As the Archdiocese of Chicago works to consolidate parishes in the South Suburbs, it has given new names to two of its recently reorganized parishes.
The archdiocese provided parishioners with a list of saints and asked them to select their favorites in rank order. The lists were then submitted to the archdiocese for a final name selection.
Infant Jesus of Prague Church in Flossmoor is now St. Veronica Parish.
The new parish is a combination of IJP in Flossmoor, St. Lawrence O’Toole in Matteson and St. Irenaeus in Park Forest. The Roman Catholic Church venerates St. Veronica as the woman who offered her veil so that Jesus could wipe his face as he made his way to Calvary and the Crucifixion.
The former parishes of St. Anne in Hazel Crest, St. Emeric in Country Club Hills and St. Joseph in Homewood are now combined as St. John Neumann parish based in Homewood.
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes St. John Neumann as a patron saint of immigrants. He emigrated from Europe in 1836 and became a U.S. citizen. He served as the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the United States. He is the only male U.S. citizen to be named a saint.