STA church pics request (Chicago, Washington: home, neighborhood, school)

[kmartcord]

I grew up in St. Thomas Aquinas parish in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. I have now lived in another state for many years. I was wondering if anyone might have any pictures of the interior and exterior of the former St. Thomas Aquinas Church (now, St. Martin de Porres Church), which was located on Washington Blvd. between LeClair & Leamington. I have fond memories of it, but no pictures. Thanks.

[ToriaT]

Is this it?? Check out their website.

Home

[Manigault]

Isn't that where Andrew Greeley went before he started writing novels? Nope, my bad! Father Greeley is from St. Angela's.

[jcamero6]

That certainly is St. Thomas. I have many fond memories as well. I have not been back to that area in Chicago for years. Thanks for the pic.

[James Owen]

Yup, It is even more gorgeous than I remember. I went to 1st grade at St. Thomas right after WWII and then moved to the wilds of Dallas, Texas. This was the church of my grandparents and parents. This was what Catholicism was all about. The big round wooden tables when my folks put their pew offering to the metal clips on the pew backs to hold men's hats to the beautiful carved statues of the Apostles across front of the church. Then we came out of Mass to find the 5 pound Sunday Trib being sold at the bottom of the stairs. (Surely Prince Valiant went to Mass in a church just like ours.) Anyone have pics of that wonderful interior?

[ToriaT]

Here is a link to their website. Photos say "coming soon" and there is nothing up there.
http://smdp.archchicago.org/
But here is a site you might want to look at
St. Thomas Aquinas School Class of 1960: July 2010

[JoeOB]

I attended St. Thomas Aquinas from 1963 to 1968 (1st thru 4th grade). It holds such a special place in my heart. We lived just a few blocks down on LeClair and I can remember those walks to from school, we even got to walk home for lunch, don't see that anymore. The Sisters taughts me how to play the piano there in the Convent. I can even remember hearing my first Mass in English vice Latin. Now its 53 years later and I can still remember it like yesterday.

[Gemini1963]

Originally Posted by James Owen

Then we came out of Mass to find the 5 pound Sunday Trib being sold at the bottom of the stairs. (Surely Prince Valiant went to Mass in a church just like ours.)

My husband saw this thread and really liked it - he said when he came out of his church (in Massachusetts) there was a 5 lb. Boston Globe being sold at the bottom of the stairs . . . AND doughnuts!!

[Betty C]

Originally Posted by JoeOB

I attended St. Thomas Aquinas from 1963 to 1968 (1st thru 4th grade). It holds such a special place in my heart. We lived just a few blocks down on LeClair and I can remember those walks to from school, we even got to walk home for lunch, don't see that anymore. The Sisters taughts me how to play the piano there in the Convent. I can even remember hearing my first Mass in English vice Latin. Now its 53 years later and I can still remember it like yesterday.

I also attended STA from 1963 and graduated in 1971. And I lived on LeClaire also. I lived just down the street between Maypole and West End. $th grade I had Mrs Studemeyer. I don't remember who I had in 1st thru 3rd grade. I know I did not have Sister Immaculata in 1st. But she was a substitute thru my years there. If you have a facebook page there is a page called Austin Neighborhood that is full of pics and memories of STA and the whole Austin are.

[Betty C]

If you have facebook there is a page called Austin Neighborhood that has a whole lot of pics of the church and memories of the whole austin area. My family 4 generations attended STA.