Designed by the renowned American architect, Henry J. Schlacks in 1923, the original church was built for the needs of the Carmelites and their growing parish of St. Clara in Chicago’s south side neighborhood of Woodlawn.
Schlacks designed this church from the beginning to reflect the majesty and glory of Eternal Rome here in the heart of America. Strong yet elegant, new yet timeless, this sacred place was built to stand not only the test of time, but also the trials of change. In the architect’s own words, “There are no buildings in the world more monumental than those of Rome…. The structure is certainly sincere being solidly built entirely of masonry and stone. The tower itself is of solid stone walls with a solid stone floor; in other words, indestructible.”
With the canonization of St. Therese of Lisieux in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, the church of St. Clara became the National Shrine of this beloved and venerated saint. During the Eucharistic Congress held in Chicago the following year, nearly 100,000 people visited the National Shrine in devotion to the “Little Flower”, St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
In the late 1970’s, the church suffered a devastating fire, which destroyed the original interior. Nevertheless, the exterior remained strong, and the imposing structure was still among the most noble of Chicago.
Never having fully recovered, the parish was closed, and the church was scheduled for demolition at the turn of the millennium. The local community, not wishing to see this gem of history be lost to the wrecking ball, petitioned the city of Chicago to bestow upon this church the prestigious status of an Historic Landmark.
In 2004, in order to undertake the great responsibility of not only restoring this historic building, but moreover of reviving its spiritual and sacramental life as the only remaining Catholic church in Woodlawn, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest was invited by the late Francis Cardinal George to reopen this historic church.
A newly-founded society of apostolic life within the Roman Catholic Church, the Institute of Christ the King humbly accepted the Cardinal’s invitation, mindful of the many challenges in fulfilling such a task.
Understanding the great importance of the historic city of Chicago as well as its central location in the United States and international accessibility, the superiors of the Institute chose to establish this historic church and the neighboring offices as the National Headquarters of the Institute’s young American Province, reopening its doors as the Shrine of Christ the King in honor of the Child Jesus, the Holy Infant King.
The priests and oblate brothers of the Institute quickly got to work cleaning and restoring the church’s unshaken yet tired exterior. Provisional decorations, pews, and altars were erected and built in order to reopen the church as soon as possible, all with the hope that future funds would allow for the complete restoration of the interior in God’s good time and by the generosity of forthcoming benefactors.
While the “living treasures” of the church multiplied quickly as many local families as well as those from hours away began coming to the Shrine of Christ the King, the want of substantial funds slowed the restoration process. Progress was made little by little as donations were given over the next ten years, but everything would change on October 7, 2015.