“The Church is everywhere the Eucharist is offered in unity with the bishop.”
— Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Q: Where is Saint Katherine the Great Antiochian Orthodox Mission located?
A: Saint Katherine Mission will begin its ministry in Niles, Illinois. The initial plan will be to lease from Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church, located at
7313 N. Waukegan Road
Niles, Illinois 60714
The committee determined this location will meet the needs at present and will continue to monitor and assess long-term needs as the Mission’s work progresses.
Q: Will there ever be Sunday Liturgy before it’s officially a Church?
A: There will be Liturgies celebrated at Saint Katherine Mission eventually. Stay tuned to the announcements and updated calendar of events at www.stkchurch.org.
Q: Sacraments – Can we have weddings, baptisms, or funerals at Saint Katherine Mission?
A: A registered and committed member of Saint Katherine Mission may schedule a Sacrament based on availability and meeting all requirements in preparation for the Sacrament.
Q: If my family and I join Saint Katherine Mission, does this mean I leave Saint George Church?
A: All canonical Orthodox Churches comprise the One, Holy, Catholic (Universal), and Apostolic Church that belong to one another. Saint Katherine Mission is an Antiochian Mission and, therefore, all Antiochian Churches and Missions are under the same Metropolitan as one body.
An Antiochian Orthodox family/individual should choose to attend consistently in one place where their spiritual lives are nurtured effectively and as often as possible, more than just on Sundays.
Q: What is a Mission?
A: A Mission is a Church in its earliest stages. The mission of the Church is to go out into the world and spread the Gospel message, administer Orthodox Sacraments, and reach out with mercy to people in need. A Mission Church is a community of Word, Sacrament and Prayer, where pastoral staff, officers, and members are united in their commitment to the Gospel-drive practice of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ in every area of ministry and life. In the early stages, a Mission depends on a Mother Church for support until it is able to walk on its own and is consecrated a Church.
Q: Who are the clergy who will serve Saint Katherine Mission?
A: Since Saint George Church is the Mother Church of the new Mission, the Clergy of Saint George Church will administer the needs of the Mission until the Metropolitan appoints a Priest.
Q: How is the Antiochian Archdiocese involved?
A: Saint George Church presented the work of the past almost seven years to the Metropolitan in the hope of establishing more missions in the greater Chicagoland area. The Metropolitan gave the blessing for the Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism to support Saint George Church in this endeavor.
On March 11, 2025, Saint George Church received a letter from the Department stating:
“Brethren, you are a living body, and your Church is a living body which became a mother church, giving birth to hundreds of church families throughout the years. With the blessing of our father in Christ, Metropolitan SABA, and his guidance, and the observation and the demographic study of the Department of Missions and Evangelism, we place before your eyes of faith the needs and urgency of using your “rock” of faith to build a new church family in The Northeast side of Chicago (Hopefully in Northwest also); a new living body of Jesus Christ.”
Department of Missions and Evangelism.
Q: Does this mean Saint George Church will close or move from Cicero? What will happen to Saint George Church?
A: Saint Katherine Mission does not affect the current status of Saint George Church. The letter from the Department of Missions and Evangelism beautifully stated, “Just as in the human body, cells divide in order to ensure the health and growth of the body, so it is with the Body of Christ. The establishment of a new church will spiritually strengthen all the Orthodox Churches in the Chicago area.”
Q: If people ask me if they should go to either Saint Katherine Mission or Saint George Church, what do I tell them?
A: Each individual and household will need to prayerfully discern where their spiritual needs will be best met, and geographically what works for their family schedules to remain consistent and active members of the Body of Christ.
Q: Will Saint Katherine Mission take more of our priests’ time away from Saint George Church, as the priests seem to be overworked already?
A: No. Saint George Church is currently overworking its clergy because they are serving hundreds of families in an ineffective and inaccessible model based on geographical challenges and a not ideal clergy/laity ratio.
The establishment of the mission will bring more clergy eventually to serve effectively on a more consistent and personal basis, more than Sundays and closer to the homes of the faithful.
Q: How can I join the Saint Katherine Mission?
A: Orthodox Christians and/or inquirers may join by first attending a service, Bible Study, or an event.
Please see the Mission calendar for opportunities to attend, join the mailing list, and register as a member by visiting the website at www.stkchurch.org.