Welcome!

Welcome to the new Parish Community of
Infant Jesus of Prague,
St. Irenaeus and St. Lawrence O'Toole. 


Pilgrimage & Unification Mass


 

  • 9:30am - Sunday, August 14, 2022 - Prayer Service at 9:30am followed by pilgrimage to St. Lawrence O'Toole for Prayer Service at 10:15am. Final pilgrimage to the new parish location at Infant Jesus of Prague church for 11:00am Mass.

 

Sign up to volunteer for the August 14th Pilgrimage Unification Mass here

 


Ministry Fair 

 

July 30 and 31 - 2022

 


2022-2023 Religious Education Registration 

 

Weekends of July 23 & 24 and July 30 & 31.

 

As of July 1, 2022, the new Parish Community of Infant Jesus of Prague, St. Irenaeus
and St. Lawrence O'Toole will have one Religious Education Program.


 

 

Renew My Church

 

Update May 2, 2022

 

Cardinal Cupich signed a Decree on April 25th, 2022 stating that St. Irenaeus, Infant Jesus of Prague and St. Lawrence O'Toole will form a new parish on July 1, 2022.

Click here for full text of the Decree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renew My Church

 

Update February 19, 2022


Pastor and Associate Pastor assignments for the 294 South Grouping have been announced by Bishop Joseph Perry. These assignments will be effective July, 1, 2022.

For the newly united parish to be formed by Infant Jesus of Prague, St. Irenaeus and St. Lawrence O'Toole:

  • Fr. Kris Paluch will serve as Pastor. Fr. Paluch is currently Pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Midlothian.
  • Fr. Ron Kondziolka will serve as Associate Pastor.

 

 

 

Download pdf version of this information here: https://stirenaeuschurch.com/documents/2-19-2022-rmc-pastor-assignment-letter

 

 

 

 

Renew My Church

 

Update Jan. 25, 2022


Bishop Joseph Perry, our regional bishop and Cardinal Cupich's representative to Vicariate VI, our region of the archdiocese, shared an update on the future of the parishes in our grouping (294 South Corridor) on Monday, January 24, 2022. 

Over the past several months, the 294 South Corridor grouping’s Feedback and Discernment Teams, made up of representatives from each parish community, met to review and discern future parish and church structures. Based on their meetings and discussions with the larger parish communities, they submitted feedback reports to the Archdiocesan Standards and Recommendations Commission, which includes representatives from across the archdiocese. The commission reviewed the feedback reports and other information, including demographic data, financial summaries, and parish and grouping trends. Cardinal Cupich, our auxiliary bishops and Presbyteral Council discussed the commission’s recommendations. Based on those discussions and prayerful consideration, the following decisions have been made:

The 294 South Corridor Grouping includes the following parishes and schools:

  • Infant Jesus of Prague Parish and School (Flossmoor)
  • St. Anne Parish (Hazel Crest)
  • St. Irenaeus Parish (Park Forest)
  • St. Emeric Parish (Country Club Hills)
  • St. Joseph Parish (Homewood)
  • St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish (Matteson)

The new structure will be:

  • St. Anne, St. Emeric and St. Joseph will unite as a new parish, with a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team, effective July 1, 2022.
    • St. Joseph will serve as the parish church and the pastor in consultation with parish leadership will issue the timeline for fully transitioning Masses to St. Joseph Church in the coming months.
    • The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.
  • Infant Jesus of Prague (IJP), St. Irenaeus and St. Lawrence O’Toole will unite as a new parish, with a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team, effective July 1, 2022.
    • IJP will serve as the parish church and the pastor in consultation with parish leadership will issue a timeline for fully transitioning Masses to IJP in the coming months. 
    • The local community will discern possibilities for the new permanent name of the united parish, within guidelines provided by the archdiocese.
    • Infant Jesus of Prague School will serve as the parish school.

Next Steps

Over the next few months, the archdiocese and the current parish pastors together with the archdiocese Renew My Church Accompaniment Team will work with local leaders to ensure uniting faith communities and staff are supported through this time of change. All parishes will embark on the next phase of renewal to become stronger, more sustainable and capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ, building communities and inspiring witness.

Read official statement from the Archdiocese of Chicago on the 294 South Corridor grouping here. 

 

STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED WITH ST. IRENAEUS

DONATIONS

  • Online at GiveCentral - https://www.givecentral.org/location/410
  • Checks may be mailed or dropped off at the Parish office at the following address: 
    St Irenaeus Church
    78 Cherry Street
    Park Forest, Illinois 60466

 

 

Why We Love St Irenaeus

Many of our parishioners shared why they love St Irenaeus. Click play to learn why!

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Masses & Prayer Services

 

Prayer Services & Liturgy: 

Click here for Bulletin

 

Immigration
Resources
 

Upcoming Events

 

Full calendar of events

Catholic News & Perspective

 

link to your diocese