Our lady of the angels
Our Lady of the Angels is where our community, the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago, was founded and is the home of our primary apostolate, the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels.
OLA has a very large campus including our men's formation house and friary, located in the rectory building, our women's convent, Our Lady of the Angels Church, Kelly Hall YMCA, large retreat center, smaller retreat house, and several parking and garden lots.
Mission of Our Lady of the Angels
3808 W Iowa Street
Chicago, IL 60651
The Outreach Center is physically located at 3815 W Iowa Street, but please use 3808 W Iowa at the mailing address.
773-486-8431
Our Lady of the Angels Church
OLA Church was renovated by Bishop Bob and the community and rededicated in April 2012. The church does not function as a parish and as such does not have regular public Masses or sacramental preparation. We use the church building for our work with the neighborhood, retreats, and other special events like vows and the school fire memorial Mass.
Please note that OLA Church does not have regular operating or visiting hours. We understand that due to the school fire, this church holds a special place in the hearts of many. It is an honor for us to care for this church and carry on its legacy.
If you are visiting from out of town and would like to arrange to visit OLA Church, please contact us by calling 773-486-8431 well in advance of your visit.
OLA Church is regularly used for our Neighborhood Community Lunches, summer block parties, First Saturday Food pantries, and our Thanksgiving and Christmas parties - you are always welcome to attend one of these events in order to see the church as well.
Because OLA is no longer a parish, all sacramental records have been moved to the Archdiocese of Chicago's Archives. We have no access to sacramental records or certificates of any kind. If you need help obtaining an old record from OLA, please visit http://archives.archchicago.org/ and click on "request a record."
Small Retreat House
This house was originally renovated between 2014 and 2016 to serve as a retreat house for college students and young adult groups staying with us for service-immersion retreats. The building fulfilled this purposed for several years until our much larger, 57-bedroom retreat space in the Outreach Center was completed in 2022. Many groups who come to us for service immersion retreats now stay in the Outreach Center.
This smaller retreat house is currently used by significantly smaller retreat groups, housing summer volunteers / seminarians, and occasionally for visiting family members of Franciscans.
Kelly Hall YMCA
824 N Hamlin Ave
Chicago, IL 60651
773-886-1220
Kelly Hall YMCA is a partnership between our community, the Archdiocese of Chicago, the YMCA, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. It is located in the old parish social hall about a block down from OLA's main building campus. The goal of Kelly Hall is to provide a safe, positive, supportive space for neighborhood children and families.
Our Lady of the Angels School Fire Memorial
3808 W Iowa Street
Chicago, IL 60651
Upon arriving in Chicago, one of Bishop Bob's top priorities was to establish a public memorial on OLA's grounds in honor of the 92 school children and 3 teaching Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who lost their lives in the tragic OLA School fire on December 1, 1958.
This memorial was dedicated by Cardinal George in 2007 and can be viewed on the front lawn of the Rectory building. Visitors are always welcome to stop by and offer a prayer in front of the memorial.
We consider it a great privilege to live and serve at Our Lady of the Angels. Our community prays the Salve Regina after dinner each night for all those who lost their lives and all who have been affected by the fire.