About Holy Cross (See also Sts Peter and Paul, Mendota and St Theresa, Earlville, for additional Mass, Confession, etc, times.) · Mendota, Illinois
Holy Cross is a historic Catholic parish in Mendota, Illinois, founded in 1858 by German-speaking Catholics and now part of Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish, a three-church merged community formed in May 2025 under the Diocese of Peoria. Its imposing present-day church, with the Latin inscription "Venite Adoremus" (Come Let Us Adore Him) above the front doors, was built during the Great Depression and dedicated on June 19, 1935 by Bishop Joseph Schlarman. The parish maintains an active parochial school (Holy Cross School, PreK-8), a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, daily Mass in English and Spanish, and a network of lay ministries, deacons, and clergy serving north central Illinois about 80 miles southwest of Chicago.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
- Rector
- Father Gregory E. Nelson
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish — anchored at Holy Cross Church in Mendota — is one of the oldest Catholic communities in north central Illinois, founded by German-speaking settlers in 1858–1859, with a Depression-era landmark church and a parish school that has educated generations. Daily Mass is offered in English plus a Sunday Spanish-language Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration runs Monday through Friday in the Our Lady of the Cenacle (Mothers') Chapel, and Confession is available several times a week across all three worship sites. A CCD religious-education program serves public-school students in grades 1–8 and Confirmation preparation, while a wide range of lay worship ministries (music, sacristans, lectors, servers, adoration volunteers) invite parishioners into active service.
Mass times at Holy Cross (See also Sts Peter and Paul, Mendota and St Theresa, Earlville, for additional Mass, Confession, etc, times.)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:20 AM to 8:50 AM at Sts. Peter & Paul
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Holy Cross
- Thursday: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Holy Cross
- Saturday: 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Holy Cross
- Saturday: 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM at St. Theresa (unless otherwise noted)
- By appointment — call the Holy Cross Parish Office at (815) 538-6151
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, in the Our Lady of the Cenacle (Mothers') Chapel at Holy Cross Church. Regular volunteers commit to one-hour weekly slots; substitute and visitor adorers are welcome. Contact Karen Brandner at (815) 915-6635 to volunteer. Adoration may be suspended on holidays or during special events in the main body of the Church.
Parish Identity and History
Holy Cross Parish traces its origin to 1858–1859, when Mendota's German-speaking Catholics purchased a frame building that had been a public school and moved it onto what is still the parish property. The original brick church was completed in 1868, the present Depression-era church was dedicated on June 19, 1935, and in May 2025 the parish merged with Sts. Peter and Paul (Peterstown) and St. Theresa (Earlville) to form Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish, which now spans three worship sites in north central Illinois.
- Founded 1858 by German-speaking Catholics
- Original brick church completed 1868
- Present church dedicated June 19, 1935 by Bishop Joseph Schlarman
- Inscription 'Venite Adoremus' (Come Let Us Adore Him) above the front doors
- Merged into Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish, May 2025
Clergy and Staff
The merged Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish is led by Father Gregory E. Nelson as pastor, with Father Joseph Domfe, SMA assisting and three deacons — Deacon Hector Diaz, Deacon Raymond Fischer, and Deacon Jose Lopez — serving the three churches. Lorraine Walter serves as Business Manager, with Mary Lou Flahive as Scheduling Coordinator.
- Father Gregory E. Nelson — Pastor (ordained 1997)
- Father Joseph Domfe, SMA
- Deacon Hector Diaz
- Deacon Raymond Fischer
- Deacon Jose Lopez
- Lorraine Walter — Business Manager (815-910-0109)
- Mary Lou Flahive — Scheduling Coordinator
Faith Formation and Holy Cross School
The parish operates Holy Cross School, a Catholic PreK-8 elementary school located immediately adjacent to Holy Cross Church at 1008 Jefferson Street. The school enrolls about 155–178 students (2024–2025 enrollment: 178) under principal Mr. Michael Struna, with a faith-centered mission that integrates morning prayer, religious celebrations, community service, and Gospel-centered instruction.
- Holy Cross School — 1008 Jefferson Street, Mendota, IL 61342
- Principal: Mr. Michael Struna
- Grades: PreK-8
- 2024-2025 enrollment: 178; student-teacher ratio approximately 16:1
- Phone: (815) 538-2183
CCD Religious Education
The parish CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program provides Catholic religious education and sacramental preparation for public-school students who will be in Grades 1 through 8 the following school year, as well as high-school students who have not yet received Confirmation. Registration is coordinated through the parish office for both Holy Cross and Sts. Peter & Paul students.
Worship Ministries and Music
The parish offers a full set of lay worship ministries coordinated through the Worship Ministries office, including music, sacristans, lectors, altar servers, ushers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Roy VanOpdorp serves as Music Director (309-854-2719), and parish scheduling is handled by Maureen Hanson and Mary Lou Flahive. Adoration volunteer coordination is led by Kay Brunoehler and Karen Brandner.
- Music Director: Roy VanOpdorp
- Training Coordinator: Tom Heitmann (630-918-9664)
- Scheduling Coordinators: Maureen Hanson, Mary Lou Flahive
- Adoration Coordinator: Karen Brandner (815-915-6635)
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
Sacramental preparation — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage — is coordinated through the Parish Office together with the CCD program, which serves public-school students in Grades 1-8 and high-school Confirmation candidates. The parish also brings Holy Communion to the homebound on Fridays, with arrangements made by calling the Parish Office.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation through the Parish Office
- Confirmation preparation for high-school students via CCD
- Homebound Communion visits on Fridays — call (815) 538-6151
Visit and Contact
The parish office and Holy Cross Church are located at 1010 Jefferson Street, Mendota, IL 61342, about 80 miles southwest of Chicago in the corn country of north central Illinois. The parish office can be reached at (815) 538-6151 (fax 815-539-5014) and the main website is mendotacatholic.org.
- Address: 1010 Jefferson Street, Mendota, IL 61342
- Phone: (815) 538-6151
- Fax: (815) 539-5014
- Website: mendotacatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leo J. Wissing1931–
Appointed by Bishop Joseph Schlarman to lead Holy Cross after the merger with St. Mary's Parish; oversaw construction of the present church during the Great Depression.
- Father Gregory E. Nelson2024–present
Born October 25, 1967 in Peoria, Illinois; ordained May 24, 1997. Previously served Holy Trinity (Bloomington), St. Philomena (Monticello), St. Michael (Bement), St. Paul (Danville) as Vicar Forane, and St. Mary (Bloomington). Appointed Pastor of Holy Cross, Sts. Peter & Paul, and St. Theresa in 2024; became Pastor of the merged Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish in May 2025.