About Immaculate Conception · Mattoon, Illinois
Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Mattoon, Illinois community from its location on the city's north side at 320 N. 21st Street. A parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, it ministers to roughly 985 parishioners across 531 families with weekend Masses in English and a monthly Spanish Mass, alongside a robust schedule of weekday Masses, confession, and Eucharistic adoration. The parish lives out a mission of growing in communion with God and one another through prayer and the sacraments, especially the Sunday Eucharist, and serves as the home base for Nazareth Catholic Academy, a homeschool co-op that meets on parish grounds. The current pastor is Very Rev. John M. Titus, V.F., assisted by Deacon Eugene (Gene) Uptmor and a small staff of lay ministers.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Very Rev. John M. Titus, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception welcomes visitors and newcomers with a parish mission centered on the Sunday Eucharist and humble service to neighbors. Beyond weekend and daily Mass, the parish offers regular confession, weekly Eucharistic adoration, a monthly Spanish Mass, and a deep bench of ministries — Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, St. Vincent de Paul, Communion to the Sick, Calvary Cemetery, a Spanish Prayer Group, and a Youth Choir — that make it easy to find community. Faith formation for adults and children, the Family of Faith Sunday gathering, and Nazareth Catholic Academy's homeschool co-op give Catholic families of every stage a place to grow.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- 30 minutes before each weekday Mass (Monday–Friday)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM (Eucharistic Exposition)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eucharistic Exposition / Holy Hour for Vocations, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 1057)
- Friday before First Saturday after 7:00 AM Mass through Saturday 8:00 AM Mass (24-hour Adoration)
- Daily: Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle; parish churches open during daylight hours
About Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception is the Catholic parish serving Mattoon, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. According to the diocesan directory it ministers to about 985 parishioners across 531 families. The parish's stated mission is to respond to the call of Christ by growing in communion with God and one another through prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Sunday Eucharist, by living the Gospel through humble service, and by practicing charity and justice as a Catholic community.
- Mission: 'Responding to the call of Christ, our mission is to grow in our communion with God and one another through prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Sunday Eucharist.'
- Approximately 985 parishioners in 531 families
- Member parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
History and Architecture
Construction of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church began in 1884 under architect James Egan and the church was dedicated in 1887 at a cost of $50,000. The building is a textbook example of Victorian Gothic ecclesiastical architecture, with a polychromatic exterior of red brick and gray limestone, pointed-arch windows and doorways, and a bell tower. In the fall of 1890 a fire of unknown origin destroyed everything except the outside walls and foundation; parishioners quickly rebuilt and the church was rededicated on January 1, 1891. The building is listed on the Coles County Register of Significant Places.
- Construction began: 1884
- Dedication: 1887
- Original cost: $50,000
- Architect: James Egan
- Style: Victorian Gothic
- Fire: fall 1890, origin unknown
- Rededication after fire: January 1, 1891
- Listed on the Coles County Register of Significant Places
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Very Rev. John M. Titus, V.F., assisted by Deacon Eugene (Gene) V. Uptmor Jr. Lay staff include Kim Coffey (Administrative Assistant), Carla Will (Director of Christian Formation), and Julie Robinson (Senior Ministry Coordinator). Father Titus can also be reached on a mobile line at (217) 549-6951.
- Very Rev. John M. Titus, V.F. — Pastor — [email protected] — (217) 235-0539 / (217) 549-6951
- Deacon Eugene (Gene) V. Uptmor Jr. — [email protected] — (217) 235-2189 / (217) 254-0422
- Kim Coffey — Administrative Assistant — (217) 235-0539
- Carla Will — Director of Christian Formation — (217) 235-0431 — [email protected]
- Julie Robinson — Senior Ministry Coordinator — (217) 235-0539
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Immaculate Conception is led by Director of Christian Formation Carla Will and centered in the Family of Faith Center (the former St. Mary's School). Family of Faith gathers at 9:15 AM on Sundays between Masses, and the parish runs an OCIA / Faith Inquiry class for adults inquiring about the Catholic faith on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM.
- Family of Faith — Sundays 9:15 AM, Family of Faith Center
- OCIA / Faith Inquiry Class — Tuesdays 6:30 PM, Family of Faith Center
- The Bible & The Blessed Virgin Mary Class — Thursdays 9:30 AM, Family of Faith Center
- Answering Common Questions about the Catholic Faith — Thursdays 6:30 PM, Family of Faith Center
- True Reformers Class — Thursdays 9:30 AM, Family of Faith Center
- Bishop Barron's The Creed (six-week Word on Fire series) — Thursdays 9:30 AM
Parish School: Nazareth Catholic Academy
Immaculate Conception is one of the host parishes for Nazareth Catholic Academy, a Catholic homeschool hybrid / co-op. The co-op meets every Tuesday at the Family of Faith Center on parish grounds, beginning with Holy Mass at 8:30 AM at Immaculate Conception. Nazareth follows the Holy Family of Nazareth as its educational model and emphasizes the primacy of parents as the first educators of their children, with parish-based catechesis, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and a Montessori Pre-K & Kindergarten option.
