St. John the Baptist is a Melkite Catholic parish in the Chicagoland area whose roots reach back to the nineteenth century. Through more than 130 years, our community has weathered cycles of growth, hardship, and renewal — always sustained by the love of Christ.
The parish was founded in 1894 by Father Basilios Souaya, a Basilian Shouerite priest. The first congregation met at 323 S. Franklin Street in Chicago, where it remained until 1902.
In 1910, the parish relocated to 1249 S. Washtenaw, where it remained for fifty-eight years. The community grew steadily — from 36 families in 1906 to 95 families by 1935. During these decades, the church served not only Melkites but the surrounding Maronite and Orthodox communities as well.
Following the suburban migration that reshaped Chicago after 1950, a dedicated group of parishioners worked to revitalize the community. In 1969, the parish acquired its current location in Northlake, Illinois — the home it would call its own for the next half-century.
Today, the parish gathers at 330 N Westmore Ave, Villa Park, IL, continuing more than a century of worship and community life in the Chicagoland area.