Mexicanos and Suburban Parish Communities

Abstract

Chicago has hosted several generations of Mexicano immigrants, both in central cities as well as in its flourishing inner suburbs. This article interprets Mexican American religion though the filter of urban history, providing a comparative perspective on parish communities. Elements of racial, ethnic, and religious identity emerge from church records, contemporary periodicals, and a considerable secondary literature. Contrasts and similarities are demonstrated between Cicero and Melrose Park, owing to diverse sociohistorical and even theological factors, all of which broaden the focus of scholars working in the area of urban Latino history. Finally, the article places suburban Mexicanos in a national perspective, suggesting a convergence of metropolitan and regional studies approaches.