About Mary, Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church · Orion, Illinois
Mary, Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Orion, Illinois, located about nine miles south of the Quad City International Airport on US Route 150. The parish is part of the Diocese of Peoria and shares pastoral duties and leadership resources with its sister parish, St. Maria Goretti in Coal Valley. The faith community is led by Father Anthony (Tony) Ego as pastor and Deacon Thomas Gainey, and offers weekend and weekday Masses, a religious education program from Kindergarten through Confirmation, an active youth group, and a wide array of outreach ministries serving the wider Orion community.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- Our Lady of Peace (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony M. (Tony) Ego
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Mary, Our Lady of Peace is a loving and growing parish that openly welcomes new members and visitors, inviting them to 'come explore with us what God is saying to you.' With a pastor and deacon who are present and accessible, an active Religious Education program from Kindergarten through Confirmation, a high-school Vision Youth Group, multiple faith-sharing opportunities such as Bible studies, Cursillo, and TEC retreats, and a deep bench of parish organizations (Altar & Rosary Society, Rosary Makers, Social Action Committee, Men's Club, Parish Council, and more), newcomers can find a meaningful way to serve. Its outreach ministries—from the Orion Food Pantry and St. Joseph Meal Site to the Women's Choice Center and Pregnancy Resource Center—reflect a community that reaches beyond its own doors to serve Orion and the Quad Cities.
Mass times at Mary, Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday after the 5:30 PM Vigil Mass (and by appointment)
Parish History
Catholic life in Orion began in 1906 with the first Mass at the home of Daniel Keleher, celebrated by Fr. M.F. Foley of St. Malachy's in Geneseo. Orion was formally designated a mission in 1924 and by 1925 had moved into a rented hall above the local grocery store, where Masses were celebrated for 35 years. Groundbreaking for the permanent church took place on July 5, 1959, and in 1963 Mary, Our Lady of Peace was established as a parish with Fr. Cornelius Hollerich as its first pastor.
- 1906: First Mass at the home of Daniel Keleher (Fr. M.F. Foley, St. Malachy's, Geneseo)
- 1924: Orion designated a Catholic out-mission
- 1925: Masses move to a rented hall above the local grocery store
- July 5, 1959: Groundbreaking for the new church
- 1963: Mary, Our Lady of Peace formally established as a parish
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish Religious Education program offers Catholic faith formation for children from Kindergarten through seventh grade, culminating in a Confirmation program. Classes meet on Sunday mornings following the 8:30 AM Mass from mid-September through early May, with a Family Formation component for parents. On the first Sunday of each month one class hosts a Children's Mass, with students reading, ushering, bringing up the gifts, and participating in the music.
- Directors of Religious Education: Tammy Mount and Emily Dochterman
- Family Formation program for parents
- Children's Mass hosted by a class on the first Sunday of the month
- Group sponsors a young girl in the Dominican Republic
- Fellowship events include ice skating, roller skating, a visit to the Cathedral in Peoria, and game nights
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a process of faith formation meetings focused on Scripture, Catholic teaching, and prayer. Meetings generally begin in September and conclude with a special welcoming ceremony at Easter. The process is open to anyone unbaptized, baptized in another Christian church, or baptized Catholic, as well as to children over age 9 who need First Communion or Confirmation.
- Open to unbaptized adults, Christians from other traditions, and baptized Catholics
- Children over 9 needing First Communion or Confirmation are also welcome
- Meetings begin in September and conclude with the Easter welcoming ceremony
Youth Ministry
The parish supports youth of all ages through religious education classes, Vacation Bible School, and the 'Vision Youth Group' for confirmed high-school youth, which is shared with sister parish St. Maria Goretti. The youth group offers faith-building discussions, group activities, food, and fellowship, with the goal of helping young people grow in their faith as they prepare for adult life. Older youth and adults also serve as volunteers for the Orion area-wide Vacation Bible School each summer.
- Vision Youth Group (confirmed parish youth through high school)
- Shared with sister parish St. Maria Goretti
- Meetings and fellowship details via the Vision Youth Group Facebook page
- Orion area-wide Vacation Bible School, rotated among area parishes (about 250 youth each summer)
Spiritual Renewal and Adult Faith
Adults and teens can deepen their faith through Bible studies offered throughout the year, the diocesan Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat for youth, and Cursillo, a movement led locally by Deacon Tom and Deb Gainey. The parish also shares in the Cursillo/TEC activities of the broader Peoria Diocese and the Northwest-TEC community.
