100 Years of St. Joan of Arc Parish

12/10/2024  |  A Message from Our Pastor

St. Joan of Arc is proud of its 100 years of ministry and service to the Lisle community. Founded on December 14, 1924, the church held its first Mass above Albert Riedy's Hardware Store, with an altar borrowed from St. Procopius Abbey, drawing an attendance of 261 parishioners. Since then, the church has been a steadfast anchor, fostering spiritual growth and education while upholding the values of the Benedictine tradition.

The church's journey began with the generous donation of land by August Riedy and his family, followed by the completion and dedication of the church building in 1927. The church expanded its mission by founding a school, which has since grown to become the recipient of the National Blue Ribbon award three times. A new school building was erected in 1955, and in 1976, the present church was constructed and dedicated, further solidifying its role as a pillar of the community.

Staffed by the Benedictines from St. Procopius, the same order that established Benedictine University, St. Joan of Arc continues to make a significant impact. As the church welcomes its second century, it remains dedicated to serving the community with a strong presence and commitment to the Benedictine values of worship, hospitality, community, and stewardship.

We are honored to celebrate this weekend with our parish community and with a vision towards the future, we look forward to building on our tradition over the next 100 years.

For additional information on the history of St. Joan of Arc Parish, please visit www.sjalisle.org/centennial OR www.sjalisle.org/parish-history.