We, the undersigned Catholics, concerned Chicago residents, and supporters of religious and cultural heritage, call on the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich, and local officials to immediately halt the potential sale of the historic Our Lady of Victory Church (5240 W. Agatite Ave., Jefferson Park) to the Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI).

Our Lady of Victory Church, founded in 1906, is a beloved part of Chicago’s Catholic history. It was closed in 2021 under the Archdiocese’s “Renew My Church” plan despite strong appeals from parishioners. Sacred elements have already been removed. Now the ICCI is actively raising money to buy the church and convent to convert the site into an Islamic high school.

Selling this consecrated Catholic church to an Islamic organization would cause deep pain to the faithful. If we sell this church to an Islamic group, it will severely affect the morale of Christians and represent a major scandal for the Catholic Church. The name “Our Lady of Victory” itself recalls the 1571 Battle of Lepanto, where Catholic forces turned back an Ottoman invasion through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Converting this site would carry profound symbolic weight and feel like a betrayal to many believers who have sacrificed to build and maintain these sacred spaces.

We demand:

1. The Archdiocese of Chicago immediately pause or cancel any sale negotiations with the ICCI.
2. Prioritize keeping the property in Catholic hands — through sale or transfer to another parish, a Catholic school, a preservation group, or a community-led Catholic fundraising effort to reacquire it.
3. Full transparency on all real estate decisions involving closed parishes, especially sales to non-Catholic religious groups.
4. Consideration of landmark status or other protections to preserve the historic and religious character of the site.
5. Catholic churches are not mere buildings — they are consecrated sacred spaces built by generations of faithful families.

While we respect the rights of other communities to build their own schools and places of worship, the Archdiocese has a primary duty to its own flock and to safeguarding this spiritual heritage. Similar sales in other places have already caused significant hurt and division in Catholic communities.

Please sign and share this petition widely. Contact the Archdiocese of Chicago and your local representatives to express your strong opposition. Let’s work together to Save Our Lady of Victory and prevent this scandal from happening.