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

Part 14: Changes at St. Raymond's
In 1978, Father O'Keefe was faced with a surprising number of additional parish plant repairs. Most of the 1917-vintage structures needed attention. The school needed major renovation inside and out, including tuck-pointing, sidewalk replacement, and extensive plumbing and heating repairs.

By 1980, Father O'Keefe and his advisors realized that the school building was no longer adequate to meet all the demands placed upon it. Needs of the parish organizations, school activities, and diocesan events required extensive attention. The 1918 building was structurally unsound and energy inefficient.

A capital campaign was launched, and 1,300 families participated so that the school building could be completely revamped and rebuilt from within. Work started on December 6, 1981. When dedicated in November, 1982, the school building boasted a new entryway, a more functional floor plan, classrooms with recessed entrances, carpeting, and handicapped access.

Walls were gutted, classrooms rebuilt, new classrooms constructed. A Learning Resource Center, a new roof and heating system and a renewed spirit were incorporated into the building, which was virtually rebuilt from the ground up.

To complete the project, the Cathedral of St. Raymond Joyce Parish Center was built for sporting events, receptions, large meetings and social events. With the opening of the Joyce Parish Center and the renovated Junior High building, five Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived in September, 1982, to minister to our Cathedral parish.

The Reagan boom years of the 1980's were not as kind to the Joliet community, as the people of Father O'Keefe's parish were faced with a weak economy, the loss of heavy industry and manufacturing, the loss of jobs. Times were tough in Joliet, and they were tough for the people of St. Raymond.

In the midst of the years of struggle, on January 1, 1985, Father Thomas O'Keefe, second rector of the Cathedral Parish of St. Raymond, died. He had shepherded the parish through a time of tremendous change in the church, change in our society, and change in economics of his people.

But throughout these demanding years, Father O'Keefe kept the tradition alive that was started by Father Scanlan in the grim war years of 1917. He kept the flame of pride glowing in the people and in the parish of St. Raymond Nonnatus.

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