1968
-Reverend Donald Pock appointed the first Pastor of Divine Savior Parish
-First mass celebrated by Father Pock in Downers Grove South High School Cafeteria.
-The first daily mass celebrated in the rectory.
-First Parish "open house" held at the rectory to honor and host priests and seminarians.
-First in the Parish to be Baptized were Dennis Michael Carter, Jr., Steven Andrew Marciniak, Eileen Marie McDowell.
-The first boy's choir was organized by Kathy Solon.
-Building and Planning Committee for the church held its first meeting.
-First Annual Christmas Dinner Dance held at Willowbrook Ballroom.

 -First funeral Mass said by Father Pock for Joseph Jarosky.
-First Spring Dance held at Josef's Restaurant in Hillside.
-First committee for Religious Education formed.
-First marriage was that of Carlo Aiello and Helen Namen, performed by Father Pock at St. Joseph's Church.
-First Ice Cream Social was held on the rectory grounds.
-The Steering Committee to guide the formation of the First Parish Council was formed.
-First Religious Education Board was formed.
-First Constitution was ratified.

1970
-First Parish Council Meeting and election of officers was held.
-First chapel was a remodeled garage on the rectory grounds. The first Mass in this chapel was held on April 26.
-Father Gerald Persha said his First Mass at 12:00 noon on May 31, 1970 at Downers Grove South High School.
-First Annual Divine Savior Parish Picnic was held on the grounds of the Marian Fathers Seminary.
-Mr. & Mrs. Frank Hruska were the first couple in the Parish to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

1971
-First Annual Mother-Daughter Communion Brunch was held.
-First Pancake Breakfast was served by the men of the Parish.

1972
-First parishioner to be ordained was Father Phillip Dedera.

1973
-Duke Guenther was the first parishioner to be baptized and confirmed on the same day.

 
1974
-Ralph Taylor was the first candidate to study for the permanent diaconate.

1976
-First Mass offered in the new church was on Holy Thursday.
-First burial in the new church was that of Dr. Herbert Chwatal.

1977
-Men's Club held its first meeting.

1978
-First Men's Choir was organized
-Men's Club first annual gold outing, organized by Joseph Jurich.
-First Newcomers Meeting was organized by Steve O'Donnell.
-Outdoor Church Cross was raised. This was a gift of the Men's Club.

1979
-Fund-raising for the Parish Center was organized by Sam Gutirrez, assisted by the Men's Club.
-Father Charles Wheeler was the first priest to be ordained at Divine Savior. It was also the first ordination in the Joliet Diocese by Bishop Joseph Imesch.

1980
-World Day of Prayer at Divine Savior was held for the first time.

1981
-The first Ecumenical Service was held at Divine Savior on this day at the 9:00 a.m. Mass with Gloria Dei-Community of Christ the Servant, St. Mary's and St. Joseph's participating.
-Bishop Joseph Imesch's first Confirmation in the Joliet Diocese at Divine Savior Parish.
-First nun from the Parish, Barbara Badalewski, entered the postulancy.
-First party was held in the new Parish Center on New Year's Eve.

1982
-Dedication of the Parish Center was officiated by Bishop Joseph Imesch.
-The first permanent Associate Pastor, Father Dan Sesztak, was assigned to Divine Savior.
-First Appreciation Night was held to thank all Parish volunteers.
-Father Victor Rudden's 25th Jubilee.
-Father Rudden and the Christian Worship Commission initiated the Evangelization Program-Christ Renews His Parish.

1983
-Rev. Hollis Bishop, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Downers Grove, preached at 9:00 and 10:30 masses as part of the "Pulpit Exchange Program."
-First "Christ Renews His Parish" weekend retreat held at Christian Life Center in LaGrange.
-R.C.I.A. - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program instituted - designed to aid the process of initiation.

1985
-Quarry tile installed in Narthex. A much needed improvement over the concrete floor.
-Communion under both forms introduced to Divine Savior.
-Welcome to Fr. Leonard Guz, our new Associate Pastor.

 -Mr. Jerry Fialek joins Parish as director of Handbell Choir.
-First "Hunger Walk" initiated.

1987
-Bishop Kaffer offers Mass at Divine Savior.