- Bible Study (offered throughout the year; watch the bulletin)
- TEC – Teens Encounter Christ (diocesan youth retreat)
- Cursillo (contact Deacon Tom & Deb Gainey, 309-945-7065)
- Prayer Line (Judy Olson, 309-521-8456)
Outreach Ministries and Social Action
The Social Action Committee, established in the mid-1990s, coordinates a robust set of outreach ministries serving Orion and the Quad Cities area. Parishioners donate food and money to the Orion Food Pantry on the first weekend of each month, volunteer at the St. Joseph Meal Site, host a pancake breakfast each spring benefiting the Women's Choice Center of the Quad Cities, and contribute winter donations of baby items to a Pregnancy Resource Center. Each fall, a parish-wide clothing drive gathers coats, blankets, shoes, clothing, and hygiene products for local families in need.
- Orion Food Pantry (first weekend of each month)
- St. Joseph Meal Site (volunteer meals)
- Women's Choice Center (Quad Cities) – annual spring Pancake Breakfast fundraiser
- Pregnancy Resource Center – winter baby-item collection, including handmade blankets from the Piecemakers
- October–Thanksgiving Clothing Drive for local families
Parish Organizations and Guilds
A wide range of parish organizations carry out the spiritual, social, and maintenance work of the parish. The Altar & Rosary Society cares for the altar, assembles rosaries on Monday mornings for Catholic communities worldwide, and hosts luncheons for parish events. The Piecemakers sewing group meets weekly from September through May to make quilts and rosaries for those in need. The Parish Council, Finance Committee, Buildings & Grounds Committee, Liturgy Committee, Men's Club, Right to Life representative, and Parish Foundation Advisory Board round out parish leadership.
- Altar & Rosary Society (Linda Leonard, 309-754-8734)
- Piecemakers / Rosary Makers (weekly Mondays, September–May)
- Parish Council (Jim Modglin, President)
- Finance Committee (Pat Martens, Chair)
- Buildings & Grounds Committee (Jim Kovac, Chair)
- Liturgy Committee (Donna Johnson)
- Men's Club
- Right to Life Representative (Bonnie Newman)
- Parish Foundation Advisory Board (Jim Dingman)
- Funeral Luncheons (Sue Livesay, Liz Seabloom, Joyce Alba)
Strategic Plan and Mission
Mary, Our Lady of Peace, together with St. Maria Goretti, developed a Strategic Planning Committee Report in December 2015 to coordinate mission work, expand service to those in need, and improve communication and volunteer involvement across both parishes. The plan is grounded in St. Mother Teresa's call to 'give your hands to serve and your hearts to love,' and identifies goals for service coordination, broader community involvement, and welcoming new members.
- Joint Strategic Plan published December 2015 with St. Maria Goretti
- Goals include coordinating mission work, expanding outreach, and welcoming new members
- Strategic Plan PDF is available on the parish website
Visiting and Contact
The parish offices are located at 1402 Tenth Street in Orion, Illinois, with mailing address P.O. Box 175, Orion, IL 61273. The parish can be reached by phone at (309) 581-2923; Darlene Linden serves as Parish Secretary. Mary, Our Lady of Peace shares pastoral duties and several leadership resources with St. Maria Goretti in Coal Valley, and visitors seeking additional Mass times are invited to consult the sister parish's schedule.
- Address: 1402 Tenth Street, P.O. Box 175, Orion, IL 61273
- Phone: (309) 581-2923
- Parish Secretary: Darlene Linden
- Located nine miles south of Quad City International Airport on US Route 150
- Sister parish: St. Maria Goretti, Coal Valley (220 E. 22nd Avenue, Coal Valley, IL 61240)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Cornelius Hollerich1963–1996
First pastor; served 34 years until his passing; oversaw addition of parish hall and classrooms by 1974.
- Fr. Mike Schaab1996–~2005
Led the major church renovation beginning June 2001; Bishop Daniel Jenky rededicated the church in June 2002.
- Fr. Ray Guthrie2005–2007
Pastor of both Mary, Our Lady of Peace and St. Maria Goretti, Coal Valley.
- Fr. James (Jim) DeBisschop2007–present (with medical leave 2012–2014)
Returned to pastoral duties in summer 2014; serves both Mary, Our Lady of Peace and its sister parish, St. Maria Goretti.
- Fr. Deo Gracias
Administrator of the parish during Fr. DeBisschop's cancer treatment.
- Fr. Anthony Bernas
Administrator of the parish during Fr. DeBisschop's recovery.
- Fr. Anthony (Tony) Egocurrent
Current pastor, leading the parish with Deacon Tom Gainey and sharing resources with St. Maria Goretti.