Catholic Church - Archdiocese of Chicago
His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Chicago
Email: dflens@archchicago.org
Web: http://archchicago.org/
Established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880, The Archdiocese of Chicago serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries. This local church is pastored by Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., assisted by six Episcopal Vicars, each responsible for a vicariate (region).
The largest single body of Christians in the United States, the Catholic Church is under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness the Pope. Its establishment in America dates back to the priests who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. A settlement, later discontinued, was made in 1565 at St. Augustine, Flirda. The continuous history of this Church in the colonies began at St. Mary's in Maryland, in 1634.
Information taken from Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, 2009.
The Catholic Church is the Church established by Christ on the foundation of the Apostles, possessing the fullness of the means of salvation which He has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church is catholic or universal both because she possesses the fullness of Christ's presence and the means of salvation, and because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race.
(Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997)