- Nazareth Catholic Academy homeschool co-op meets Tuesdays at the Family of Faith Center
- Weekly Holy Mass at 8:30 AM at Immaculate Conception
- Modeled on the Holy Family of Nazareth
- Includes Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Montessori Pre-K & Kindergarten
Ministries, Groups, and Organizations
The parish maintains a wide array of lay-led ministries and parish organizations, each with a dedicated contact person listed on the parish website. These groups serve the parish's liturgical, charitable, social, and outreach needs.
- Pastoral Council — Fr. John
- Finance Council — Diana Hartbank, (217) 235-5882
- Liturgical Roles — Deacon Gene, (217) 254-0422
- Social Committee — Tim Knepple, (217) 273-8991
- Ladies Guild — Julie Robinson, (217) 235-0539
- Knights of Columbus Council 1057 — Kelly Scott, (217) 273-5788
- St. Vincent de Paul — Cheryl Smith, (217) 258-NEED
- Calvary Cemetery — Linda Wente, (217) 235-2488
- Communion to the Sick / Homebound — Debbie Reinhart, (217) 234-3439
- Share The Word — Carla Will, (217) 235-0431
- Spanish Speaking Outreach — Rosa Olvera, (217) 205-7479
- Welcome Booklet / Welcome Form — via parish office
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond Mass and adoration, the parish maintains a rich devotional life. The Mother of Perpetual Help Novena is prayed Tuesday afternoons at 5:00 PM in church, the Rosary is prayed before every weekend Mass, and Stations of the Cross are prayed on Friday evenings during Lent. A Spanish Prayer Group meets Wednesdays at 6:00 PM in the Parish Center, and a Men's Book Discussion Group meets in the evenings at the Family of Faith Center.
- Mother of Perpetual Help Novena — Tuesdays 5:00 PM
- Rosary before all weekend Masses
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays in Lent, 6:30 PM
- Spanish Prayer Group — Wednesdays 6:00 PM, Parish Center
- Men's Book Discussion Group — evenings, Family of Faith Center
- 24-hour Adoration on First Saturdays
Outreach and Charity
Charitable outreach is a core part of parish life. The parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves local needs (Cheryl Smith, 217-258-NEED), the Knights of Columbus host fish fries during Lent and bingo nights, and the IC Peace Meal delivery program distributes meals in Mattoon each week. Immaculate Conception also partners with sister parish Saint Joseph the Worker in Venezuela, packing Lenten rice meals for the missions as a parish-wide service project.
- St. Vincent de Paul — local needs assistance
- Knights of Columbus Council 1057 — bingo nights, Lenten fish fries
- IC Peace Meal Delivery — weekly meal delivery in Mattoon
- Sister parish: Saint Joseph the Worker, Venezuela
- Lenten Rice-Meal Packing Day — annual missions project with Missions International
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical roles are coordinated by Deacon Gene, and the parish supports a Youth Choir that rehearses Saturday afternoons at 2:30 PM in the Choir Loft and sings at the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass. The parish also welcomes adult liturgical volunteers through the Liturgical Roles ministry. The Rosary is regularly led by volunteers before all weekend Masses (sign-up sheet on the sacristy door).
- Youth Choir rehearses Saturdays 2:30 PM in the Choir Loft
- Youth Choir sings at the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Liturgical Roles ministry coordinated by Deacon Gene Uptmor
- Rosary led by volunteers before every weekend Mass
Facilities: Family of Faith Center and Parish Center
The parish campus includes the historic 1887 church at 320 N. 21st Street, the Family of Faith Center (the former St. Mary's School) which hosts most adult faith-formation classes and Nazareth Catholic Academy, and the Parish Center at 1920 Richmond Avenue which has hosted Masses during church renovations and accommodates Spanish Prayer Group and social events. The parish also operates Calvary Cemetery.
- Main church: 320 N. 21st Street, Mattoon, IL 61938
- Family of Faith Center (former St. Mary's School) — adult faith formation, Nazareth co-op, parish meetings
- Parish Center: 1920 Richmond Avenue, Mattoon
- Calvary Cemetery — parish-operated
Bulletin and Communications
Immaculate Conception publishes a weekly bulletin with the Mass schedule, parish calendar of events, ministry news, and faith-formation announcements. Recent bulletins are available on the parish website (mattoonimmaculateconception.org/bulletin-2) and the parish also recommends the Catholic media platform FORMED for ongoing formation. Parish office hours include Tuesday hours for the Deacon (9 AM – 3 PM).
- Weekly bulletin posted at mattoonimmaculateconception.org/bulletin-2
- FORMED Catholic media platform recommended for parishioners
- Office: (217) 235-0539 — Fax: (217) 235-0593
- Email: [email protected]