Holy Name Cathedral Rectory

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Holy Name Cathedral Rectory I
Life Span: 1881-1929
Location: Northwest Corner Cass and Superior
Architect:

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904

Chicago Tribune, June 2, 1881

PREPARATIONS are making to build a house on the northwest corner of Cass and Superior streets for the priests of the Holy Name parish. It will be a plain but substantial structure, and fill up the vacant space in. the block, which is now occupied by the church and two Catholic schools.

Inter Ocean, January 3, 1885

CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY NAME
The Cathedral of the Holy Name, to which attached the archiepiscopal residence of this diocese, has à membership of about 12,000, and has held about this number for the past two years. The Rev. P. J. Conway, Vicar General of the Archdiocese, is pastor, the Rev. Chancellor P. D. Gill, the Rev. J. J. Carroll, the Rev. M. J. Fitzimons, tHe Rev. P. J. Agnew, and the Rev. J. Dorsey assistants. A valuable improvement in the way of a parochial school building has been completed, the lot costing $10,000 and the building $43,000. The parish is now completely prepared to receive all children. A mission was given in the Cathedral last year by the fathers of the mission, producing good results, It was very largely attended.

Chicago Tribune, April 4, 1929

WRECKERS TO TAKE OVER RECTORY OF HOLY NAME
New $200,000 Building to Rise on Site.
By Kathleen McLaughlin
Forty-six years ago, one the day of his ordination in Holy Name cathedral, a young priest picked his way through the mazes of the new rectory at Cass and Superior streets, where workmen were wielding varnish brushes on the woodwork. Yesterday the same priest, now Msgr. M. J. FitzSimmons, picked his way through the halls for the last time, as another generation of workmen wielded crowbars as dismantling of the structure was begun.

In its place Msgr. FitzSimmons, who during all these years has been first assistant pastor and then pastor of the cathedral, will see erected modern six story rectory of Indiana limestone, accommodating eighteen instead of only twelve priests, and costing approximately $200,000.

Plans for the new building, which were drawn by Joseph McCarthy, are unique in one respect. The dining and recreation rooms for the diocesan and chancery clergy will be relegated to the top floor, so that no odor* of food will linger about the offices on the lower floors.

The main entrance will be on Cass street, with the first floor devoted to offices of the diocese. On the second floor will be quarters for Cardinal Mundelein when he officiates at the cathedral, and also for guests. Cathedral clergy will have their living quarters on the third floor, and the chancery clergy and diocesan officers on the fourth. Officials of the Quigley Preparatory seminary will occupy the fifth floor.

The north wing of the building will be given over to living rooms and working quarters for an order of French Canadian nuns, known as the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, who will come to Chicago to take charge of the domestic work in the building.

Most of the historic events of the archdiocese of Chicago during the last half century have had their echoes in the rectory that is now being demolished. Many illustrious clergy and civilians have been welcomed there, and hundreds of marriages have taken place within its walls. One of the most distinguished men it ever sheltered was Cardinal Gibbons, who came to Chicago on the occasion of the death of Archbishop Quigley.

Chicago Tribune, April 21, 1929

The erection of the new Holy Name cathedral rectory, Superior and Cass streets, is another evidence of the growth of the city and the church accordingly. When Bishop Quarter came to take charge of the newly formed diocese of Chicago, 85 years ago, he found here less than twenty priests. The changing character of the neighborhood, old residences giving way to huge hotels and towering apartment buildings, demands a great number priests to serve the spiritual needs of the population and the new rectory will have accommodations for eighteen priests, almost as many in the cathedral parish alone as there were in the entire diocese in the days of Bishop Quarter.

Chicago Tribune, September 23, 1929

Cathedral’s New Rectory Dedicated by Cardinal Mundelein
(Pictures on back page.)
Cardinal Mundelein celebrated the 20th anniversary of his elevation to the episcopate yesterday morning by blessing the new Holy Name cathedral rectory, Cass and Superior streets. a Then he officiated at a solemn portifical high mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Bernard J. Shell. After the service in the cathedral Cardinal Mundelein was given banquet in the new rectory as the guest of 40 monsignori and archdiocesan officials. During the open house after the banquet more than 3,000 persons inspected the new rectory, which is built to accommodate 17 resident priests and three guests.

The Rev. Joseph P. Morrison is the administrator of the new building.

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