Sign Removed From Secretive Mission

City Investigates Subject Of Unit 5 Report

WMAQ TV, Chicago/November 15, 2005

Chicago -- The city of Chicago is investigating a church mission on the Northwest Side after a series of Unit 5 reports.

Mary Ann Ahern reported Tuesday that Alderman William Banks (36th Ward) is asking questions about the secrecy surrounding the Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission.

The mission has 300 or so members in four states, with its headquarters in Chicago near Harlem. For years, the sign on the building claimed it was part of the Catholic Church, but late Monday night the sign came down when Banks intervened.

"The sign itself was put there under false pretenses," Banks said. "In fact, it made references to the Catholic Church, where no reference existed.

Not only is the mission in Banks' ward, he is also chairman the city's zoning committee.

He is concerned about members like 19-year-old Ashley Fahey, who gave up a college scholarship to join the mission as a sister, cutting off all communication with her former life.

Ahern said that not only did NBC5 have trouble getting someone from the Mission to talk, Banks said the mission is not cooperating with the city, either.

"They'll not allow anybody entry to anything," he said. "The inspectors ... the building inspectors, the zoning inspectors have been out there for a number of reasons -- to be honest with you, mostly because I've called them for inspections. And they just will not allow them entry."

The mission is run by Agnes Kyo MacDonald, as well as a Roman Catholic priest, Len Kruzel.

The Archdiocese of Chicago told Ahern that the situation with Father Kruzel is still pending. There is no new assignment, and the archdiocese believes Kruzel is still with the mission.

Representatives for the mission have a court date for possible zoning violations next month.