From the "Village of Westchester -- 1925-1975 -- Golden Jubilee", 1976.

Church of the Divine Infant

History of the Parish

On June 18, 1947, Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago assigned the Reverend Charles H. Langan to survey the area of Westchester for the establishment of a parish.  The Chancery was very much aware of the postwar building boom in the suburban towns.

Father Langan took the pastoral oath on August 13, 1947 after the parish was officially established through Rome under the title of the Divine Infant Jesus.  Almost immediately plans for the first religious exercise of the new parish were established.

On Sunday, August 24, 1947, the first Mass was offered in the Nixon School of Westchester.  In January of 1948 a temporary rectory was realized.  Then next on the agenda was to plan for a permanent building of a Church and Rectory on the Parish property.

Ground was broken in August of 1948 and on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, the first Mass was celebrated in the new Church.  January of 1949 saw the completion of the Convent.

The next addition to parish facilities was the school building of an eight-classroom school and a large hall beneath the school.  This was completed for occupancy in September of 1951.

In the interim between 1949 and 1951, the little church was used for school purposes during the week.  An addition to the school was completed in September of 1954.  This included sixteen more classrooms.

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Last Modified:  02/18/2005