Holy Name Cathedral was filled near to capacity on Nov. 24 for Mass with Cardinal Cupich to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the founding of the parish on Nov. 18, 1849.

Earlier in the week, during the noon Mass on Nov. 18, Alderman Brendan Reilly presented a city resolution to Father Greg Sakowicz, rector of the cathedral, proclaiming the day as Holy Name Cathedral Day in Chicago.

The anniversary-year theme is Faith in Action, and the cathedral has planned a year-long schedule of special services, concerts and events to commemorate the milestone. The year will end in November 2025 with the 150th anniversary of the parish being designated as the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

“Today was connecting the past, the present and the future, to go back to 1849 and now 2024, 175 years as a parish,” said Sakowicz. “But it doesn’t stop today because today is the start of a tomorrow and into the future with the help of the grace of God.”

A committee of parishioners has been meeting for over a year to plan the celebration, he said.

“When I talked to the committee, I said it was very important that it not just be a day in isolation, but with celebrations throughout the year with different groups of people highlighting the cathedral,” he said. “The key is bringing the people together to celebrate all of us in the name of God.”

While Holy Name is a parish, it also plays hosts to many important events in the life of Catholics in Chicago, Sakowicz said.

He particularly remembers being a newly ordained priest and sitting in the cathedral when Pope John Paul II visited in 1979.

“The cathedral has had a tremendous history with the key, most wonderful moments that historically have happened here at the cathedral,” he said. “As the cathedral, we are the mother church and in some ways are the hub, but the legacy and history have been phenomenal.”

Having events throughout the year builds a bridge between the anniversary of the parish and the anniversary of the cathedral, said Claire Gregoire, a member of the organizing committee.

“What we’re trying to do … is to really bring the mission to life,” Gregoire said. “Holy Name Cathedral’s mission is about inspiring and nurturing and joining one another on our faith journeys to deepen our relationship and encounter with Jesus Christ so we’re really trying to do experiential events, things that people can participate in and not just attend.”

One of those events is the creation of a mosaic in the cathedral’s courtyard. Parishioners will be able to work on parts of the mosaic over the winter and it will be installed in May. Another is a Road to Emmaus Revival in June.

The anniversary committee includes leaders of all of the cathedral’s ministries. The committee is also focused on collaborative events with outside groups such as the Illinois Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Gregoire said.

“This has been a whole inclusive faith community effort, which has just been exciting for us,” she said.

Gregoire has been a parishioner for more than 30 years, but this past year taking part in planning the anniversary celebrations has been particularly meaningful to her.

“Really, just to see everyone get so engaged and interpret their faith and actually share that,” she said. “It’s just really deepening.”

Fellow committee member John Silver said the anniversary Mass with Cardinal Cupich showcased some of the parish’s recent history.

“It was just interesting to see the totality of the faith community itself,” Silver said. “You saw all the various priests from throughout the years dating back to probably the 1970s. And seeing just the crowd itself. You saw lots of people who don’t normally go to that 12:30 Mass and are involved in all aspects of the cathedral. You really kind of saw faith in action in the pews.”

Parishioner Stephanie McIntrye is excited for the yearlong celebration. She is a lifelong member and graduated from Frances Xavier Warde School, formerly Holy Name Cathedral School, on the cathedral’s campus.

“Holy Name Cathedral is my lifelong ministry,” said McIntyre, who regularly ministers as lead altar server in Masses with Cardinal Cupich.

The anniversary offers hope for all Catholics, she said.

“The parish is a beacon of hope, of faith and love for all and very welcoming,” McIntyre said. “It exemplifies the longevity of Christ as a beacon for all who come here. This is the place where Chicago comes to pray.”

For more information about events for the 175th anniversary year, visit holynamecathedral.org.175.