Fr. John Edmunds, S.T., often describes St. James as “small but mighty.” After spending time with the community, those words prove to be exactly right.

Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:30 a.m. not in a traditional church, but in a former school auditorium. Years ago, the original church building was lost, and like much of the surrounding neighborhood, the parish has endured significant hardship. Entire blocks were once cleared to make way for highways, and the community has never fully recovered.

And yet, what is encountered there is not loss—it is life.

As people gather, the atmosphere speaks for itself. Parishioners greet one another not out of routine, but with genuine affection. There are hugs, laughter, and a warmth that makes it clear this is more than a place of worship—it is a family. Even first-time visitors are welcomed with kindness and openness.

During Mass, a baptism is celebrated, a powerful sign that even in a place marked by struggle, new life continues to take root. It feels like a glimpse of the Church at its best: joyful, hopeful, and alive.

What stands out most, however, is what follows Mass. The life of the parish does not slow down—it expands.

The rectory quickly fills with activity. In one room, an ESL class helps neighbors build language skills and confidence as they adjust to life in a new country. Down the hall, students from around the world gather for a campus ministry breakfast, forming friendships and deepening their faith while studying at the nearby Illinois Institute of Technology. Later that day, the parish hosts a SPRED Mass, ensuring that parishioners with developmental disabilities are fully welcomed into the sacramental life of the Church.

All of this flows from a parish that calls itself “small.”

This year marks ten years since the community was entrusted with the care of St. James. It is also a milestone year for Fr. John, who celebrates 50 years of priesthood. His steady presence and joyful witness have helped sustain this parish through both challenge and grace.

The experience of St. James is a reminder that the Church is not defined by buildings or resources. It is defined by people, their faith, their perseverance, and their willingness to keep showing up for one another.

That is what makes St. James truly “mighty.”

And it is why support for this mission matters. It makes possible the daily life of the parish, moments of welcome, faith formation, sacramental celebration, and community outreach that bring Christ’s presence into a neighborhood that continues to need hope.