Letter to Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, D.C., Alderman James Gardiner and Commission on Chicago Landmarks from The Faithful
pgorman@archchicago.org, nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org, ward45@cityofchicago.org, landmarks@cityofchicago.org
Save Our Lady of Victory Church & Campus!
Oppose the sale of this historic Catholic landmark in Chicago’s Jefferson Park to the Islamic Community Center of Illinois
Our Lady of Victory, a landmark-worthy church built in 1906 that served the Catholic community for over a century, is currently on the market after its closure. We oppose its sale and conversion into an Islamic school and community center.
While we fully support religious freedom for all faiths, the proposed sale and conversion of Our Lady of Victory Church — a sacred Catholic site built in 1906 that served generations of faithful — into an Islamic school and community center crosses the line. The church’s name itself honors the Catholic victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, a pivotal moment in defense of Christian Europe against the spread of the Ottoman Empire.
We urge the Archdiocese of Chicago to halt the sale and preserve this historic landmark for Catholic or compatible Christian use, rather than repurposing in a way that is painful to the Catholic community.
We urge Alderman James Gardiner to immediately initiate the long-overdue landmarking process for Our Lady of Victory Church in order to preserve this vital piece of our community’s history.
Petition by
To:
pgorman@archchicago.org, nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org, ward45@cityofchicago.org, landmarks@cityofchicago.org
From:
[Your Name]
We, the faithful, respectfully write to urge Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, D.C., and Alderman James Gardiner to immediately halt the sale of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church to the Islamic Community Center of IL for conversion into a Muslim H.S.
Why We Oppose This Sale:
Sacred Heritage:
This church is named in honor of the Battle of Lepanto (October 7, 1571), where the Virgin Mary’s intercession helped a Christian fleet defeat the invading Ottoman navy, saving Europe from Ottoman conquest. Turning this Marian victory church into an Islamic school is deeply symbolic and painful to many Catholics.
Community Character:
Jefferson Park has long been a Catholic neighborhood. Residents deserve a voice in what happens to this local landmark.
Better Alternatives:
The Archdiocese should prioritize Catholic or compatible uses that respect the building’s consecrated history instead of selling it for a purpose that contradicts its origins.
We support religious freedom for everyone, but this specific conversion of a historic Catholic church crosses a line.
We respectfully call on you to:
• Block the sale to the Islamic Community Center
• Pursue options that preserve the church’s Catholic identity
• Provide full transparency to the community
Catholic faithful and the 45th Ward/NW Constitutes,