Mother of the Americas Parish
Mother of the Americas Parish is a dynamic parish in the Little Village Chicago community primarily serving Hispanic parishioners. With five Sunday Masses—four in Spanish and one in English—this parish is a bustling hub of spiritual activity and cultural celebration. Father Tom Boharic, who has been leading the parish since 2020, describes it as “a port of entry for immigrants from Latin America and a place of welcome.” Originally a Polish parish, it has transformed over the years to meet the needs of its ever-evolving community.
Engaging and Supporting Youth
Father Boharic underscores the parish's strong focus on youth ministry, recognizing that the youth are the future of the parish. “We have a very young community, with many families with young children and teenagers,” he explains. The parish’s youth ministry is multifaceted, featuring a traditional youth group and a robust program for altar servers. One of their standout initiatives is the St. Aloysius boys’ group, which helps young boys discern their vocations and attend vocational events. There are also plans to establish a similar group for young girls. These efforts are focused on engaging the youth in the parish and empowering them to become active participants in their faith and community.
Community Outreach and Ministries
Mother of the Americas Parish is deeply committed to community outreach. Their growing food pantry serves 150 families weekly, a response to the increasing number of new immigrants in the area. The parish also distributes clothing, offers ESL classes, and provides rent assistance through grants from Catholic Charities. “We are intentional about outside processions around the neighborhood. We are trying to be very visible in the community with our faith,” Father Boharic notes.
The parish's ministries are comprehensive, including liturgical ministries, youth ministry, music ministry, and family ministry. The “lazos de familia” ministry welcomes a trained psychologist who leads workshops on communication and social-emotional awareness for families. The parish also emphasizes formation for adults whose children are engaged in catechesis. Additionally, a full-time Deacon aids with marriage preparation and enrichment, and there is a unique outreach for quinceañeras, offering community celebrations and retreats to bring back the spiritual focus of this tradition.
Building a New Reality
At Mother of the Americas Parish, faith formation and evangelization are a way of life. Programs like Alpha, offered in English and Spanish, aim to bring parishioners closer to Jesus and the Eucharist. The parish has seen significant growth in Eucharistic Adoration, which occurs five days a week. “Growth in Eucharistic Adoration will help bear fruit in other ministries,” Father Boharic believes. This dedication to faith formation is creating new leaders and inspiring the formation of additional ministries, encouraging everyone to deepen their spiritual journey.
Special Events
The parish hosts several critical events throughout the year that inspire parishioners and the broader community. These include a large parish festival in August, the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December, and the renowned Holy Week Stations of the Cross procession through the neighborhood. “Every 12th of the month, we have a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with a procession around the neighborhood. We want to be known for our processions and being out in the community,” says Father Boharic.
In addition to these events, the parish will hold street Masses on Fridays in July and potentially August, fostering a sense of community as residents gather in the streets of Chicago to worship and share meals. The parish’s involvement in local block parties, offering blessings and prayers, further affirms its commitment to being an integral part of the community.
The Foundation of Worship
“Everything begins with Mass,” Father Boharic asserts. “We are trying to make the Masses as beautiful as we can, with an emphasis on offering to God our worship. The way we do liturgy here might be different than in other parishes, but we are trying to make it beautiful. This is the foundation for everything.”
Mother of the Americas Parish stands out for its rich liturgical life and deep commitment to service, community engagement, and faith formation.
