About Immaculate Conception · Lacon, Illinois
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lacon, Illinois is a parish of the Diocese of Peoria that has served Catholics in Marshall County for over 150 years. Originally organized in 1840 with Mass said in the homes of the Kelly and Craig families, it is the first Catholic parish established in Marshall County, and the present brick church — the third on the site — was dedicated in 1869. Today the parish shares a pastor with its linked parish, St. John XXIII in Henry, Illinois, and embraces roughly 160 households in a community grounded in faith, family, and fellowship.
- Established
- 1840
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Pica
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a small, multigenerational Catholic community in rural central Illinois — about 160 households — where founding families like the Kellys and Craigs are remembered by name and the parish still gathers around the third church on the same site since 1869. A linked parish arrangement with St. John XXIII in Henry means weekday and weekend Masses are shared between two welcoming congregations, with regular First Friday Adoration and Confession. The Catholic Center (built 1975) hosts parish activities, faith formation (C.C.D.) classes, dinners, and the sesquicentennial celebrations — it is, in the parish's own words, a community 'based on faith, family, and fellowship.'
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays: 4:15 p.m.–5:15 p.m. — Immaculate Conception, Lacon
- Saturdays: 3:15 p.m.–4:15 p.m. — St. John XXIII, Henry
- Thursday before First Friday: 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. — St. John XXIII, Henry
- First Friday: 7:15 a.m.–7:45 a.m. — Immaculate Conception, Lacon
- Other times by appointment with a priest
Adoration times
- First Fridays: 9:00–11:00 a.m. (Immaculate Conception, Lacon)
Parish History
Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic parish in Marshall County. Pioneers like the John Kelly family — the first known Catholics to settle in Lacon, persuaded to stay by ferryman Charles Buchanan — began gathering for Mass in private homes as early as 1840, served by missionary priests from St. Patrick's Parish in LaSalle. Father Rinaldi became Lacon's first resident priest in 1853 and built the first log-and-frame church, Saint Mary's, that same year on land donated by the Kelly and Craig families. After the first church burned in 1856, a wood-frame replacement was immediately built, and in 1866 construction began on the present brick church — completed in 1869 at a cost of $13,000 plus $3,000 for interior furnishings. The building was dedicated August 22, 1869 as 'Immaculate Conception Church,' eight years before the establishment of the Diocese of Peoria, and named for the Immaculate Conception, a doctrine newly defined by Pope Pius IX.
The 1869 Church Building
The present church — the third to occupy the site — was built 1866–1869 and remains the heart of the parish. Its leaded stained glass windows made it 'one of the prettiest churches in the area' and the largest in the neighborhood when it opened. The parish name is worked into the stained glass above the center door and carved in stone near the top of the church front. Inside, the parish's treasures include a pipe organ installed in June 1926 (paid for by parishioner donations), the mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary completed in the sanctuary in 1962, and the results of major remodelings in 1956 (steel beams replacing wooden floor beams, new heating, new altar and pews, tuck-pointing of the exterior) and again in 2000.
- Built 1866–1869 over the site of the second (wood-frame) church
- Cost: $13,000 construction + $3,000 interior furnishings
- Leaded stained glass windows; name in stained glass above center door and stone near top of façade
- Pipe organ installed June 1926 (parishioner donations)
- Mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary completed in the sanctuary in 1962
- Extensively remodeled in 1956 and again in 2000
Disasters and Rebuilding
Two disasters shaped the parish's physical plant. In 1856, the first log-and-frame church burned and was immediately replaced by a wood-frame structure. Just over 85 years later, on March 16, 1942, an EF-5 tornado struck Lacon while Father Hawley was pastor; it tore the roof off the southeast end of the church and severely damaged or destroyed many homes and the grade school. More recently, when the parish hall was built in 1975, a heavy rain during construction caused the front and back basement walls to collapse, and the Knights of Columbus Disaster Program donated $1,500 toward rebuilding them.
- 1856 fire destroyed the first church (St. Mary's)
- March 16, 1942: EF-5 tornado tore roof off the southeast end of the church
- 1975: parish hall basement walls collapsed during construction; Knights of Columbus Disaster Program donated $1,500
Parochial School (1878–1902)
In 1878, Father John Powers and Father McShane organized a parochial school staffed by four Sisters of Mercy. It opened August 28, 1878 in a house east of the church with 50 students (21 girls and 29 boys) and quickly outgrew its space; a new school building measuring 27½ by 41 feet, with capacity for 120 students, was soon erected — the east half for girls, the west half for boys, each with two downstairs classrooms and an upper story housing a dormitory, recreation room, and chapel. On January 1880 the school was incorporated by the Illinois Secretary of State as the Marshall County Industrial School. The Bishop closed the school in 1902; the building was sold, partly removed, remodeled into a home by T. G. Breen, and later demolished — its site is now the parish rectory.
- Opened August 28, 1878 with 50 students
- Four Sisters of Mercy on staff
- Incorporated January 1880 as the Marshall County Industrial School
- Closed by the Bishop in 1902
Immaculate Conception Cemetery
In 1877 the heirs of Levi Wilcox sold 6 acres of farmland for $500 to the Bishop of Peoria for use as a cemetery. Bishop Schlarman later sold the cemetery property back to the parish for $1 in 1950. It is the final resting place of Father Thomas Lynch (reinterred there in 1958 after his body was exhumed from beneath the church) and of Father Marvin J. Colgan (who died April 12, 2007).
