Faithful celebrate as St. Thomas More ends tenure as a church

Sunday, May 18, was a significant day for many on the Southwest Side. Another chapter closed as longtime members of St. Thomas More gathered to say goodbye to the Rev. J. Derran Combs, OFM, Ph.D., and to one another.

The church, located at 81st Street and California Avenue, has served the Ashburn and Wrightwood neighborhoods since 1958.

For those who grew up in the parish and returned for the final celebration, it was a time of conflicting emotions — a yearning to relive cherished memories. But for those who stayed and continued volunteering through the years, the loss cuts deeper.

“I placed the last food order for this farewell celebration, and it hit me — this is the last time. And my heart dropped,” said Gloria Contino, a longtime volunteer with the Altar Guild. “We’ve been showing our allegiance to God and our church until the end, and I’m glad we kept doing it, but this is so bittersweet.”

Just a month earlier, on Palm Sunday, members of the congregation heard a letter from the Office of the Vicar General informing them that, effective at the end of May, St. Thomas More would no longer function as a church.

In May 2021, as part of the Renew My Church initiative, the Archdiocese of Chicago restructured St. Thomas More. “The parish was extinguished and re-established as a mission,” the letter said.

“Unfortunately, for multiple reasons, we simply cannot send another priest to the mission for regularly scheduled Masses,” stated the most recent communication, citing a shortage of priests and limited financial resources.

The 2021 decree also pointed to financial challenges, declining attendance and shifting demographics.

But those reasons ring hollow for some members of the congregation.

Phillip Smith, a lifelong member of “Tommy More,” as the church is affectionately known, said he’s been in contact with the parish’s former pastor, the Rev. Anthony Brankin.

“He is retired now but told us he is willing to come back,” said Smith, who also worked at the parish for 26 years. “He said he would just want to live in the rectory.”

Smith added that Brankin wrote a letter to the personnel board asking for special permission to continue offering Mass at the church without receiving a salary.

As for the claim of financial difficulty, Smith pointed to the church’s latest financial statement, which shows a 2023 income of $597,073.83. After expenses, the parish still reported a surplus of $44,531.93.

William MacDonald, who joined Tommy More as a young boy in the 1950s and attended the parish school, still lives just four blocks away.

“We have such a nice, diverse group of people here,” he said, estimating that of the roughly 300 members, about 50% are white, 25% Black and 25% Hispanic.

Founded in 1947, the parish was the first to open in the area after World War II. Its current structure, completed in 1958, is an architectural landmark — a modernist design filled with artistic flourishes. A large mural behind the main altar and 16 stained-glass windows depict the life of its patron saint.

Outside, a prominent statue of St. Thomas More stands near the bell tower. A well-maintained garden with statues brought over from the shuttered St. Ethelreda Church greets visitors from the parking lot.

The archdiocese has said the building will be repurposed as a resource center for the Black Catholic Initiative and the Augustus Tolton Spirituality Institute.

“Right now, we are sheep without a shepherd,” MacDonald said. “We are not opposed to new initiatives and we welcome more people, but don’t take away our sacraments.”

Current members have no intention of stepping back. Signs have been posted along the streets and in front yards, urging Cardinal Blase Cupich to allow Mass to continue. They’re also asking supporters to contact the Archdiocese.

Will the archdiocese reconsider and allow members of Tommy More to keep celebrating Mass in their church? There’s always a chance. But for now, the final scheduled liturgy is set for Sunday, May 25, at 10 a.m.