The History of Saint Patrick Parish 
updated 2-01-06

Father George Mager OFM CAP     1876~1877
Father Angelus Poettken OFM CAP  1878~1878
Father Francis Xar. Strunk OFM CAP  1877-1880
Father Oldefonsus OFM CAP  1880~1881
Father Joseph A Zerglemaier OFM CAP 1881~1886
Father Marcus  OFM CAP 1886~1887
Father Petrus Welling OFM CAP  1887~1889
Father John Chrys OFM CAP  1890~1891
Father P Chilian OFM CAP  1892~1892
Father H Carius  OFM CAP  1892~1894
Father Charles B Schoeppner  OFM  1894~1896
Father Sigismund Pirron OFM  1900~1901
Father Julus Henze OFM  1900~1901

        In 1896, the church was remodeled and enlarged. It was then served by Franciscan priests from Metamora. In 1902, St Patrick became a mission of East Peoria, and Father Joseph Fennen served the mission until 1941. The Catholic population of the area had increased to about 75 families and it was then established as a parish, with Father Henry Schubert appointed as the first pastor.

                                                                         
                                                                    Sister Mary Ann Schmidt
                                                                        Principal  1951~2003

          By 1951 there were 250 families and about 150 grade school aged children. Construction of a school, to be staffed by the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation of Spring Valley, began in the spring. Two years later it was necessary to add another floor to the school with four more rooms and by the following year thechurch building was no longer able to accommodate the parishioners adequately. Arrangements were made for Mass to be said in the school basement, and the church was converted to a hall.
        Further additions to the school became necessary and in 1962 an entire wing was added, including a gym, library, office, restrooms and six classrooms. In 1966 the Sisters moved into a new home - the former rectory which was completely remodeled with a new wing added.
        Work began on the present Saint Patrick Church at 705 E. Jefferson Street in August, 1966. The first Mass was said there on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1968.  For the next three decades the Parish continued to grow.

Most Reverend John J. Myers

        A celebration of the 30th anniversary, and a rededication of the Church was held in November of 1998 with Bishop John J. Myers as the principal celebrant of the Mass.  Following the Mass a dinner was served at a banquet hall in Washington. During the celebration this interesting narrative was presented by Louis Venzon. "Many of the parishioners may not realize that the altar, tabernacle stand and lector stand were all "home grown".  The wood came from the farm of Jerry Otten. Jerry's father John was the one that decided that the walnut from his farm would be donated to St. Pat's for such a purpose and John was originally going to be involved in the building of the altar and other stands, but John died before being able to finish the plan. Jerry Otten, Jim Otten and I took on the project of cutting down the trees and getting the logs to the saw mill in Sunnyland.  At the time there was a saw mill on School St. where Toms Lawn and Garden are today.  We had fun cutting down the trees, it was a little cold and we kept our spirits up with a nip here and there of Apricot Brandy.  The trees had been in a ravine and it was difficult to get the logs back up into the truck.   We tried to attach a cable with the use of the tractor and truck.  It was a circus trying to maneuver those logs.  When we finally got the logs into the truck, they were just thrown is helter skelter.  Logs were sticking out all over.   Jerry thought we should try and rearrange them, it would be easier to transport but I didn't want to be bothered and said we should "Just Go!"  We drove the truck down to the saw mill and the man there wasn't too thrilled  with how we had the truck loaded.  He wanted us to leave the truck and he would unload it the next day, but we said nothing doing, we had to use the truck the next day for work so we unloaded it and left the logs there for him to cut.  The planks were dried and kept at Otten's.   Bob Rynell then took on the job of building our "furniture" as we have it today."
     The Parish has grown from 75 families in 1941 to 950  families in 2005 and the school has grown from 150 students in 1951 to 235 students in 2005.   
     July and August of 2005 were busy times at Saint Patrick Parish.
     On July 24, after the 11:00 AM Mass, a renovation of the Church interior was initiated. The pews were removed, and a temporary church set up in the school gym. Monday morning the painters arrived and the ceiling was painted, new light fixtures installed, all floors were cleaned and waxed and new pews and chairs were installed in a revised seating arrangement. Many other items of a smaller nature were completed to enhance the interior. On August 20, at the 5:00 PM Mass the renovated church was reopened. During this same period of time the bathrooms in the school were completely renovated with new tile floors and walls, painting and all new fixtures installed.
     On August 28, a celebration of Mass and a dinner was held in honor of the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation. After 54 years of service to Saint Patrick Parish, the Sisters announced they would no longer have the personnel to staff the Parish. A grand celebration this was as the parishioners expressed their gratitude to the Sisters.