Soon Antioch barn will be ready for Catholic parish

On the outskirts of Antioch, an old barn is being transformed into the Archdiocese of Chicago's first new parish in eight years.

The Rev. John Jamnicky watches as contractors refurbish pews and 100-year-old wooden arches that previously stood in now-closed Chicago churches.

He steps outside and feeds his four dozen chickens. They've got to stay healthy -- Jamnicky plans to use their eggs to raise money for the church.

It is a far cry from his 20-year stint as chaplain of O'Hare International Airport. Once completed, Jamnicky is sure St. Raphael the Archangel will have the charm of a country church, while serving the fast growing northern Lake County region.

"There has been a lot of new development in this area, and the churches here were built as rural parishes," he said. "They are just not adequate to handle the numbers of people."

The Archdiocese is leasing the barn, and its adjacent buildings including a farm house on Route 173, just east of Route 45, from the Pedersen family, which previously used the buildings for farm equipment.

Work began on the barn May 1. It will be completed in August and the first Mass will be Sept. 1.

Francis Cardinal George will bless the church during the 6 p.m. Mass on Sept. 29, which is also the Feast of the Archangels.

Dick Gambla, contractor for the project, said new heating and air conditioning units have been installed, as well as electrical upgrades.

"The next step is to finish the walls, work on the bathrooms and then put carpeting in," Gambla said. "Then we will be ready to go."

Jamnicky said the Archdiocese could see the potential in the barn, which is why it pursued the lease.

St. Raphael will seat only about 200, so Mass will be held twice on Saturdays, three times on Sundays and daily during the week.

An annual count of Catholics in the Chicago area showed Antioch could support another church. Jamnicky said there are standing-room-only crowds at St. Peter in Antioch on Sundays.

St. Raphael will serve an 8-square-mile territory bordered by the state line to the north, the Tri-State Tollway to the east, Grand Avenue to the south and Deep Lake and Grass Lake roads to the west.

Despite the charm of the barn parish, St. Raphael will occupy the space for only about five years.

The Archdiocese plans build a church adjacent to the barn on 40 acres along Route 45 it has owned for the last decade.

That church will seat 1,500 to 1,600 and cost $15 million and $20 million to build.

Jamnicky recognizes people will get comfortable with their parish leaders. He also knows there could be obstacles when the church opens.

He is up to the challenge.

"It will take a little time, change always does," he said. "But so many people are coming into this area looking for a church. We will provide just that."