St Gertrude Church

As the Catholic community in this area increased in size, its members petitioned Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan for a parish of their own. On June 30, 1901, the New World reported that Father Patrick J. Scanlan, a former assistant at Nativity of our Lord Church in Chicago, had been appointed pastor in Franklin Park. The decision to form a new parish was made following a visit from Chancellor Francis J. Barry who was sent "to investigate the request for a priest." He examined six lots at the intersection of Franklin and Belmont that had been donated by Lesser Franklin for a new parish.


The first Mass was offered in a store at the corner of Franklin Ave. and Calwagner Street. Mass attendance averaged thirty five people and the total offering amounted to about $1.25 each Sunday. Some traveled to Mass via horse and buggy, while hardier souls made the journey on foot from Bensenville and Schiller Park for the 9:00 a.m Mass. On July 28, 1901, the New World commented that Father Scanlan had been "engaged for the past few weeks in soliciting subscriptions for the new church, and he has the hearty cooperation of all, irrespective of creed or nationality." The diocesan paper reported that Mass was then being held on Sunday at the Palm House, at the corner of Franklin and Belmont Avenues. An attempt was made to coordinate the Sunday Mass with the arrival of trains from Bensenville