Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary  » Parish History

Information Taken from www.ourladyofsiluva.com

In the year 1929, Lithuanian immigrants settled in Chicago, Illinois. Their devotion to Our Lady of Siluva was of importance that a parish in her honor was established in the Marquette Park neighborhood of Chicago. Today, the church, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has a replicated copy of the extraordinary image of Our Lady of Šiluva over its main altar.

Congregation members had a desire to build a new church which would serve as a monument, dedicated for their love to the Mother of God. In consequence, the pastor, Rev. George A. Paškus, made extensive plans to have the monument erected.

Work for the new church began in 1953 and was completed in 1957. The building is of Lithuanian folk baroque style and Lithuanian folk art. The gold encrusted replica of Our Lady of Šiluva hangs over the main altar. In addition, there is a mural near one of the side altars, which is an artistically depicted apparition of the Blessed Virgin in Šiluva, painted by Sister Mercedes of the Sisters of St. Casmir. Over the years, the church has attracted visitors from all parts of the country.

During the Octave of the Feast of Nativity held each September, crowds congregate to the church to pay respect to Our Lady of Šiluva. Priests from Lithuania are invited to this annual celebration to conduct the novena services held on the Sunday between September 7th and 16th which consists of an outdoor procession with pageantry. All Lithuanian parishes throughout the Chicagoland area are invited to participate. This celebration honoring Our Lady of Šiluva officially began in 1952 with the permission of Samuel Cardinal Stritch, and under the direction of Mr. Anthony Rudis.