St. Francis Xavier Parish of LaGrange, Illinois, just over 100 years old, has grown from a parish of 94 households in 1890 to a faith community of over 3000 families as 2003 begins.

Rev. James M. Hagan was called to be the pastor of our infant parish in 1890, and he celebrated the first parish Mass in the home of Dr. George Fox, which was located at 60 S. LaGrange Road in LaGrange. Our parish boundaries were defined as: North: to Proviso (Roosevelt Road); South: to Joliet Rd; East: to the Des Plaines River; West: to the Belmont train station.

Franklin Cossitt donated the land where our first church was built -- a frame Gothic-style building aptly named for the missionary St. Francis Xavier It was built on the southwest comer of Ogden and Spring Avenues in 1892, on the site of our present facility.

The Sisters of St. Joseph came to LaGrange in 1899 from Kansas. Their first school Nazareth Academy, was opened at 120 N. Spring, which later moved to the comer of Brainard and Ogden, serving as both a convent for the sisters and a school for the children.

Fr. Joseph A. Bollman became pastor in 1903. In 1917, the doors of the first school, a red brick schoolhouse with 4 classrooms, was opened. The Sisters of St. Joseph taught the 140 children enrolled that Fall.

Fr. John H. Nawn was appointed pastor in 1922. Because of the rapid population growth in the LaGrange area, Cardinal Mundelein gave Fr. Nawn the ambitious task of building a new church building. Due to the Depression, this seemed to be an insurmountable task. Nevertheless, the dedication of the new St. Francis Xavier Church took place in 1931.

Fr. William J. O'Brien (later Monsignor) became the pastor in 1937. Our Golden Jubilee was observed in 1940 with approximately 4000 attending an outdoor Mass celebrated on the grounds of St. Joseph Academy, located west of the church on Ogden Avenue. The "Golden Book", a history of the first 50 years was published; a dinner dance was held at the end of the celebration.

In 1949, our current school was built with 14 classrooms and 9 other rooms for the enrollment of 420 students. Our church was redecorated in 1950 with the addition of a mural over the main altar. In 1957 the Kensington Annex was purchased to help house the overflow of students, serving 3d grader and kindergarten classes.

Our Diamond Jubilee celebrating 75 years unfolded in 1965. Highlights included a Carnival Jubilee Luncheon and Style Show, a homecoming picnic at our Lady of Bethlehem Woods, and a Solemn High Jubilee Mass and Dinner Dance. A Diamond Jubilee book was published relating major events during that time.

In 1967, Fr. Pierce J. Joyce became pastor. His tenure ushered in all the changes of Vatican II. The first guitar Mass began, Saturday evening Mass was introduced. Lay Eucharistic Ministers began to distribute Communion, Ecumenical Services were held at at Francis with representatives from other local church denominations, The School Board and Home School Association were also established.

In 1981, Fr. James E. Kill became our pastor. The Finance and the Physical Plant Committees were formed to assist in the work of parish; the SPRED Archdiocesan Program started at St. Francis; the Sharing Parish program began in 1983 to bond with our St. Agatha Parish in Chicago.

Fr. Daniel B. Coughlin was appointed pastor by Cardinal Bernardin in 1987. Our SFX Food Pantry had its inception in 1987. In 1989 the parish became actively involved in the B.E.D.S. program as a homeless shelter every Monday night from October through April. The year 1990 saw the beginning of our Parish Centennial Year with an Ecumenical Service in January.

Early in the year, a steering committee for the proposed Parish Council began the task of researching other parish councils -- with the vision of forming a council of our own. Other centennial events followed, including a replica of the church in the Annual LaGrange Pet Parade, and an old-fashioned Parish Picnic with outdoor mass, then a Fall dinner dance. A history outlining the first 100 years was published. Souvenirs from the Centennial events were encased in a time capsule, and placed in a vault under the main altar.

The Centennial Year ended at a Mass at which Cardinal Bernardin presided. It was then that our current pastor, Fr. William Stenzel was introduced. A major renovation of our worship space began in June of 1993. The first Eucharistic Celebration was held in that year on Christmas Eve in our renewed church. We have seen a progression of restorations and improvement in all our buildings and grounds.

"Mary In The Garden", sculpted by Sr. Sr. Mary Southard CSJ., resides in the space between the church and rectory among flowers and shrubs planted and tended by the "Edythe" [Skokna] landscaping ministers.

A meaningful and viable Parish Council has evolved with the input of many parish members. A surge in the enrollment in our Day School prompted the expansion of the Day School to the East Campus in 1999, with new emphasis on pre-school education, as well. Currently, 693 students are enrolled in the Day School, and the SFX Religious Education Program serves over 800 students and 450 families.

The QUEST youth ministry program was started in 1986 and is now firmly established as a vital and significant ministry for teens. QUEST provides teens opportunities to serve others while sharing their faith with other teens and adult sponsors.

The St. Francis family is blessed with a wide variety of ministries, organizations and activities. At the moment, 75 active ministries are served by over 800 volunteers.

The VOICE of St. Francis Xavier Parish, a quarterly newsletter, began its run in September 1996. In that issue, Fr. Stenzel wrote, "What's going an at SFX?" ... people who have been here for a long time say it's alive ... it's exciting ... are thrilled that younger people are taking on leadership roles and shaping a church for the next century