About June Steder · Grand Ridge, Illinois
St. Mary of the Fields is a historic rural Catholic worship site in Grand Ridge, Illinois (LaSalle County), founded in 1871 and recognized as one of the oldest churches still in use in the Diocese of Peoria. It currently operates as an additional worship site of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Marseilles (the parishes were merged/clustered under one pastor, currently Father Ryan Mattingly, appointed 2024). The country church sits in Grand Rapids Township east of the village of Grand Ridge and, although it does not host regular weekly Masses, it remains available for baptisms, weddings, and funerals by arrangement with the parish office.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title 'of the Fields')
- Rector
- Father Ryan Mattingly
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Fields offers rural LaSalle County Catholics a deeply rooted country parish where the heritage of 150+ years of worship continues in a small, intimate sanctuary. Even though regular weekly Masses are not scheduled there, the church remains an active, cared-for worship site available for the great family sacraments — baptisms, weddings, and funerals — so that families can mark the most important moments of life in the church their grandparents and great-grandparents attended. Belonging here means being part of a tight-knit cluster of country parishes served by one pastor and continuing a pioneer Catholic farming-community tradition.
Mass times at June Steder
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass on weekends (per JoinMyChurch listing; please confirm with parish office)
History of St. Mary of the Fields
St. Mary of the Fields was established in 1871 in Grand Rapids Township, LaSalle County, when Catholic farming families settled the rural prairie east of the village of Grand Ridge. The little country church has been in continuous use ever since and in 2021 hosted a special anniversary Mass to mark 150 years. Through diocesan restructuring, it is no longer a stand-alone parish but an additional worship site within the St. Therese of Lisieux Parish cluster based in Marseilles.
- Founded 1871
- 150th anniversary Mass celebrated September 4, 2021
- Listed by the Diocese of Peoria as 'one of the oldest churches still in use' in the diocese
- Linked as a mission of St. Columba (Ottawa) in 2000 under Father David M. Kipfer
Worship Site Within St. Therese of Lisieux Parish
On the Diocese of Peoria website, St. Mary of the Fields is officially listed as the Grand Ridge worship site of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Marseilles. Because it shares one pastor with multiple rural parishes, the church itself does not have a regular weekly Mass schedule; instead it functions as a sacramental chapel for the Grand Ridge community.
- Parent parish: St. Therese of Lisieux, Marseilles, IL
- Parish office address for mail: 200 Broadway St, Marseilles, IL 61341
- Parish phone: (815) 357-4070
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Parish website: thelittleway.org
Cluster of Country Parishes
Since at least 2020 the Grand Ridge worship site has been grouped with a cluster of small LaSalle/Grundy County parishes under one pastor. Father Ryan Mattingly was assigned as pastor of the entire cluster in 2024.
- St. Mary of the Fields (Grand Ridge)
- St. Joseph (Marseilles)
- St. Patrick (Ransom)
- St. Patrick (Seneca)
Sacraments at St. Mary of the Fields
Because there are no regularly scheduled liturgies at the Grand Ridge worship site, the Diocese of Peoria directs parishioners to contact the pastor to arrange the three sacraments that are celebrated there by appointment: baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
- Baptism — by arrangement; call (815) 357-4070
- Wedding — by arrangement; call (815) 357-4070
- Funeral — by arrangement; call (815) 357-4070
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
The priestly care of St. Mary of the Fields has been documented in the Diocese of Peoria clergy directory. Father David M. Kipfer was pastor when the site was formally added to St. Columba (Ottawa) in 2000. Father Alexander Millar shepherded the cluster from 2020, Father Sixmund Nyabenda Henry served as Administrator in 2022, and since 2024 Father Ryan Mattingly is pastor of the cluster.
- Father David M. Kipfer — Pastor of St. Columba, also Pastor of St. Mary of the Fields (2000)
- Father Alexander Millar — Pastor of the cluster (2020–2021)
- Father Sixmund Nyabenda Henry — Administrator (2022)
- Father Ryan Mattingly — Pastor of the cluster (2024–present)
Visiting & Contact
The church sits at 2098 E. 22nd Road (also described as 2098 Joe Hettel Road), Grand Ridge, IL 61325, east of the village in Grand Rapids Township. To arrange a sacramental celebration, ask questions about the parish, or send correspondence, contact the Marseilles parish office.
- Address: 2098 E. 22nd Road / 2098 Joe Hettel Road, Grand Ridge, IL 61325
- Mailing address: 200 Broadway St, Marseilles, IL 61341
- Phone: (815) 357-4070
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: thelittleway.org
A Living 19th-Century Country Church
Even as a mission site, St. Mary of the Fields remains a touchstone of Catholic life for the Grand Ridge farming community. Its survival as a functioning sanctuary through more than a century and a half — including depressions, wars, and rural depopulation — is a quiet testament to the devotion of the families who have kept it maintained and worshipping for six generations.
- Established 1871
- 150th anniversary marked September 4, 2021
- Used today for baptisms, weddings, and funerals
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father David M. Kipfer2000–
While remaining Pastor of St. Columba (Ottawa), also named Pastor of St. Mary of the Fields (Grand Ridge) per Diocese of Peoria records.
- Father Alexander Millar2020–2021
Pastor of St. Patrick (Seneca), St. Joseph (Marseilles), St. Mary of the Fields (Grand Ridge), St. Patrick (Ransom), and (briefly) St. Theresa (Earlville).
- Father Sixmund Nyabenda Henry2022–2024
Administrator of St. Joseph (Marseilles) and St. Mary of the Fields (Grand Ridge).
- Father Ryan Mattingly2024–present
Current Pastor of the cluster: St. Mary of the Fields (Grand Ridge), St. Joseph (Marseilles), St. Patrick (Ransom), and St. Patrick (Seneca).