At least 200 worshippers filled the pews at Our Lady Immaculate Church on Sunday, July 13, dressed in suits and veils despite stifling heat, less than two weeks after the Vatican declared their clergy excommunicated.

The congregation at 410 Washington Blvd. belongs to the Society of St. Pius X, a traditionalist Catholic group that the Vatican's doctrinal office declared in schism on Thursday, July 2. The decree came one day after the SSPX consecrated four new bishops in Écône, Switzerland, without papal consent. Among those newly consecrated bishops: Rev. Michael Goldade, a former pastor of Our Lady Immaculate.

"Truth is like a lion let loose," Rev. Kenneth Novak, the church's pastor, told congregants during his homily. "It defends itself."

Novak defended the society's position from the pulpit. After a 90-minute Latin Mass, about 100 people stayed for coffee in the church basement before an hour-long catechism session where Novak spoke about classes of grace. Windows were open but let in little besides traffic noise from Washington Boulevard and Ridgeland Avenue.

The Archdiocese of Chicago issued a statement clarifying that Our Lady Immaculate has never been an archdiocesan parish. The archdiocese described excommunication as a "medicinal penalty" meant to encourage reconciliation, not to cast someone out, and outlined a path for SSPX members who wish to return to full communion with the Catholic Church.

Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of Oak Park's three Catholic parishes, said he has "mixed feelings" about the situation. He noted the appeal of traditionalism to younger families: "A lot of younger couples are leaning toward that. They see the world so out of synch. To go this opposite way seems a sense of security and just being rooted."

The SSPX purchased its current building from what was then Second Presbyterian Church in 1990. It functions as a chapel or mission rather than a residential parish, drawing worshippers from as far as an hour away. The society also operates Our Lady Immaculate Academy, which opened in Oak Park in 1995.

Nationally, the SSPX has roughly 30,000 followers and 124 priests serving 115 chapels, according to the society's own figures cited by Newsweek. The Vatican clarified that simply attending an SSPX chapel does not automatically incur excommunication; each case must be assessed individually.

On its website, the SSPX called the Vatican's decree "hasty" and said it reveals "a flawed understanding of schism." The society stated it recognizes Pope Leo XIV as its head and has never claimed to constitute a parallel church.

Novak declined to comment when approached by a reporter after catechism and referred questions to SSPX headquarters in Kansas, which did not respond to requests for comment. Neither the Vatican nor the archdiocese has announced any scheduled meetings or deadlines regarding the congregation's future.