- 6 acres purchased for $500 in 1877
- Sold to parish for $1 by Bishop Schlarman in 1950
- Father Thomas Lynch reinterred here in 1958
- Father Marvin J. Colgan buried here (d. April 12, 2007)
Catholic Center (Parish Hall)
In 1973 Father Marvin J. Colgan became pastor and in 1974 formed a parish council to lead construction of a parish hall. The hall was built in 1975 — interrupted when a heavy rain collapsed the front and back basement walls, which were rebuilt with $1,500 from the Knights of Columbus Disaster Program — and was dedicated in 1979 as 'The Catholic Center.' It is now the center of parish activities and home to C.C.D. (religious education) classes, dinners, and many other parish gatherings.
- Construction led by a parish council formed in 1974
- Built 1975; dedicated 1979 as 'The Catholic Center'
- Hosts C.C.D. classes, dinners, and parish activities
Rectory and Parish Office
A new rectory and parish office were added to the parish grounds in 2006. The parish office is located at 415 N. High St., Lacon, IL 61540 (phone 309-246-5145, fax 309-246-5417, email [email protected]) and is staffed by secretary Sue Kyle.
- New rectory and office added in 2006
- Parish office at 415 N. High St., Lacon, IL 61540
- Secretary: Sue Kyle
Clergy and Staff
Immaculate Conception is currently served as a linked parish with St. John XXIII in Henry, IL. The pastor is Fr. Michael Pica, and retired Deacon Robert ('Bob') Murphy continues in an associate role after stepping down from regular Mass assistance on June 1, 2017 following 25 years of service; he was ordained a deacon on May 9, 1992. Sue Kyle serves as parish secretary.
- Fr. Michael Pica — Pastor / Parish Administrator
- Deacon Robert ('Bob') Murphy — retired, ordained May 9, 1992
- Sue Kyle — Parish Secretary
Linked Parish: St. John XXIII, Henry
Immaculate Conception shares its pastor with St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Henry, Illinois (401 South St., Henry, IL 61537). The two parishes cooperate on the Mass, Confession, and First Friday schedules listed above.
- St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 401 South St., Henry, IL 61537
Sesquicentennial Celebration (2018–2019)
On August 18–19, 2018, Immaculate Conception Parish held kick-off events to begin a year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration marking 150 years since the dedication of the present church. Local historian and mayor John Wabel led parishioners through the parish's history in presentations after all weekend Masses. The celebration concluded on August 17, 2019 with a 4 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, concelebrated with priests who had formerly served the parish, followed by a catered reception in the parish center.
- Sesquicentennial kick-off: August 18–19, 2018
- Closing Mass: Saturday, August 17, 2019, 4:00 p.m.
- Principal celebrant: Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC
- Reception in the parish center to follow
Visiting and Contact
Immaculate Conception's church is at 412 N. Center St., Lacon, IL 61540; the parish office is at 415 N. High St., Lacon, IL 61540. The parish can be reached by phone at 309-246-5145 (fax 309-246-5417) or by email at [email protected]. The latest bulletin is linked from the home page and contains current events and ministry schedules.
- Church: 412 N. Center St., Lacon, IL 61540
- Parish Office: 415 N. High St., Lacon, IL 61540
- Phone: 309-246-5145 · Fax: 309-246-5417
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Montonipre-1853
Missionary priest from St. Patrick's, LaSalle; earliest priest identified to serve Marshall County.
- Father Rinaldi1853
Lacon's first resident priest; oversaw construction of the first log-and-frame church (St. Mary's).
- Father Thomas Lynch1853–1856
Died of consumption July 15, 1856; originally buried in the church basement, later reinterred in Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
- Father John KilkennyJanuary 1864
In 1865 the second church was moved; oversaw start of the present church.
- Father P. FlanaganOctober 1868
Made final payment on the church bank note April 5, 1869.
- Father M. McDermottlate 1860s
One of the three pastors serving the parish between start of construction and the 1869 dedication.
- Father CampbellFebruary 1870 – May 10, 1877
Died while serving as pastor; buried in front of the church.
- Father John PowersJune 2, 1877
Assisted by Father McShane; organized the parochial school in 1878.
- Father McShane1877–
Assisted Father Powers; helped organize the parochial school.
- Father Hawley1926–1942+
In 1926 the pipe organ was installed; on March 16, 1942 an EF-5 tornado struck Lacon under his pastorate.
- Father Charles Clifford1955
Discontinued pew rent in favor of envelopes.
- Father Marvin J. Colgan1973–1983
Born Aug. 15, 1913; in 1974 formed parish council to build the parish hall. Retired 1983 to St. Joseph's Nursing Home; died April 12, 2007.
- Father Ronald Ender1985
Referenced in parish history.
- Father John Verrier1998
Born in Boston, MA; became pastor in 1998.
- Father Thomas Mizeur2004
Began his first pastorate at Immaculate Conception in 2004; also chaplain elsewhere.
- Father Peter (last name not fully captured)
Referenced in parish history timeline.
- Fr. Steven BirdFebruary 1, 2017
Previously pastor of St. Mary of the Woods, Princeville; born in Carlisle, PA, Oct. 27, 1964; ordained May 27, 2000. Took a leave of absence for health reasons in May 2017.
- Fr. John Bosco MujuniMay–August 2017
Born 1968; ordained in Uganda in 1997; previously Parochial Vicar at St. Ambrose, Milan. Began May 2017 as interim resident priest with Msgr. James Kruse as Administrator; became interim pastor/administrator on August 7, 2017.
- Msgr. James Kruse2017
Served as Administrator while Fr. John Bosco Mujuni was interim resident priest.
- Fr. Michael Picacurrent
Current pastor; also serves the linked parish, St. John XXIII in Henry, IL.