As the first Catholic parish established in Chicago, Old St. Mary’s Church has a long history in the Windy City. But now history is taking a back seat to the future as the groundbreaking ceremony was held May 3 for a new parish center to serve this expanding faith community.

“I am so thrilled with the continued growth of the ministry at Old St. Mary’s Parish and School,” said Paulist President Father Eric Andrews, who was on hand for the ceremony. “This new parish center will be an exciting way for the parish to reach out with love to the entire community.”

Scheduled for completion in the winter of 2016, the 17,000-square-foot multi-use parish center consist of three large meeting rooms, four smaller offices, two conference rooms, a small kitchen/concession area, and a large space that can be used for the middle school gymnasium or be divided and used for the other needs of this 1,400-family (and counting) parish. Newman Architecture is the project’s architect; the contractor is Mazur and Son.

About three quarters of funds for the the approximately $3.5 million project have already been raised through parishioner gifts and by utilizing cash reserves from the school and parish. The parish “hope[s] to recoup and replace the cash advanced to rebuild needed reserves for the parish and school,” according to Father Paul Huesing, pastor of Old St. Mary’s. That replenishment and the remaining deficit will be raised through “To Teach Who Christ Is,” a program of the Archdiocese of Chicago in which the major portion of the funds raised stay with the parish.

Father Andrews gave special thanks for the leadership gift of the entire Petermann Family to the new center.

“Their great generosity has been a tremendous witness to the parish community and will be an inspiration for other families to give back to God in thanksgiving for his many blessings,” he said.

Father Paul Huesing, CSP (far left) leads in prayer those gathered for the groundbreaking of the new parish center at Old St. Mary’s Church in Chicago.

The South Loop area served by Old St. Mary’s continues to see more and more rail yards and warehouses being converted to single-family homes, condominiums and skyscrapers, so the parish is “growing and maturing right along with the neighborhood,” Father Huesing said. “Old St. Mary’s has always adapted to the changing character of this vibrant community. This building will offer us facilities for a growing parish and completes the needs of the school.”

The old parish center was more than 100 years old, and “not very useful,” said Brian Leonard, head of facilities on both the parish finance committee and school board. “Our parish just outgrew its usefulness. ”

Founded in 1833 and served by the Paulists since 1903, Old St. Mary’s moved to its current location at 1500 S. Michigan Avenue in July 2002. The parish center is the last phase in a series of building projects that included a new church and a new school building that saw its first graduating class in 2014. There will be some 400 students in grades pre-K-8 in the 2015-16 school year.

“Old St. Mary’s is the city’s oldest parish, but in reality we are very new,” Mr. Leonard said. “The parishioners are very proud of the growth and opportunities we can offer. The parish center competes the campus and the 10-year plan, thus allowing our ministries to grow. The parishioners are very excited to be continuing to move forward.”

And moving forward includes increasing ministries to the young adults and young families pouring into the neighborhood.

“Our demographics weigh heavily towards college age and 20- to 30-something adults in the area. The ability to attract that group with a gym is really essential. Father Paul [Huesing] and Father Patrick Johnson [associate pastor] are attempting to expand those ministries, and this will help.”

Father Huesing said the new parish center helps the parish meet the community’s short-and long-term needs.

“We are looking forward to the ribbon cutting next winter, and are on track for an exciting future,” he said.