Parish Events and News
Eucharistic Holy Hours
Each Tuesday of at 7:00 p.m., St. Mary’s Church hosts a Holy Hour for Illinois Valley Catholics.
There is time for silent prayer, adoration, and confession.
Growing Disciples
Pastoral Planning
Bishop Tylka has begun a two year planning initiative. The initiative, called “Growing Disciples,” will assess the current network of parishes and schools “so that we can not only meet the ministry challenges of today, but we can also grow a vibrant, sustainable mission-driven Church for the future,” said Bishop Tylka.
Our parish will update with articles and videos below.
Mass and Sacraments
Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil Mass: 5pm
Sunday Masses: 8 and 10am
Weekday Masses: 7am
First Communion
& Confirmation
Arranged through our CCD program for children. Adults please contact the church.
Confessions
Online confession guide here.
Saturday: 4-4:45pm
Sunday: 7:30-7:45am
First Friday: 5:15-6:00pm
Anointing of the Sick
Please contact the church anytime day or night.
Holy Matrimony
Contact the church to schedule and begin preparation at least eight months before the wedding.
Baptism
Contact the parish office to schedule an infant baptism.
For adults, our regional RCIA program meets in the fall.
On Holy Thursday, April 11, 1675, Francis Jacques Marquette offered the first parochial Mass in the Illinois Country at Utica in the presence of 5,000 Native Americans. Father Marquette and his companion Louis Joliet, took possession of this land in the name of Jesus Christ and founded the Mission of the Immaculate Conception. A monument in his honor stands in the northeast corner of the property.
That mission eventually became the Church of Saint Mary. In 1858 a small frame church was built which was destroyed by fire seventeen years later and a brick and stone church was built on the site of the former Saint Mary School.
In 1883 the Reverend Charles Xavier O'Neill was appointed the first pastor of Saint Mary's but never took up residence there. The Reverend Canon Jeremiah Moynihan was appointed the first resident pastor in 1884. The Reverend Francis J. O'Reilly succeeded Canon Moynihan in 1888 and in the same year erected the present church.
Take a look at the Memorial's 1951 Commemorative Booklet.
Historic St. Mary's
