1840 - 1899

In the early 1840s, the area known today as Gage Park was initially settled by German farmers. While the demographics have shifted over the decades and centuries, Gage Park has consistently remained predominantly Catholic. In 1865, the small collection of farms and towns was incorporated into the town of Lake, eventually becoming part of Chicago in 1889. By that time, farms had been replaced by around 30 wooden cottages, and the area lacked paved roads or public transport.

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In the early 1880s, the village of Elsdon, located just west of Gage Park, was centered around the Grand Trunk Station at Fifty-First Street. The local population relied on the Tiffany Car Shop for employment, and a small Catholic community in the area became a mission branch of St. Agnes Parish in the spring of 1890.

Reverend J.A. Hemlock conducted Masses in a small cottage at 5151 S. St. Louis Ave. However, in the fall of 1893, he retired due to health issues, and St. Agnes Parish welcomed Rev. A.J. Hitchcock, who effectively served the "little mission."

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Shortly after Rev. Hitchcock’s arrival, the church relocated to a larger venue at 5201 S. St. Louis Ave., where Masses were held in a spacious hall above a grocery store. Unfortunately, attendance dwindled, leading to the disbandment of the Catholic congregation. In early 1894, Father J.E. Le Sage from St. Joseph's and St. Anne's (both in Brighton Park) took over the mission, moving it to a frame house at the northeast corner of 52nd St. & Turner, now known as Christiana.

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Over the next five years, the community flourished as Elsdon became part of Chicago, similar to Gage Park. This growth necessitated the establishment of a permanent church and parish instead of maintaining the "little mission." In May 1899, Father Michael J. Sullivan was appointed the first pastor of the new parish, serving 132 parishioners, the founding members of St. Gall. One parishioner, John A. Walther, proposed naming the church after the patron saint of his home canton in Switzerland. This suggestion was approved by Chicago Archbishop Feehan, leading to the establishment of St. Gall as the newest parish on Chicago's southwest side.

1900 - 1950

A significant building boom occurred as electric trolley service expanded to Western Avenue and then Kedzie. From 1905 onwards, the planning of Western & Garfield Boulevards greatly contributed to residential and industrial development in the area. The neighborhood was named after the Gage family, who owned much of the land. Between 1910 and 1930, Gage Park became part of the "bungalow belt," with these unique homes and apartments housing generations of St. Gall graduates and remaining a source of pride for both Gage Park and the city of Chicago. Thanks to this development, St. Gall experienced substantial growth in both adult and child populations, significantly aiding in the establishment of our school.

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In 1908, after nearly a decade of service to St. Gall, Father Sullivan was transferred to Resurrection Parish. The Augustinian Fathers then took charge of the parish as a mission of St. Rita Parish. At this point, a larger church building was necessary, prompting another move to a fourth site at 54th & Millard, which accommodated more than 500 parishioners every Sunday. The first Mass in this new building took place on May 1, 1910.

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During this period, the parish community recognized the need for a school. In September 1910, St. Gall School commenced classes above the church at 54th & Millard, with the first educators being the Dominican Sisters from Adrian, Michigan. The initial school was divided into two classes: the first class encompassed grades one through four and was taught by one sister, while grades five through eight were taught by another sister in a separate classroom.

The first seven years of the school were staffed by Sister Adalbert, Sister Helen Marie, Sister Ann Genevieve, Sister Mary Theresa, Sister Mary Louis, and Sister Mary Wenceslaus. These sisters shared a convent with the Sisters at St. Rita Parish and traveled daily via a switch engine operated by Mr. Art Foster, a St. Gall parishioner.

On October 29, 1916, Father Fred P. Cannell became the pastor at St. Gall, and the church at 54th & Millard was set aside for a better location at 55th and Kedzie while the school continued to operate upstairs in the former church building.

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By 1920, Gage Park's population exceeded 13,000, primarily of Bohemian and Polish descent, with many residents employed at the Chicago Union Stockyards. By 1925, the community supported three movie theaters, including the Colony, which was built at 5824 S. Kedzie and still stands today, though it no longer serves as a cinema.

In 1922, Ben F. Bohac established Talman Home Federal Savings and Loan, initially located at the corner of 51st & Talman and later moved to 55th and Kedzie, directly across from St. Gall. The bank and St. Gall Parish maintained a collaborative relationship for many years, which continues today (though Talman has since merged with LaSalle/Bank of America).

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Plans for a new school building were created in 1923, leading to its completion in 1924 on the corner of 55th and Sawyer. The Dominican Sisters remained at St. Rita, and the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary assumed responsibility for the school and the St. Gall community. The new school opened on September 22, 1923, under the guidance of Mother St. Agnes and Sisters Mary Catherine, Philomena, and Mary of the Rosary, with approximately 100 children enrolled on the first day.

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The Sisters moved into the Rectory while Father Cannell resided with a parishioner until a convent could be constructed. While plans for a new church were underway, the school basement served as the venue for weekly Mass. A small convent was built at 5553 S. Sawyer, serving the Sisters for a few years. The present Rectory was completed in 1926 to provide accommodations for the priests. By June 1928, plans for a new church in the school basement were initiated due to the congregation's growth beyond 900 attendees at weekly Mass. The new basement church opened on February 3, 1929.

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In early 1924, Father Cannell resigned due to declining health, and Monsignor Hishen was appointed as his successor, serving St. Gall for over 30 years. Under Msgr. Hishen's leadership, St. Gall parish experienced significant growth in both membership and spiritual development.

