St. Rose was Kankakee’s 'Mother Church'

By Jack Klasey

If you were a Catholic in Kankakee in the mid-1800s, there was no question about where you would attend Sunday Mass. You would be worshipping at St. Rose of Lima. Often referred to as the "Mother Church" of Kankakee, it was the only Catholic church in the city for many years.

By 1900, there were three other Catholic churches available; which one you attended usually depended upon your ethnic background. If you were German, you would most likely go to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception at Washington Avenue and Oak Street. Polish Catholics would attend St. Stanislaus at Dearborn Avenue and Birch Street and the Irish would, of ...

By Jack Klasey

If you were a Catholic in Kankakee in the mid-1800s, there was no question about where you would attend Sunday Mass. You would be worshipping at St. Rose of Lima. Often referred to as the "Mother Church" of Kankakee, it was the only Catholic church in the city for many years.

By 1900, there were three other Catholic churches available; which one you attended usually depended upon your ethnic background. If you were German, you would most likely go to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception at Washington Avenue and Oak Street. Polish Catholics would attend St. Stanislaus at Dearborn Avenue and Birch Street and the Irish would, of ...

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