Queen of All Saints Basilica — Local services in Jefferson Township

3/2024 update: wildly disappointed after spending years here and being an active religious education/Boy Scouts family.

Tl/dr: DONT (try to) GET MARRIED HERE. What a joke!

After beginning the paperwork process LAST FALL, I’m no closer to securing a wedding date through QAS. There’s apparently only one woman who works on this paperwork, and she’s only in the office T/Th. Our priest refused to answer/return calls, and started fielding everything through this woman, as well.

YMMV if you have a “less complicated” case, but really, why should it matter when (Supposedly) literal souls are on the line???

We’ve begun the process of getting married in another church (shoutout to the v faithful St. John Cantius), and now QAS might flat out refuse to finish the paperwork they’ve started for us, even though the new church says the fastest way would be through them and wouldn’t be an abnormal way of going about things.

Of course, QAS won’t even give me an answer about that, since the office lady won’t reach back out after I dropped off the latest batch of required documents, a full 45 min ea way trip from my home…

This experience has forever changed my view of this church, unfortunately. I can’t believe they would literally do everything possible to keep two people from the sacrament of marriage in these fraught and uncertain times. They have done irreparable damage to my soul by withholding this sacrament (and therefore the Eucharist) from me, and I hope God’s justice is swift. Nothing beats home. Or one’s home church. Beautiful basilica with a loving, active faith community.

The only things missing are more sing-along song options during mass (are they still afraid of Covid? Idk) and candles for purchase/lighting in the basilica, even just “click on” ones… stunningly absent, which is a big bummer.

Sometimes the msgs are a little too “woke” for my taste, but I think that’s more a product of living in Chicago than a failing on the church’s part. It would be nice to see them advertise what they do for actual parishioners in need vs non-Catholic, non-native/community members (cough “refugees”) and/or focus more on those in our actual community, first.

Excellent, understanding, flexible catechism program for kids, can’t imagine it’d be much different for adults.

Wonderful events and groups and a real focus on making more ways for people to connect outside of mass.

I proud to call...

I have little interest or patience for religious bible thumping. I'm actually close to being an atheist if completely truthful. But sometimes you just long for an extra little spiritual lift in life. This beautiful, massive church is a short walk from my house - so I decided to give it a try.

I honestly was more interested in hearing the pipe organ & choir than a priest mumble his way threw a pre-scripted sermon. I was pleasantly impressed (shocked) with every enjoyable moment I spent there.

The service included all the traditional experiences a Catholic expects. A fair amount of aerobic workouts of ups, downs & kneeling. But you can also sit in place without catching stink eye from anyone.

The shocker came with the priest. Normally I'm fighting off sleepy eyes with head bobbing or counting the boards & light bulbs in the ceiling. But this guy was different. He was confident. Kind. Funny at times. Extremely intelligent & knowledgeable. A great storyteller. He had and maintained my complete attention the entire time. His preaching was perfect. Short, sweet & engaging.

Most importantly, his testimony was ideally "Christ" like. Loving. Kind. Compassionate. And inviting. I'll go again. It was an uplifting experience & (much to my surprise) I actually, really enjoyed it.

Went for the music. Blessed by the service....

Having sung here in 1999 w my college choir, I was excited to bring my family to mass while we were visiting for a long weekend. The church was every bit as beautiful as I remembered. The music, was perplexing. To begin mass with what sounded like contemporary non-denominational music was odd. Then by the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the pendulum swung wildly in favor of traditional Latin chant, which seemed much more appropriate, until harmony was added at the end. Then the closing hymn to the tune of O Danny Boy, was again, perplexing. To have a 3,000+ pipe organ barely used during mass ... was...