The school also expanded, necessitating an addition in 1935 that added eight new rooms, five of which were converted into living quarters for the twelve sisters teaching at the school. During this time, various social clubs were formed by parishioners, including men's and women's bowling leagues, a dramatic society, and a club for adolescents. The annual card party and dance began during this period, providing vital social and financial support for the parish.

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As enrollment increased, the Sisters decided to convert the five rooms in the new building back into classrooms, allowing them to move into quieter living quarters. The current convent was built in 1949.

In the same year, the first St. Gall School Band was formed under Mr. Otto Nagl. For many years, this band was one of the most competitive on Chicago's south side, at one point boasting over 100 members and participating in local parades, including the 63rd Street Christmas Parade. Mr. Nagl served as band director for nearly 40 years, leaving a lasting legacy in our music program.

1950 - Present

In the early 1950s, Monsignor Hishen noted that the basement church could no longer accommodate the large crowds attending Sunday Masses. Services began to be held in what is now the school gym and Bingo Hall. Plans for an "upper church" or street-level facility were considered, especially since the basement church experienced flooding during rainstorms.

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Initial plans for the new church proposed constructing a superstructure over the old church, allowing the new building to be built on the existing foundation. A fundraising committee, including Mr. George Hoffman, whose wife Lil taught 3rd grade at St. Gall for over 30 years, was formed.

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On October 16, 1955, Monsignor Hishen broke ground for the new church. The first Mass in the current church at the corner of 55th and Kedzie was celebrated during the Easter Vigil in 1957.

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The original design for the church featured a seating capacity of 1,400. During the construction of the new church, the "middle addition" was added to the school, linking the two buildings located a block apart on Sawyer and Kedzie, with four new classrooms and a school library.

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Monsignor Hishen emphasized that the altar should be the center of the new church. He stated, "The altar should be the true center of the church." With this philosophy in mind, the original church plans were scrapped and redesigned into a quarter circle, shortening the distance from the furthest pew to the altar, increasing seating capacity, and maintaining the altar as the focal point. The new design maximized the space available at 55th and Kedzie. The new church was dedicated on April 13, 1958.

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Upon Monsignor Hishen's retirement, he remained active in parish life. The convent basement was remodeled and renamed the Hishen Senior Center in 1972. This space, which had previously served as the parish Kindergarten, also hosted the Extended Day program and currently serves as the meeting place for the parish youth group. Monsignor Hishen passed away on May 25, 1973, at the age of 79, and his dedication to the St. Gall community is fondly remembered. The Hishen Center continues to be an essential part of St. Gall parish, hosting gatherings for RICA, Religious Education, and English as a Second Language classes.

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In September 1989, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary celebrated their 100th anniversary at St. Gall, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of St. Gall on the southwest side. They also commemorated their long-standing partnership. This mass was celebrated by Joseph Cardinal Bernadin, one of Chicago's cherished religious figures.

Father David P. Dowdle was installed as the seventh pastor of St. Gall on October 16, 1992. Under Father Dowdle’s leadership, a Hispanic Ministry was established to reach out to the growing Hispanic population in Gage Park. The first Spanish-language Mass was held on December 12, 1996, attracting over 2,500 attendees. During this period, two Spanish language Masses were added to the weekend schedule to accommodate the increasing Hispanic community.

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On November 19, 2000, St. Gall parish celebrated its 100th anniversary, a significant milestone that highlighted the parish's blessings as it continues to serve the Gage Park community. Weekly Mass attendance remains robust, and we joyfully welcome new members to our parish and school families. We are fortunate to have dedicated newcomers as well as longtime parishioners who have served St. Gall for many years, ensuring our ongoing success.

School enrollment has fluctuated over the years, influenced by population changes and the closure of local schools. When the first permanent school building opened, St. Gall welcomed 100 children. By the time the new church was dedicated, enrollment exceeded 1,000. During the parish’s 75th anniversary in 1974, enrollment stood at 618 students, while in 2010, it was 231.

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Starting in 2001, improvements were made to the school building to enhance the educational experience for students. The old windows were replaced with energy-efficient and soundproof options. While our proximity to Midway Airport is advantageous, the new windows allow learning to continue without disruption from airport noise.

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With the installation of new windows, upgraded air conditioning and heating systems were introduced in each classroom, along with ceiling fans to maintain comfortable temperatures. The new windows also came equipped with emergency exits. Additionally, new countertops and cabinets were added to every classroom, while the Computer Lab was updated in 2016 to provide students with optimal learning opportunities. The lab now features 35 computer stations, an interactive whiteboard, a photo/document scanner, printers, and wireless servers.

In the 1990s, one classroom was converted into a functioning Science Lab, giving students hands-on experience with experiments in biology, life sciences, and chemistry.

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As demand grew, a Preschool program was added in the mid-1990s, and Kindergarten transitioned to a full-day program. Both programs aim to introduce children to a Catholic education from an early age, allowing them to join the St. Gall family from the start.

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Father Matt Foley became the 12th pastor of St. Gall on July 1, 2022. It is hoped that the ministry established by previous pastors, sisters, ministers, and parishioners will continue for another century.

As we look ahead, it is the hope and prayer of all who serve at St. Gall that the parish and school will continue to flourish and fulfill God's work here on earth. While many generations have come and gone from St. Gall, we know that as the people of God gather together, St. Gall is our home.