In the summer of 1978, Father John Finnegan was sent by John Cardinal Cody to the Vernon Hills area of Lake County “to do pastoral work in the area of Vernon Hills with a view of establishing a new parish there.” It was clear very soon that the character of this local church community would reflect the faith, enthusiasm and Vatican Council II vision of its people. Through each progressive stage this vision unfolded – from the first Mass on August 15, 1978 in space rented from Hawthorn Jr. High School in Vernon Hills, through the first Mass in our new Worship Center on August 15, 1981, and into a future of continued growth. The people of the parish discovered who they were in the Lord and who they were called to be as this local Church.
St. Mary’s parish family followed a path very similar to the Christians of the earliest centuries. We started small and continue to expand. For the “house” where this local Church first met for the breaking of bread was in a home on Cherokee Road where the neighbors were not so sure they liked all those cars parked on their street. Then this local church, like the Israelite people carrying all their belongings in the desert, set up a temporary "house/home” for worship in Hawthorn school cafeteria. After that, this local church fashioned a multi-use building for worship as well as for social and community activities - a building which has served us well for over two decades and will continue to serve us well for many different ministries. In December 2005, we began to worship together in a new church building which had been the dream of many from the very beginning.
The simple value or vision statements listed below express values from the parish's earliest days to the present. During five open meetings held in the spring of 2000, these values or vision statements were overwhelmingly affirmed.
A new church was dedicated in February 2006. It is so very crucial to remember that the most important aspect of the new church is not the building itself, but those who gather together in this place, the People of God, followers of Jesus! The building is nothing without us, but with us it is sacred. We are the “People of God” - the Church. We are those who gather in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the foundation of our lives. Yes, of course, our salvation involves a personal relationship with Jesus, which needs always to deepen and grow. But our salvation also involves being part of a living community of faith, for we are saved together. We are those who do what Jesus asked us to do - share bread and wine that has become his Body and Blood, in his memory. We serve others as he served us. We pass on the Good News of Jesus to others just as this Good News has been passed on to us.