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

Part 7: The Legend Comes to an End
In 1937, a number of events took place at St. Raymond Parish, one of them typical of Father Scanlan's drive and determination and pride in his work. But two others marked a turning point from which neither the parish nor its founding pastor would ever be the same.

Up until this time, the Sisters of St. Francis, who staffed the school, had been commuting daily from St. Francis Academy where they lived. But in 1937, the academy needed more room and Father Scanlan was asked to provide accommodation for the nuns who taught at St. Raymond School.

For $13,500, a 12-room brick duplex, located at Douglas and Walsh Streets, was purchased by the parish to serve as the convent. A ground floor chapel was created in the house, which was located diagonally across from the school.

The addition of the convent to the parish plant was a happy event for the parish family. Two other events would cast a sadness on the community.

On February 22, 1937, Fr. Scanlan suffered a severe heart attack in the rectory. For a number of hours, he was aided by his young assistant, Rev. John Desmond, who called the doctor to tend to Fr. Scanlan. Medicine in 1937 could do very little for heart attack patients, and the two kept an all-night vigil over the founding pastor.

Early the next morning, Father Scanlan rallied and when it became apparent he would pull through the crisis, Father Desmond left the rectory to run some errands. While driving on the outskirts of Lockport, Father Desmond lost control of his car, and was killed in the accident that followed.

The parishoner were stunned with grief, first from the serious illness of the pastor, and the loss of the young and popular associate. More than 2,500 people crowded into the church and filled the streets for the funeral.

In time, Father Scanlan healed, but he never fully recovered from either the heart attack or the tragic loss of Father Desmond.

As the final years of the 1930's waned, the world again headed into the incredible miasma of war. It was during the Battle of Brittain that the people of St. Raymond Nonnatus Parish and the people of Joliet lost a proud and fourceful leader. For Father Francis Scanlan passed away from heart failure on July 30, 1941. An entire city mourned.

And yet, in those darkest of days, a new era was about to begin -- one that would take the people of St. Raymond to the pinnacle of the diocese, as predicted by their beloved Father Scanlan years before.

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