at holynamecathedral.org/175 and signup for our monthly 175th newsletter, which started in October.
Holy Name Cathedral