St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Serving in Momence, IL
Join us for a Two Minute Video Tour of both St. Patrick's Church and the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at St. Patrick's as part of the "Heritage Days" online tour of the city.
Liturgy for the 14th Sunday
in Ordinary Time - July 5, 2020
Celebrated at the National Shrine of St. Anne - St. Anne, IL
Fr. Pete Jankowski has been celebrating all Masses on behalf of the parishioners of St. Patrick's Church (Momence), St. Anne's Church (St. Anne) and Sacred Heart Mission (Hopkins Park) who are not able to church. We now are honored to celebrate OUTDOOR services at our parishes (weather permitting) at the regular weekend Mass times, INDOORS otherwise. Feel free to invite others to join our Masses if they are not able to join their own parish communities – we will never get large enough to worry about too many people that come and join us (and what a wonderful dilemma it would be if they did!). All we ask you to do is bring your own chairs to the Masses, bring your own masks and observe social distancing. For Social Distancing Guidelines, Please CLICK HERE (English Instructions) or CLICK HERE (Spanish Instructions).
Please continue to support our local parishes – we need your support to continue spreading God’s mercy during these difficult times.
To support the mission of St. Patrick's Church, please contact us at (815) 472-2864 or write us at 119 North Market Street - Momence, IL 60954.
To support the mission of St. Anne's Church, please contact us at (815) 427-8265 or write us at PO Box 470 - St. Anne, IL 60964.
To support Sacred Heart Mission, please go to www.sacredheartpembroke.org and click on the "Online Giving" link, following the directions on your computer screen.
Previous Online Masses, Blessings and Services...
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At the "Our Lady of Lourdes" Grotto at St. Patrick's Church in Momence, a family of First Communion children gather to celebrate this sacrament OUTDOORS on June 21, 2020. Much thanks to DRE John Rehmer and the First Communion Catechists for helping our students receive this most sacred gift! |
CLICK HERE to Read the March 2020 Edition
of the St. Patrick's Alumni Newsletter!
Much thanks to an anonymous donor who, in part, chose to donate their "Trump Money" to help purchase the 70" Divine Mercy image that now adorns the St. Patrick's sanctuary.
Another group of donors wishes to help Sacred Heart Church wil their "Trump Money" in serving the poor through special projects on the property. We are most grateful for the charitable spirit of our parishioners and benefactors. Please continue to help support our local parishes - with your help... and your PRAYERS... we will be able to get through our struggles together!
Say Hello to our Upgraded St. Patrick's Statue
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Thanks to artist Marlo Steinle coming out of "retirement" to help our cause, Marlo took a paint-soaked statue of St. Patrick's (donated by Bishop McNamara School), stripped the paint, fixed it and repainted it for our outdoor grotto!
Over at St. Patrick's Rectory, the house has been cleaned, pergo floors have been laid, the house has now been painted and beautified for parishioner use!
Say Hello to St. Patrick's Rectory Upgrades! The house has been cleaned, pergo floors have been laid, the house has now been painted and beautified for parishioner use!
We are a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. These parishes east of Kankakee, IL served as "border town" churches in the mid-1800s, welcoming immigrants from throughlout the world. Our missions today is to do the same. St. Patrick's Church (the old border town from 1834) serves the Spanish and English-speaking communities of an old Dutch town. St. Anne's Church is the home of the National Shrine of St. Anne, brought to the states from France to Canada and then the US in the 1850s. Sacred Heart Church just celebrated its 80th anniversary; it is the poorest Church in the Joliet Diocese, the poorest city in Illinois and is the diocesan mission in great need of your help.
St. Patrick Parish was formed in 1859 with only thirty families, who then held Mass in their homes. From 1859- 1890, it was a mission parish served by priests in neighboring St. George and St. Anne. It is said that the priests who tended the mission parish in those early days encountered many hardships since the means of travel were challenging. In fact, it is said that Rev. Joseph LeSage, who took served from 1878-1886, used a hand car on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad to get from St. George, where he was the pastor, to Momence.
Rev. P. Paradis had the first church built in 1862 by Catholic settlers who hauled logs and lumber from timber on the Kankakee River. The small timber structure measured 30 by 26 feet and was built where the present-day church stands today. Rev. Paradis was succeeded by Rev, M Letellier, pastor of St. Anne, who served for the next six years, followed by Rev. Lesage and then Rev. Z Berard.
By the 1880s, the parish outgrew the small chapel and Rev. Berard had a second larger frame church built. In 1886, the first rectory was built just south of the church.
In 1890, Rev. George Kerston was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Patrick’s, which then had 100 families in the parish.
In 1914, Rev. A. L. Labrie had the present day church built, with the cornerstone being laid May 8. The first Mass was held July 4, 1915. The cost of the church was $31,969, plus $7,633 for furnishings. The stained-glass windows, which are still present today, were donated by parishioners. Records show the windows were purchased in 1915 from John J. Kinsella & Co, in Chicago, makers of Art Glass. Original bills show the large transept window, “The Assumption” was $450; “St. John the Baptist” was $90 and “Our Lady of Lourdes,” $250. It is said that Rev. Labrie needed money for one last window and walked seven miles on a hot summer day to a parishioner’s house, in hopes of getting a donation.
