The History of Momence St. Patrick Academy
Momence (population: 3,200) is located in eastern Illinois in Kankakee County, about eight
miles of Kankakee and six miles west of the Illinois-Indiana state line. The Kankakee River runs thru the middle of the city,
and can also be reached by using state highways 1, 17, and 114.
The community was named for Isadore Momence, who later married the daughter of a Pottawatomi
chief, sometime in the 1830's or so. When Kankakee County was founded in 1853, Momence was one of the founding townships.
St. Patrick's Academy was opened in 1906 as a co-ed grade school and all-girls' high school.
The Sisters Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary was in charge when the school opened. Boarders as well as day students were
accepted.
The original building was built by Rev. Armand L. LaBrie, who was the pastor of St. Patrick Church, and
it grew to the point that additional wings were built in 1910 and 1924. Classes were taught for college prep and commercial
students.
