About Church of the Holy Spirit · Roscoe, Illinois
Church of the Holy Spirit is a small Roman Catholic parish in Roscoe, Illinois, part of the Diocese of Rockford. It describes itself as a Catholic faith community guided by the Holy Spirit and united in Christ's love, sharing in the mission of Christ through a Baptismal call to proclaim God's presence, celebrate the faith, and reach out to others. The parish currently gathers for one Sunday Mass each week at 9:30 a.m., followed by religious education sessions, and offers a tight-knit program of prayer groups, faith formation, and youth ministry. Its mission statement — quoting 1 Peter 4:10, 'Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others' — frames the parish's identity.
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Rev. Steven Sabo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
Church of the Holy Spirit offers a welcoming, small-parish Catholic community where members truly know one another and can put their Baptismal call into practice. Visitors can attend the single Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m., send children to religious education for grades 1–12 immediately after Mass, join a Mother's or Women's prayer group, pray the Friday morning Rosary together at the Parish Center, or get teenagers involved in the youth group (including the Stuebenville trips). With active ministries for every age, it is a place where anyone can use their gifts in service to others.
Mass times at Church of the Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
About the Parish
Church of the Holy Spirit describes itself as a Catholic faith community guided by the Holy Spirit and united in Christ's love. The parish shares in the mission of Christ through its Baptismal call by proclaiming God's presence, celebrating its faith, and reaching out to others. Its guiding Scripture verse is 1 Peter 4:10: 'Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.' This identity shapes every ministry and event the parish offers.
- Mission: proclaim God's presence, celebrate the faith, reach out to others
- Patron: the Holy Spirit
- Motto verse: 1 Peter 4:10
- Rite: Roman-Latin
- Diocese: Rockford
Mass and Sacraments
The parish celebrates one Sunday Mass each week at 9:30 a.m., followed immediately by Faith Formation sessions for children in grades 1–12. Because the parish has only one weekly Mass, anyone with questions about additional liturgies (Holy Day, weekday, or weddings) is encouraged to call the parish center directly.
- Sunday Mass: 9:30 a.m.
- Confession: by appointment — call 815-623-6930
- Faith Formation sessions after Sunday Mass
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish runs a Religious Education program for children in grades 1 through 12, held immediately after the 9:30 Sunday Mass in the same building, which makes it easy for families to attend Mass and formation together. Adult Faith Formation sessions are also offered after Sunday Mass from September through April, and all parishioners are welcome. The parish has specifically called for more volunteer Religious Education teachers for the upcoming school year.
- Grades 1–12 Religious Education, after Sunday Mass
- Adult Faith Formation, after Sunday Mass, September–April
- Volunteer religious-education teachers needed — call 815-623-6930
Youth Ministry
A dedicated Youth Group serves high-schoolers from the parish and surrounding area, with activities including the well-known Stuebenville summer conference trips and ongoing local service projects. Teenagers interested in volunteer projects are encouraged to reach out directly to the youth ministry contact.
- Open to high-schoolers
- Stuebenville trips
- Service projects and events
- Contact: Toni Cermak, 779-200-2339
Prayer Ministries
Prayer is woven into the parish week in multiple forms. A Mother's Prayer Group meets on Tuesday afternoons in a member's home; a Women's Prayer Group gathers inside the Church on Tuesday evenings; and the parish prays the Rosary together on Friday mornings at the Parish Center. All prayer groups are open to members of the parish community.
- Mother's Prayer Group — Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. at the Newberry residence (call Margie at 815-543-5324)
- Women's Prayer Group — Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Church
- Friday Morning Rosary — 10:00 a.m. at the Parish Center, all are invited
Parish Identity and Community Roots
The parish was formed with the help of dedicated local Catholic families. Community reporting credits longtime parishioners Richard 'Dick' Stiffler and his wife Rita as 'instrumental in the formation of Church of the Holy Spirit in Roscoe.' As a smaller Catholic community on the Illinois–Wisconsin border, the parish retains a family-sized feel where members know one another by name.
- Stiffler family noted as instrumental in the parish's formation
- Located in Roscoe, southern Winnebago County, IL
Clergy and Leadership
The parish has been served by clergy appointed by the Diocese of Rockford. Father Rafael A. Paraf served as parochial administrator while assigned to St. Peter Parish in South Beloit and Church of the Holy Spirit in Roscoe (2021–2022), contributing a Lent reflection to the diocesan Observer publication. The pastor listed in parish directories is Rev. Steven Sabo.
- Current pastor: Rev. Steven Sabo
- Former parochial administrator: Father Rafael A. Paraf (2021–2022)
- Pastoral inquiries: 815-623-6930
Visiting and Getting Involved
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish asks anyone with questions about the Catholic faith or interest in receiving instruction (such as RCIA-style inquiry) to call the parish center at 815-623-6930. There are several easy ways to get involved: volunteering as a Religious Education teacher, signing teens up for the Youth Group, or joining one of the prayer groups that meet throughout the week.
- Call 815-623-6930 with questions about the Catholic faith
- Volunteer RE teachers needed
- Teen volunteer projects — contact Toni at 779-200-2339
- Three prayer groups meet weekly
Contact and Location
The parish center and church share a single address on Broad Street in Roscoe, the parish's physical and pastoral heart. Phone and email reach the parish office during the week.
- Address: 5637 Broad Street, Roscoe, IL 61073
- Phone: (815) 623-6930
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Diocese of Rockford
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Rafael A. Paraf2021–2022
Served as parochial administrator of St. Peter Parish in South Beloit and Church of the Holy Spirit in Roscoe.
- Rev. Steven Sabo
Listed as pastor in parish and third-party directories; no publication date confirmed.