1988
-Luncheon held March 26 in Parish Center, celebrating 10th Anniversary of the Council of Catholic Women.
-Our Marilyn Klouda elected as CCW Woman of the Year and honored at a luncheon given by Bishop Imesch.
-Fr. Robert E. Pietras welcomed as new Pastor of Divine Savior Parish.
-Picnic and Mass celebrating 20th Anniversary of Divine Savior.
-Bishop Imesch officially installs Father Pietras as new Pastor.
-Fr. Pietras holds first "Town Meeting" as our new Pastor.

1989
-Downers Grove Oratorio Society presented a concert in our Parish Center.
-250 Parish members attended our Town Hall Meeting and many great ideas were professed.
-Rev. Mike Powell, a member of Divine Savior, was ordained to priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Raymond.
-Jerry Christensen, of our Parish, was ordained to the Deaconate.

1990
-Children's Choir (3rd grade and older) inaugurated.
-Anne Roscoe hornored as D.R.E. of the month for the Joliet Diocese.

1991
-The renowned Life Singers performed in concert, presenting "The Witness."
-Janet Ibe of our Parish was selected as outstanding Youth Volunteer for 1991. She is now our Associate Music Director.

 

1992
-First meeting of the new Knights of Columbus was held.

1993
-The Knights of Columbus have named the new council, St. Maximillian Kolbe, in honor of a Polish priest who gave his life for one of the prisoners in a German concentration camp during World War II.

1994
-Parish Center Debt & 67th St. Debt paid off.
-April 29, 1994. – 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance held at Ashton Place.
-September of ’94 Parish Council formulated Mission Statement.
-Repaired Narthex roof and beams.
-Fr. Jake Hillyer assigned to St. Scholastica & Fr Thomas Chisholm assigned to Divine Savior on August 7, 1994.

1995
-Microphone & speaker system renovation.
-February 5 – Brunch with Bishop Kaffer on New Catechism at Parish Center.
-March 6-8 Parish Mission Fr. Fragomeni.
-May 28 Fr. Jake Hillyer passed away, helper from St. Procopius.
-Preliminary planning meetings for renovation of church and possible expansion of Parish Life Center were held.
 
1996
-January – Polka Mass.
-Anne Sinclair hired as Music Director replacing Greg Walton.
-March 17-21 Redemptorist Mission.
- March 6 -Former Pastor Rev. Victor Rudden passes away.
-Former Cry Room remodeled and replaced as Conference Room & Confessionals.
-October 19 – Bone Marrow Drive.
 
1997
-Electric Heaters installed between doors in front entrance.
-March 18 – Afraid! The Gospel of Mark by Frank Runyeon.
-February – purchased new church furniture in sanctuary area.
-Church roof, skylights added, and roof replaced on parish center.
-May – Parish Mission by Rev. Bob Hunt.
-May 31 – sponsored refugee family by donating household items, clothing and furniture.
-Replaced rug & kneelers in church and added padded pews. Wood doors replaced in church.
-Sharon Middleton replaces Maureen Chmel as Preschool/Kindergarten Coordinator.
-Fr. Leonard Guz, Associate Pastor at Divine Savior retires.
 
1998
-March – Parish Mission Fr. JohnPaul Cafiero.
-May – Children's May Crowning.
-Kathi Johnson replaced by Linda Burke as Rel. Ed. Secretary & Registrar.
-August 30 – Choir Concert & Ice Cream Social.

-Ministers Evening of Reflection - Deacon Ron Yurcus
-Renew 2000 Program.
-Purchased new phone system & Nativity Set.
 
1999
-Patrick Barnett joins Liturgy Staff replacing Anne Marie Sinclair.
-1st Rummage Sale.
-Year long celebration for 50th Anniversary of Joliet Diocese.
-Vacation Bible School.
-Oil Tank Removed.

-Ministers Evening of Reflection - John Donahue Grossman

-Pictures taken for Parish Pictorial Directory

-Shepherds and Wisemen added to Nativity
 

-Men's Club has Pancake Breakfast

-Vacation Bible School - "2000 Ark Avenue - God's Great Get-Together"

-Ministers Evening of Reflection - Friar Johnpaul Cafiero

-Divine Savior Companion Ministry established