About Our Lady of Lourdes · Gibson City, Illinois
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Joliet, located in Gibson City, Illinois (Ford County). The parish community worships at 534 North Wood Street, two blocks west of Route 54 off 13th Street, and shares its priestly ministry with nearby Immaculate Conception in Roberts. It is a growing parish that serves rural east-central Illinois with weekend and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a religious education program for children and youth, and active lay ministries. The parish is led by Father John Phan as pastor, with Deacon Jeff Volker assisting.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. John Phan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Joliet
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes welcomes visitors and new parishioners into a small but growing rural Catholic family in the Diocese of Joliet. Members can attend weekday and weekend Mass, spend time in weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and have their children formed in the faith through a tiered Religious Education program running from Pre-K through Confirmation, plus a youth group. Active lay ministries — lectors, altar servers, ushers, homebound ministers, Knights of Columbus, and C.A.L.M. (Catholic Association of Loving Mothers) — give parishioners of every age and vocation a concrete way to serve.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 4:30 p.m. before Saturday Mass
- During Wednesday Adoration
- Any time by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Welcome and Parish Identity
Our Lady of Lourdes describes itself as a growing parish in the Diocese of Joliet, located in Gibson City, Illinois, and explicitly invites visitors to 'come join us' and get to know the parish family. The site lists Father John Phan as pastor and Deacon Jeff Volker as deacon, and shares ministry with Immaculate Conception in Roberts. A 2024 welcome letter from the then-newly-arrived pastor (Fr. Nestor Sanchez) speaks of 'continuous growth' and the parish's faith, hope and charity, and announced Bishop Hicks's September 24 installation Mass.
- Diocese of Joliet parish
- Pastor: Rev. John Phan
- Deacon: Jeff Volker
- Shared ministry with Immaculate Conception, Roberts
Clergy and Staff
The parish homepage names Father John Phan as the parish's priest and pastor and Jeff Volker as deacon. The 2024 welcome letter and ministry page refer to Father Nester (Nestor) Sanchez as pastor around that period, and the Diocese of Joliet's assignment list later records that Fr. Nestor Sanchez would be attending Canon Law School. The parish office is reached at [email protected].
- Rev. John Phan — Pastor
- Rev. Nestor Sanchez — recent pastor (2024 welcome letter)
- Deacon Jeff Volker
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Our Lady of Lourdes runs a tiered Religious Education program for parish children, organized by grade band, with named catechist contacts for each level. The Director of Religious Education office is open Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. There is also a Youth Group for older students and a Confirmation class for those preparing to receive the sacrament.
- Confirmation Class — Fred Sarantakos (217) 781-1813; Jodi Beyers (815) 848-3371
- Pre-K — catechist needed; currently no class
- 1st & 2nd Grade — Jean Wilhelmi (815) 735-7247; Marjorie Brown (217) 377-3132
- 3rd & 4th Grade — Beth Baillie
- 5th & 6th Grade — Erin Nuss (847) 207-8811
- Youth Group — Maggie Davis (815) 848-8985; Jerry Brown (217) 377-5277
- DRE office open Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
Lay Ministries and Service
The parish website lists several standing lay ministries that keep the Mass running and reach out beyond the church walls. Care Ministers bring Communion to the sick and homebound on Sundays, while lectors, altar servers, and ushers serve at the liturgy. The Knights of Columbus and the women's group C.A.L.M. (Catholic Association of Loving Mothers) round out parish life.
- Homebound / Care Ministers — contact Fran Mardis or the parish office
- Altar Servers — contact Patti Huppert
- Lectors — contact Patti Huppert
- Ushers — contact Patti Huppert
- Knights of Columbus — contact Bruce Killian
- C.A.L.M. (Catholic Association of Loving Mothers) — contact Patti Huppert
Knights of Columbus
The parish hosts a local council of the Knights of Columbus, the international Catholic fraternal organization founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney. The parish's description notes the order's four principles — Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism — and its membership of more than 1.7 million across some 10,000 councils worldwide.
- Founded 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney
- Four principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Patriotism
- Local contact: Bruce Killian
C.A.L.M. — Catholic Association of Loving Mothers
C.A.L.M. is a parish women's ministry described on the website as a group of mothers who gather to focus on their faith and support one another in their vocations. Practical works include coordinating meals for families with a new baby and stepping in to help when someone in the parish community is sick or in need.
- Mother-to-mother support and faith-sharing
- Meal coordination for families with newborns
- Parishioner outreach in times of illness or need
- Contact: Patti Huppert
Contact and Visiting
Our Lady of Lourdes is located at 534 North Wood Street, Gibson City, Illinois 60936. The parish office can be reached at (217) 784-4671 or [email protected]. The parish website lists links to the bulletin, schedule/events, parish information, religious education, resources, and Mass times, and notes the church's location as two blocks west of Route 54, turning at 13th Street.
- Address: 534 North Wood Street, Gibson City, IL 60936
- Phone: (217) 784-4671
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ololgc.org
- Directions: 2 blocks west of Rte. 54, turn at 13th Street
Diocese and Governance
Our Lady of Lourdes is a parish of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois and falls under the ordinary ministry of the Bishop of Joliet (Bishop Hicks as of the 2024 installation Mass referenced on the parish website). The parish shares its priestly team with Immaculate Conception in Roberts, and the diocesan assignment list tracks its pastors' assignments over time.
- Diocese of Joliet
- Bishop: Bishop Hicks (Diocese of Joliet, as of 2024)
- Parish EIN: 37-0716123
- Year formed: 1946
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Phan
Current pastor named on the parish homepage; also listed as serving Immaculate Conception, Roberts.
- Rev. Nestor Sanchez
Authored a 2024 welcome letter as newly-appointed parish priest on the parish website; Diocese of Joliet later assigned him to Canon Law School.