The Cathedral Parish of St. Raymond Nonnatus 1917-1992
Written by Robert R. Morris

Part 12: The Third Pastor and Second Rector
Father Thomas O'Keefe first came to St. Raymond's Parish in 1943, shortly after he was ordained. He stayed for ten years. When Joliet was made a separate Diocese, Father O'Keefe assumed new duties as Master of Ceremonies for Bishop McNamara. He continued to reside at St. Raymond.

When Monsignor Hoover retired in July, 1969, Father O'Keefe returned to St. Raymond, this time as third pastor and second rector.

Father O'Keefe faced a financial crisis in mid-1970, as school operating costs soared. In response, an Education Emergency Fund drive was conducted among all the parishioners to keep the school solvent. With all the changes that had taken place in the church over the years, the tremendous drop in religious vocations -- of priests and nuns -- had a dramatice effect upon all parishes and all schools. It was no different at St. Raymond.

But the crisis passed, and in 1971, the parishioners gathered with Bishop Blanchette to dedicate the new bells in the campanile tower in honor of Msgr. Hoover.

In 1973, social issues affected the people of Joliet and the parish -- as well as the entire nation. The Viet Nam War had been dragging on for a number of agonizing years. But the same year, the infamous Supreme Court decision allowing abortion was handed down. Father O'Keefe saw the result as "A Catastrophe for America, an Unspeakable Tragedy," using the words of Cardinal Krol of Philadelphia and Cardinal O'Boyle of Washington.

During the mid-1970's, Father O'Keefe supervised some liturgucally-demanded renovations in the Cathedral sanctuary, including a new black marble altar facing the congregation, new lectionaries and an improved sound system. The choir and organ positions were moved to the front of the church. Individual donors came forward to assist in underwriting the costs of this venture.

With the new improvements completed, Father O'Keefe welcomed Bishop Blanchette as they celebrated the silver anniversary of the formation of the diocese on Sunday, March 24, 1974. In the 25 years since the founding of the diocese, the population had grown to 350,000 Catholics.

Back | Index | Next