The city of Whiting developed in the early 1900s as immigrants moved to the area to work at the Standard Oil refinery, which remains the largest refinery in the Midwest. Several Catholic churches were established, each to serve immigrants from different countries. In 1917, Austro-Hungarian immigrants built St. Mary’s, the first Byzantine Rite Catholic parish in the Midwest. The church features a blend of Renaissance and Romanesque styles, with its Eastern heritage reflected in details such as the onion dome and Byzantine crosses. 

While the region is home to a high concentration of immigrant-founded churches, many of these have had to close or merge due to declining membership. Facing similar challenges, St. Mary’s was at risk of closing in 2017. A core group of parishioners was determined to preserve the church’s history while expanding its community focus. Since 2018, membership has nearly doubled, with five different language groups at its Sunday service, including English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Greek. The church plays a key role at major community events, such as the annual blessing of Lake Michigan and the city’s Pierogi Fest, which is one of the largest festivals in Indiana. The church shares its space with community groups, such as a youth cheerleading program and a start-up, low-cost catering company. In 2026, the church plans to become the new home of the Whiting Food Pantry and Clothing Exchange, given that the current host church is closing.

In August 2025, Whiting was hit by a series of severe thunderstorms, causing extensive flooding. St. Mary’s social hall took on more than eight inches of water, overwhelming the two sump pumps and short-circuiting the electrical system. The affected areas include spaces intended for use by the Whiting Food Pantry and Clothing Closet.

An Intervention Fund grant of $24,420 awarded in 2025 will help the church complete planning work needed to prioritize repairs, prevent future water infiltration, and reconfigure the space for future programming.