Our Lady of Holy Family Parish, 1334 W. Flournoy St., is holding relaxed, outdoor Masses throughout the summer. The parish has combined the former Notre Dame de Chicago and Holy Family Parishes since 2019.
These summer Masses occur in the parish garden every Sunday at 6 p.m. through the last Sunday of September. Led by the Pastor, the Rev. Peter B. McQuinn, the Masses are less formal than the regularly scheduled Masses the church holds daily.
“It’s an opportunity to come and rediscover the joys of what Sunday Mass should be,” said Fr. McQuinn. “It’s a little less formal and just kind of gets people to come together.”
Fr. McQuinn noted that people come in bringing lawn chairs and their dogs, listen to Mass, and stay after for some beverages. He stated the Masses were meant to be “no pressure. Relaxing, like a glass of cold lemonade.”
The parish has taken advantage of the warm weather and beautiful outdoor space, hosting an ice cream social on Father’s Day and bringing in many families from the surrounding area.
Fr. McQuinn also noted the outdoor Masses have sparked a large interest in younger families and individuals, many of whom are college or graduate students. “About two-thirds of my parishioners are somehow connected with local universities,” he said, noting also that many families include graduates of Saint Ignatius College Prep, located next to Holy Family Church on Roosevelt Road.
Our Lady of the Holy Family continues to grow as more people connect with its mission, he explained, noting the parish is “focusing on being hospitable and welcoming all people.” The parish offers several service opportunities in regard to hospitality, especially for the homeless. The church joins with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to offer a Friday Food Pantry from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and works with the Franciscan Mission Outreach, a program that empowers people to gain the support they need to move into permanent housing.
Fr. McQuinn said the COVID pandemic presented challenges, but the parish has come through strong. The church still practices health precautions, with the outdoor Masses an example of a safe way to go back to church while still enjoying the beauty of a Chicago summer.
If there is rain, the church moves the Sunday evening Mass indoors, and the church is air conditioned.
Regularly scheduled weekend Masses occur Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. in English and 11 a.m. in Spanish. Monday offers Mass at 6 p.m. in the church, followed by the Holy Rosary and confessions. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Mass is at 8 a.m. in the chapel. Friday Mass is at 6 p.m. in the church, followed by Adoration and confession.
For more information about Our Lady of the Holy Family Parish, call (312) 243-7400, email OLHFParish@archchicago.org, log on to www.olhfchi.org, or follow parish information on social media.
—Liv Brown