In 1886, the first rectory was built just south of the church. In 1926, the grotto was erected in honor of the Virgin Mary, in the spirit of Our Lady of Lourdes. An altar was added for outdoor Masses in 2000.
As years went on, there became a need for a church in Hopkins Park. Rev. Demarais, then pastor at St. Patrick’s and Sister Mary Adelaide Gagnon started a mission there in 1939. Men from St. Patrick’s donated time and material to help build Sacred Heart Mission, which is still operating today.
In 1980, the interior of St. Patrick’s was completely renovated through parishioner donations and in 1985 the old rectory was razed and a new one built.
St. Patrick Academy
The cornerstone for St. Patrick Academy was laid in 1906, under the direction of Rev. La Brie, who invited the Sister Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary to serve as teachers and administrators. It opened Aug. 8, 1907, and the sisters hosted an “open house” inviting everyone from the parish and surrounding area. People brought gifts, including dishes, pots, pans, towels, etc.
The school began as a small parish school and boarding school for girls and boys in elementary school, and girls in high school. The first year, there was 75-80 day-school pupils and six boarders. In those first years, there was no money for hired help so the sisters would rise at 3:00 a.m. to do wash. They spent their summers housecleaning, scrubbing and painting.
In 1924, with growing enrollment, came a new addition which included a chapel, new classroom and dormitories. In 1931 a gymnasium was built.
The last year for grade school boarders was 1961 and the last year for the all-girls high school was 1965. The sisters taught until 1972. The following year, the academy was purchased from them. In 1986, the unused convent portion was demolished and a new front exterior wall, complete with decorative cross, was built the following year. The school chapel was renovated in 1987. Unfortunately, the academy closed in 2009.
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Help support our parishes buy purchasing copies of Fr. Pete's Homiletic Books! You can purchase them at the parishes or online at Amazon.com!
Cycle A Homilies
Cycle B Homilies
Cycle C Homilies
CLICK HERE to watch Fr. Pete's Videos that Walk Through the Liturgy, produced for the University of Dayton
CLICK HERE to watch Fr. Pete's Twelve Part Series "Stories on the Journey," Broadcast on Shalom World TV!
Other Resources for Your Consideration...
Augustine Institute:Free subscriptions of FORMED for 40 daysBayard: Living with ChristCatechesis of the Good Shepherd(for parents)Catholic Faith NetworkDominican Friars on Sunday ReadingsLiturgical Press: Give Us This DayLoyola PressFaith Formation and Grammar and Writing Games |
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MagnificatOregon Catholic PressResources for ParishesResources for HomePaulineEucharistic Adoration with the Daughters of St PaulMary Walks Beside You: Strength for Living in Fragile TimesThe Word Among Us |
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Pope Francis’ Prayer with Mary for COVID-19Archbishop Gomez Prayer for COVID-19Spiritual Communion. . .COVID-19: A Prayer of SolidarityLight a Candle Online (from the National Shrine of St. John Neumann). . .Pauline Media Eucharistic Adoration . . .Mary Walks Beside You: Strength for Living in Fragile Times. . . from Pauline Media |
Support St. Patrick's Church by Giving Online!
Weather Permitting, We Will Celebrate ALL Masses at St. Patrick's and St. Anne's, Outdoors (otherwise, Masses will take place indoors).
https://www.stpatrickmomence.org/Please bring Your Own Chairs to the Mass and Observe Social Distancing. For Social Distancing Guidelines, Please CLICK HERE (English) and CLICK HERE (Spanish)
Take a Nostalgic Tour of the Old St. Patrick Academy
CLICK HERE to read the story about St. Patrick's Academy and its Subsequent Closure
An Online Memorial Day Service at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Momence
Join our Kankakee Border Town Parishes in an Online May Crowning Service!
A Greeting from Our St. Patrick's Staff to our Parishioners...
Fr. Pete found a way to help a grieving family who loved a lost one celebrate their funeral service on April 22. Thanks to the folks at Camino y Esperanza for helping Fr. Pete in this cause!
Video Announcement for Kankakee Bordertown Parishes - April 19, 2020
WE DON'T DENY THE SACRAMENTS! A Video Message from Fr. Pete Jankowski - March 2020
Easter Family Resources for Prayer (Courtesy of the Diocese of Joliet)
Resources in English
Resources in Spanish
Either Fr. Pete's dog Gabby is preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil on April 12th (which not only isn't going to happen anymore but wasn't going to happen to a dog anyway) or Fr. Pete does a lousy job giving his dog a bath! Poor Gabby...
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St. Patrick's Church
119 N. Market St.
Momence, IL 60954
(815) 472-2864
Daily Mass: Mon - Fri 9:15 a.m.
Adoration Th 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Sat Confessions at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m.
Sun Masses: 7:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Sun Mass in Spanish: 12:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Mon, Wed & Thu
8:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Parish Staff
Fr. Pete Jankowski, Administrator
Fr. Dan Hessling, Pastor Emeritus
Mary Tolmer, Office Manager
John Rehmer, Dir. of Religious Ed.
Jack Noonan, Maintenance
Catholic News & Perspective
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Diocesan Online
Resources for Lent...
In English
In Spanish
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