Elgin’s St. Laurence To Celebrate 90 Years
By Margarita Mendoza, El Observador Editor
August 3, 2018
ELGIN—When Father Andrew Mulcahey received a proclamation (left) during the July 25 city council meeting here, St. Laurence Parish started its 90th anniversary observance.
“I want to thank in a very special way Mayor (David) Kaptain and the City of Elgin for this special recognition for us,” said Father Mulcahey, pastor of St. Laurence. “Mayor Kaptain has been to our school a number of times, very helpful and concerned for our success and our wellbeing. We feel very honored to serve the Elgin community here and hopefully for many more years to come.”
Father Mulcahey is excited about the parish’s 90th anniversary party, scheduled Aug. 12.
Events will begin with the 11 a.m. Mass, followed at 12:30 p.m. with an introduction of guests at a block party to be held in front of the church at 225 Jewett St. on Elgin’s west side (at the intersection with Standish Street).
Mayor Kaptain has been invited to read the July 25 proclamation at the block party, Father Mulcahey added.
The celebration aims to integrate both parish and neighborhood communities with food, live music, games for children and activities for all ages.
Father Mulcahey hopes the Anglo and Hispanic communities will “live together, learn from each other, and build the parish together” for years to come.
One of the many tasks of the organizers has been asking the neighbors for the signatures necessary to close the street for the block party. Even Father Mulcahey was among those who knocked on doors to gather signatures.
Their successful efforts have made the anniversary block party possible.