About Little Flower · Springfield, Illinois
Church of the Little Flower is a Catholic parish serving the southeast corner of Springfield, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield-in-Illinois. It ministers to approximately 1,100 Catholic families, nearly 3,000 parishioners, and is closely tied to Little Flower School, a K-8 institution founded and still administered by the Dominican Sisters. The parish is named after and dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, and the current church building was completed in 1963, the same day Pope Paul VI was crowned.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower)
- Rector
- Rev. Allen M. (Al) Kemme
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-in-Illinois
Why belong here
Little Flower is a large, multigenerational parish of nearly 3,000 parishioners rooted in the southeast Springfield community, with a K-8 parish school staffed by the Dominican Sisters. Faith formation runs from preschool through 12th grade, the OCIA process welcomes new Catholics and the curious, and lay ministries such as Ministry to the Homebound, Caregivers/Interfaith Volunteers of Springfield, and Social Concerns offer practical ways to serve neighbors. Weekend and weekday Masses, Thursday all-day Adoration, and Saturday Reconciliation provide a steady rhythm of sacramental life.
Mass times at Little Flower
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- And any time by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Who We Are
Church of the Little Flower is a Catholic parish in southeast Springfield, Illinois, serving around 1,100 Catholic families — nearly 3,000 parishioners — within the Diocese of Springfield-in-Illinois. The parish is named after St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, and lives in close partnership with Little Flower School, a K-8 institution administered by the Dominican Sisters.
- Approximately 1,100 Catholic families / ~3,000 parishioners
- Serves the southeast corner of Springfield, IL
- Diocese of Springfield-in-Illinois
- Pastor: Rev. Allen M. (Al) Kemme; Pastor Emeritus: Msgr. John Ossola
History of the Parish
In 1946 the Bishop of Springfield-in-Illinois asked Rev. Raymond O'Connor, then chaplain of St. Joseph's Home for the Aged, to build a new parish. A 'Quonset Church' was erected in 1947 to cope with post-WWII building shortages and served the community for sixteen years. The First Mass in the present church was offered June 30, 1963 — the day Pope Paul VI was crowned. The building was completed just before Vatican II but already reflected the Council's instinct to draw the people closer to the altar.
- 1946 — Bishop directs Rev. Raymond O'Connor to begin the new parish
- 1947 — 'Quonset Church' erected as temporary worship space
- 1948 — First school section completed (five rooms, K-8)
- June 30, 1963 — First Mass in the new church, same day as coronation of Pope Paul VI
- 2014 — Original Quonset Hut demolished after 67 years of use
The Church Building & Artwork
The church's signature feature is its sanctuary ceramic mosaic mural of the Good Shepherd, a work by artist Robert Harmon composed of more than 4,000 individually shaped, tinted, and fired ceramic tiles. The flock of sheep represents all nations, races, and peoples, and a lost sheep is draped over Christ's shoulders. Harmon also designed the main window honoring St. Thérèse — German glass whose variegated firing produces more than a thousand tints and hues, deliberately placed so that worshipers see it as they leave the church.
- Good Shepherd mosaic by Robert Harmon — over 4,000 ceramic tiles
- Lost sheep draped over the shoulders of Christ
- Main St. Thérèse window in German fired glass, 1,000+ tints/hues
- 'Beauty like grace should reward the searcher.' — Father O'Connor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Little Flower extends from preschool through 12th grade, with a Children's Liturgy of the Word for ages 3 and 5 during the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) welcomes parish students in grades 1–12 who do not attend Little Flower School and prepares them for the sacraments.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word for preschoolers (ages 3 & 5) at 10 AM Sunday Mass
- Parish School of Religion (PSR), grades 1–12, fee charged
- Sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation prepared and celebrated together in 3rd grade
- Director: Rod Hughes
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly known as RCIA) welcomes adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Eucharist. The process is flexible and tailored to each individual's faith journey, culminating in a decision about formal entry into the Catholic Church. A separate Children's Catechumenate serves unbaptized children ages 7–14.
- OCIA for unbaptized, other-Christian-baptized, or uncatechized Catholic adults
- Children's Catechumenate for ages 7–14
- Director: Marvin Kocher — (217) 306-6414
Sacraments
Little Flower prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Infant Baptisms require parents to attend Baptism Prep Classes, which are held every two months. First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared together and celebrated in 3rd grade for both school and PSR students. Couples are asked to contact the parish office at least three months before a wedding.
- Infant Baptism — Baptism Prep Classes required (held every two months)
- Children's Baptism ages 7–14 via Children's Catechumenate
- First Eucharist — 3rd grade, school or PSR
- Confirmation — 3rd grade, school or PSR
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least 3 months in advance
Service & Outreach Ministries
The parish extends its reach beyond the church walls through several service groups. Ministry to the Homebound brings Holy Communion to shut-ins and nursing-home residents; Caregivers/Interfaith Volunteers of Springfield (CIVS) provides trained lay volunteers to help frail elderly neighbors maintain independence; and Social Concerns identifies and responds to people in need within the wider community.
- Ministry to the Homebound — Contact: Sister Linda Sue Noe, O.P.
- Caregivers (CIVS) — Coordinator: Lois Hamilton
- Social Concerns — Coordinator: Jane Ford
Music Ministries
Music at Little Flower is led by two directors who support the parish's sung liturgy at weekend and Holy Day Masses, complementing the parish's emphasis on active, personal participation in the liturgy.
- Mary Ann Keenan — Music Ministries
- Ann Hines — Music Ministries
Staff & Parish Office
The parish is led by Father Al Kemme with Msgr. John Ossola as Pastor Emeritus. Office staff, finance, faith-formation, family-life, and pastoral-care roles round out the team that serves the parish from the rectory at 800 Stevenson Drive.
- Father Al Kemme — Pastor
- Msgr. John Ossola — Pastor Emeritus
- Kelly Mauney — Church Secretary
- Michelle Fesi — Director of Family Life
- Anita Barber-Wilheim — Finance
- Marvin Kocher — Director, OCIA (RCIA)
- Rod Hughes — Director, Parish School of Religion
- Dee Stern — Pastoral Minister to the Homebound and Hospitals
- Mary Ann Keenan & Ann Hines — Music Ministries
Visit & Contact
Little Flower is located at 800 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, IL 62703, on the southeast side of the city. Office hours and contact information are available on the parish website, and Father Al can be reached in an emergency at 217-649-4065.
- Address: 800 Stevenson Dr., Springfield, IL 62703
- Phone: (217) 529-1606
- Fax: (217) 529-1649
- Emergency phone for Fr. Al: (217) 649-4065
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.littleflowerchurch.net/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Raymond O'Connor1946–
Chaplain of St. Joseph's Home for the Aged; directed by the Bishop in 1946 to build the new parish; oversaw the 1947 Quonset Church and the 1963 permanent church building.
- Rev. Allen M. (Al) Kemme2016–present
Born June 24, 1965; ordained May 18, 1991. Served at Little Flower as Parochial Vicar 1997–1999 before returning as pastor in 2016.