Chicago Católico: Making Catholic Parishes Mexican

2250 North Sheffield Avenue,Chicago IL 60614

05 April, 2022

Description

Deborah Kanter (Albion College) tells the story of neighborhood change and rebirth in Chicago's Mexican American communities. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: This is a HYBRID event, offered both in person and on Zoom. If you plan to attend in person, please note: At this time, DePaul requires that attendees show proof of vaccination, including booster (or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event); masks are not required but still recommended in all indoor settings. Should the university's COVID protocol change as the event approaches, we will post those updates here and include them in the final reminder e-mails sent to registrants. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Today, over one hundred Chicago-area Catholic churches offer Spanish-language mass to congregants. How did the city's Mexican population, contained in just two parishes prior to 1960, come to reshape dozens of parishes and neighborhoods? Deborah Kanter tells the story of neighborhood change and rebirth in Chicago's Mexican American communities. She unveils a vibrant history of Mexican American and Mexican immigrant relations. Kanter shows how the newly arrived mixed memories of home into learning the ways of Chicago to create new identities. In an ever-evolving city, Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans’ fierce devotion to their churches transformed neighborhoods such as Pilsen. Deborah E. Kanter is professor emeritus of history at Albion College where she taught U.S. Latino, Latin American, and immigration history. She remains engaged in the mentorship of first-generation college students. Her book, Chicago Católico: Making Catholic Parishes Mexican, was awarded the Hamlin Garland Prize in Popular History (Midwestern History Association) and the Best of Illinois History Award of Superior Achievement (Illinois State Historical Society). A Chicago native, Kanter lived and worked in Mexico for over four years which led to her first book, Hijos del Pueblo: Gender, Family, and Community in Rural Mexico. She is now researching Catholic ministry to farmworkers in the Bracero era.