A Family of Families Built on Faith

St. Mary of the Angels Parish, under the leadership of Fr. John Waiss, has developed a unique blend of faith and family. The parish stands out for its commitment to nurturing strong Catholic families and for fostering spiritual growth through family-centric programming.

“Our parishioners come from all over,” says Fr. Waiss. “We’re a commuter parish, with families traveling from as far as Libertyville and Indiana because they feel at home here.”

A Thriving School at the Heart of Outreach

The school is at the heart of St. Mary of the Angels’ mission, which facilitates its community outreach. With 320 students enrolled, the school is a vibrant example of renewal and growth. The school was slated to close in 2009 but has rebounded under strong leadership and a principal committed to its mission.

“Our school has a strong Catholic identity and is an important way we connect with the community,” Fr. Waiss shares. “We offer a loving, Catholic family environment that often overflows into people’s personal lives… We’re socially and ethnically diverse, which we’re really proud of.” The school’s emphasis on diversity and outreach is noteworthy.

Ministries That Strengthen Faith and Family

St. Mary of the Angels’ ministries reflect its commitment to faith formation and family life. The Family of Faith ministry, introduced in 2019, brings families together twice a month to learn how to teach their children about God. “Parents are thrilled with this program,” Fr. Waiss notes. “It’s strengthened faith in families and fostered meaningful conversations about God, and parents are very happy with this ministry.”

The parish also prides itself on its robust Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program, with 25 participants currently enrolled. This is a testament to the parish’s welcoming environment and its ability to meet the spiritual needs of adults seeking to deepen their faith.

The parish has ambitious plans for the future, including the creation of a Family Hub—a welcoming space designed to strengthen families and marriages. This initiative, which includes remodeling the church basement to include a coffee area, better access to the Church, and programming such as couples’ nights with babysitting services, aims to provide a relaxed environment for families to connect and support each other. “We want to create a place where families can support families, parents can support parents, mothers can support mothers,” Fr. Waiss says.

Community Partnerships

St. Mary of the Angels’ commitment to community extends beyond the parish walls. A strong partnership with Midtown-Metro Achievement Centers supports low-income families through programs that emphasize academic excellence, virtue development, and parental involvement. This includes Midtown’s Christmas baskets for families in need.

The parish also collaborates with Kolbe House, runs coat drives, and works with Our Lady of the Angels Mission on food drives.

Celebrating Faith at Annual Events

St. Mary of the Angels’ calendar is rich with events that deepen faith and community bonds. Highlights include the St. Josemaría Mass on June 26, honoring the founder of Opus Dei, and the Novena for the Immaculate Conception, a nightly celebration from November 30 to December 8 that prepares parishioners for Christmas.

Soon, the parish will display a statue of Our Lady of Fairest Love before it is moved to its permanent location in California. “We’re excited to host a statue of Our Lady of Fairest Love,” Fr. Waiss shares. “We hope to develop a novena around it to focus on marriage and family, themes that are central to our parish mission.”

A Beautiful Space

St. Mary of the Angels is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful churches in the United States. Recent renovations, including new steps and a restored colonnade, underscore the parish’s belief in the power of beauty to lead people to Christ and to welcome them into His family.

A Vision for Families

With renewed growth post-COVID, St. Mary of the Angels remains steadfast in its mission to evangelize through family life. “The way to evangelize is through the family,” Fr. Waiss emphasizes. “If we strengthen families, we strengthen the Church. That’s the vision we’re building toward.”