About Immaculate Conception · Roberts, Illinois
Immaculate Conception in Roberts, Illinois is a small Catholic mission church serving the farming community of Roberts in Iroquois County. Originally founded in 1880 as a mission of the Diocese of Peoria, the parish was incorporated into the newly created Diocese of Joliet in 1948. Today it is one of three churches in a cluster — alongside Immaculate Conception in Gilman and St. Peter in Piper City — served by Fr. Santiago Corona-Bernal. The faithful gather most notably for a Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM in this quiet rural setting.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Santiago Corona-Bernal
- Diocese
- Diocese of Joliet
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception in Roberts offers the gift of a close-knit rural Catholic community in Iroquois County, where families can worship in an intimate setting and be personally known. As part of the Gilman–Piper City–Roberts cluster pastored by Fr. Santiago Corona-Bernal, parishioners have access to regular Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, and shared religious education programs across the three sites. It is an ideal parish for those seeking the warmth of small-town Catholic life and a connection to the wider Diocese of Joliet.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- By request through Fr. Santiago
Parish Identity & History
Immaculate Conception in Roberts traces its roots to 1880, when it was established as a mission church under the Diocese of Peoria to serve Catholic families in the small Iroquois County village of Roberts. In 1948 the mission was incorporated into the newly created Diocese of Joliet, where it has remained. It is officially classified as a Mission church (per GCatholic) within a three-parish cluster headed by Immaculate Conception in Gilman.
- Founded 1880 (Mission, Diocese of Peoria)
- Incorporated into Diocese of Joliet in 1948
- Classified as a Mission church
Cluster of Parishes
Immaculate Conception Roberts is part of a tri-parish cluster sharing one pastor and one website (icgilman.cc). This clustering allows the Diocese of Joliet to maintain regular worship in three small rural communities with limited priestly resources.
- Immaculate Conception Parish — Gilman, IL (231 N Secor St) — founded May 1872
- St. Peter Parish — Piper City, IL (204 N Pine) — founded 1887
- Immaculate Conception Mission — Roberts, IL (202 E Green St) — founded 1880
Our Priest
The cluster is led by Fr. Santiago Corona-Bernal, who has served as a priest of the Diocese of Joliet since his ordination in 2019. He celebrates the regular Mass schedule across the three churches and is available for Reconciliation by request.
- Fr. Santiago Corona-Bernal — ordained 2019, Diocese of Joliet
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
Immaculate Conception in Roberts celebrates a Saturday Vigil Mass each week at 5:00 PM, which fulfills the Sunday obligation. Confessions are heard immediately before Mass from 4:30 to 5:00 PM, and Reconciliation is also available by request through Fr. Santiago. The parish's website directs visitors to icgilman.cc for the most current weekly schedule.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM
- Confessions: Saturday 4:30–5:00 PM and by appointment
Sacraments & Religious Education
Religious Education (CCD) is offered cluster-wide at the Gilman and Piper City sites; families in Roberts are encouraged to contact the parish office for class times and sacramental preparation. The cluster celebrates the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and others through Fr. Santiago.
- Religious Education available in Gilman and Piper City
- Contact parish office for sacramental preparation
Diocese of Joliet
Immaculate Conception Roberts is part of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois, which was erected on December 11, 1948 by Pope Pius XII from parts of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Dioceses of Rockford and Peoria. The diocese covers DuPage, Kendall, Will, Grundy, Kankakee, Iroquois, and Ford counties and is currently led by Bishop Ronald A. Hicks (since 2020).
- Erected December 11, 1948
- Formally proclaimed March 24, 1949
- Current bishop: Ronald A. Hicks
Pilgrimage & Jubilee Year 2025
Immaculate Conception was designated as an official 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage church by Pope Francis, and it was honored to serve as a stop on the 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
- 2025 Jubilee Year pilgrimage church
- Stop on the 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the cluster office by phone and find the latest news, Mass schedule, and bulletins online. The physical address of the Roberts mission is 202 E Green Street, Roberts, Illinois 60936.
- Address: 202 E Green Street, Roberts, IL 60936
- Phone: (815) 686-2595
- Website: icgilman.cc