The IMC Project

The Ignatian Mission Center Project would transform the vacant rectory and unused basement at St. Ignatius Church. We would wrap a social service center around our successful food pantry in the church basement and convert the rectory into a transitional shelter for women and children who have left domestic violence situations.

We have been in dialogue with the Archdiocese of Chicago since spring 2022 about taking over the rectory and Church, as well as the parking lot on Arthur Avenue. A study done for us by IFF, a nonprofit lender and real-estate consultant, convinced us the IMC would not have the capacity to take on the school buildings, after years of the buildings being under-maintained. Loyola University and others have concentrated on possibly purchasing that part of the parish site.

The biggest change at the site would be an addition to the rectory to allow for a child care center for the domestic violence shelter and an expansion of the current chapel-side entrance to allow for the installation of a wheelchair lift.

The IMC aims to continue to preserve and, in some cases, restore, what exists in the sacred spaces of the church and chapel, while looking at better accommodating shrines in the church. We would likely move the statue group of Our Lady of Fatima to the southwest corner of the St. Ignatius property, in front of the church.