St. Helen Roman Catholic Church at Open House Chicago

This Polish parish was formed in 1913, and in the early 1960s commissioned the present church building which blends Art Deco, Modernism and traditional styles with a Biblical fish motif. The spacious interior and ceiling are designed to draw all eyes to the altar, which is illuminated by light coming through slits in the walls. The stained glass contains mostly geometric patterns in small fragments of bright, unfiltered colors. A life-sized bronze statue of Pope St. John Paul II greets passersby on Augusta Boulevard. The main floor of the church will be open to visitors for self-guided tours with stations describing the architectural elements of the church.