Our History
The Church of St. Mary began as a mission in a little log church built in western Lake Forest in 1844. By 1875, a small group of about thirty families from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff formed the new parish of St. Mary's. A white frame church was built at the corner of Illinois and Green Bay Roads, where our current church stands. In 1908, the original church was declared in danger of collapse. It was demolished and replaced by the current church.
As the parish grew in the early 20th century, buildings were added to the campus. The original rectory was built next to the church in 1878. The original school, now the Junior High building and home to the science, math, and art labs, was dedicated in 1917. The present school and gym were opened in 1958. The convent, currently the Parish Center, was opened in 1950.
Families continued to move into Lake Forest throughout the century. Many homes had been built by 1929. In the early 1930s, during the Great Depression era, some families doubled up their homes, but few moved from the area. After World War II, more families moved to the northern suburbs. The building boom of the 1950s and '60s attracted many people to the area, including young families who enrolled their children in the School of St. Mary.
Our parish continues to grow and, as our needs expand, so do our facilities. The School Upper Grade Center Library addition to the school in 2007 has provided new opportunities for our students, fostering both academic excellence and faith formation. Beyond our parish school, our K–8 Religious Education program serves hundreds of children each year, helping families pass on the faith and nurturing the next generation of disciples. For adults, a wide variety of ministries including The Guild of St. Mary, Men’s Faith and Fellowship, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, COR Youth Ministry, and many more spiritual enrichment opportunities that provide ongoing formation and community. Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to serve parishioners of every age, walking with them on their lifelong journey of faith.