In 1800 a group of Irish immigrants came to America in search of freedom, prosperity and job opportunities which they believed existed in this democratic society. Upon arriving in Chicago, they found beautiful lake Michigan, and near it, a beautiful boulevard lined with tall sturdy oak trees. Loving the area, and being deeply rooted in their Catholic faith, they organized a Church to worship in. Their immediate next priority was a school for the religious and academic education of their children.

HOLY ANGELS SCHOOL (then known as an Academy) formally opened on August 29, 1887 under the direction of the SISTERS OF MERCY. Being thrifty hard-working people, funds were raised to build the first school building. Incidently, the tuition per family at that time was exactly $1.00!! In June 1908, property at the corner of Vincennes and Oakwood was purchased for the future expansion of the school. At the time, 697 students were enrolled. The new building at 545 Oakwood was completed at a cost of $70,000, and dedicated on September 1, 1912. The old school became a social hall. In 1919, living quarters for the Sisters of Mercy were provided on the 2nd floor of the school. There were 475 students enrolled at that time.

Between 1910-1920, the ethnic nature of Chicago began to change greatly. African-Americans living in the city increased from 44,103 to 109,459 in those years. By 1930, the majority of Chicago's 233,903 blacks lived in the Southside "Bronzeville" area. It was also at that time that the Ida B. Wells Homes were built just north of the church itself. FR JAMES DUFFIN became Pastor at Holy Angels in July 1945, just in time to be part of many needed changes in Holy Angels School. Though the area had changed ethnically, no blacks had been permitted in the school until then, and only white parishioners could hold membership in Holy Angels Church. Blacks who came to church for worship were assigned places in the back of church. Enrollment had dropped to a mere 90 children.

But CARDINAL STRITCH, Archbishop of Chicago, was a man with deep love for all members of his flock. It 1946 he mandated that both Catholic schools and churches be open to all members of the community. Since in 1946 the Sisters of Mercy withdrew from the school, the Cardinal contacted the SCHOOL SISTERS OF ST FRANCIS from Milwaukee to direct Holy Angels School. In the summer of 1946, the legendary SR. HORTENSIA, along with 13 sisters, arrived with zeal and fire in their hearts. They came with scrub buckets, mops and cleaning materials - because the building had badly deteriorated when the enrollment had been so low. The sisters cleaned, the priests painted and sanded floors. On registration day, a spotless building was ready, and the word had gotten around the community of the new changes - 500 students applied from Kindergarten thru 8th grade.

A great challenge lay ahead - new stricter rules were laid down about attending Catholic instruction classes, attending Mass weekly, and monthly Parent/Teacher meetings. Through the efforts of these hard-working nuns and priests, many converts were received into the church, and HOLY ANGELS SCHOOL became the largest black Catholic school in the United States. It became noted for its academic excellence and structured self-discipline. Many Southside Chicago schools and parishes adopted the policies laid down by Holy Angels. In 1968, Cardinal Cody felt that a black pastor was necessary for Holy Angels, and assigned FR GEORGE CLEMENTS to be pastor. Father Clements knew this was not just another parish, because Holy Angels had always stood for being above and beyond the ordinary. He searched until he found a black priest, FR. PAUL SMITH, to become Principal of Holy Angels in 1970. For 25 years Fr Smith dedicated himself untiringly to the students here. Under his disciplined leadership, students were highly motivated to academically achieve. Through his efforts, Holy Angels today boasts of highly qualified African-Americans in every professional field.

In 1996, Father Paul Smith, partially paralyzed from and automobile accident, was brutally murdered in his home. Father Smith died from suffocation in his condominium after the robbers bound him and covered his eyes, nose, and mouth with tape. One of the men charged with Smith's murder was Burrell Geralds, who was hired to be Smith's overnight caretaker despite convictions for drug dealing and theft.

Also charged were the twin brothers Fred and Freeman Carter, who, police say, joined Geralds in a "narcotics smoking frenzy" before robbing Smith and leaving him to die. Geralds was scheduled to go on trial on November 27th, an according to the defense attorney Mark Radish, the director of pro bono work at Mayer, Brown, And Platt, he will enter a plea of not guilty. "We feel it is the state's obligation to prove its case," says Radish. Yet sources say that the state's attorney's office is confident enough in its case to ask for the death penalty. (Freeman Carter pleaded guilty to residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle and was sentenced to ten years in prison. Fred Carter pleaded not guilty to murder and is awaiting trial.)

On September 27, 2001, Burrell Geralds, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Rev. Paul Smith by a jury that took less than three hours to deliberate. Frederick Carter, 37, was also convicted of the murder of Father Smith by a separate jury the next day (September 28, 2001); each of these individuals was sentenced to 114 years in prison.

It was a sad day on June 9, 1986 when the beautiful church of Holy Angels burned to the ground. But the community rallied and continued to worship in the school auditorium until June 9, 1991 when the new church was dedicated. Shortly thereafter, FR JOHN CALICOTT, a graduate of Holy Angels School, was appointed the new pastor. But in the summer of 1994 tragedy again struck in the form of a car accident that paralyzed Fr Smith. He was forced to retire from the principalship, and Sr. Helen Strueder took his place. She and the Franciscan sisters have continued the vision and traditions of Holy Angels School.

With an enrollment of 1260 children in 1997, Holy Angels continues to be the largest African-American Catholic school in the nation. The school continues to offer a low tuition rate, quality education, an active sports program, as well as programs in computers, music, art and literature. Despite the horrible murder of Fr Smith in November 1996, HOLY ANGELS SCHOOL has never lost its vision. It is rooted in faith, built up in knowledge and anchored in community involvement. Truly HOLY ANGELS SCHOOL can sing with pride "We've come this far by faith ..."

Click here to read the biography of Reverend Father B. Smith, legendary principal of Holy Angels School.

Are you a Holy Angels graduate? Want more information? E-MAIL US HERE!                        Gregory Callaway