A Concise History of Holy Family, Part 1
By the mid-1980s the Archdiocese of Chicago identified two needs for this area. The first was a new parish to feed people moving into Palatine, Inverness, Hoffman Estates and parts of Barrington. St. Anne was established in 1884, St. James in Arlington Heights in 1902 and St. Theresa in Palatine in 1930, but forty years ago the need for a new parish was evident.
The second need, voiced by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, was for a unique and more vibrant experience of church, one that would feed people in the Catholic tradition the way Willow Creek was feeding a growing number of people, primarily through a vibrant, uplifting form of worship.
We hold firm to this founding mission today.
As is always the case when founding a new parish, one of the first tasks is to select a pastor. Priests always apply for the position of pastor and in this case that application came with the need to complement the two needs – a growing population and a unique Catholic Community.
Fr. Med Laz was more than up for the opportunity to found and lead this special community. His presentation to the Priests Placement Board and ultimately to Cardinal Bernardin was overwhelmingly accepted. These events were confirmed on September 21, 1984 when Fr. Med was appointed our first pastor.
Communities of faith are built on people; physical structures then extend the mission of the people. The people needed a place to gather and our neighbors at Fremd High School and Harper College shared some of their space for the budding parish to gather and worship. “St. Fremd,” as it began to be referred to, opened their cafeteria and became the most consistent place for the founders of Holy Family to celebrate the Eucharist. The first Mass was celebrated on December 1, 1984.
A home was purchased in Hoffman Estates for Fr. Med to live in and the small staff to conduct business in. He went to visit Catholics who lived in the area looking to build a leadership team. Eventually he surfaced seven who would form a Building Committee. This dedicated group met three times per week, sometimes until 11:00pm, putting on a few pounds as they ate to stay awake.
This committee visited many churches, Catholic and non-Catholic, seeking ideas and inspiration. After many visits, David Cooper was selected as the architect who would bring Holy Family’s church to life.
As the growing community gathered to celebrate Mass and the Sacraments at Fremd, Fr. Med traveled the area and saw a farm on Palatine Road. He visited Angelo Polvere, the mayor of Inverness, who knew the owner of the farm. As the funds were raised by new parishioners, the Archdiocese purchased the land. The farmer sold 16 of his 20 acres to the Archdiocese and this gave the budding parish a home.
Construction began in the summer of 1986.
All was proceeding well until October 7 when a large beam in the sanctuary fell. It narrowly missed a crane operator who was obviously very shaken. He believed he was spared because God was watching over him and the construction of this beautiful church that would provide a worship home for so many. This accident delayed construction for 11 weeks. Through the winter months the limestone walls were erected under tented and heated conditions.
The church, narthex, chapel, rectory and offices were complete and the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on May 5, 1988.
Fr. Med instilled in the very early congregation a need to spread the word about how unique of a Catholic expression of faith this small but growing community was. This unique vision was what many were searching for as a cornerstone of the spirit of Holy Family. It flowed from the edicts of the Second Vatican Council. Church as the people of God was, and is, the driving force behind Holy Family. People were attracted to the energy of the larger Catholic Church all over the world, and many to the vibrant manner in which our community lived out that spirit. Many innovative programs and ministries began, and the vibrant music that we have come to know and love today began under Fr. Med’s leadership.