About Our Lady of Lourdes · Oblong, Illinois
Our Lady of Lourdes is a small Catholic parish located at 506 West Missouri Street in Oblong, Illinois, in rural Crawford County. It is one of two parishes that make up the Crawford County Catholic community, administered together with St. Elizabeth Church in Robinson under a single pastor, Father David Beagles. The parish is named after the famous Marian apparition at Lourdes, France, where in 1858 the Blessed Virgin appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. With about 45 parishioners from 35 families, the parish gathers each Sunday morning for Mass at 9:00 a.m. and is supported by a small, dedicated staff who serve both Crawford County parishes from the Parish Center in Robinson.
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes (the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, apparition of 1858)
- Rector
- Rev. David Beagles
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a faithful Sunday Mass in the quiet community of Oblong, supported by a tight-knit Catholic family that spans Crawford County. The parish welcomes new members with open arms, offers religious education and youth ministry, supports RCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic, and extends parish outreach through dedicated lay ministers. Confession is readily available, and parishioners preparing for marriage or the Anointing of the Sick can reach the pastor directly through the Parish Center in Robinson.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at St. Elizabeth (Robinson)
- By appointment (at Our Lady of Lourdes)
About the Parish
Our Lady of Lourdes is a small Catholic parish in Oblong, Illinois, in rural Crawford County. It is one of two parishes — together with St. Elizabeth in Robinson — that make up the Crawford County Catholic community. Both parishes are served by a single pastor, Father David Beagles, and administered from the Parish Center adjacent to St. Elizabeth's Church in Robinson.
- Parish mailing address: 202 South Lincoln St., Robinson, IL 62454
- Church address: 506 W. Missouri St., Oblong, IL 62449
- Approximately 45 parishioners in 35 families
Our Lady of Lourdes — Patroness and Feast
The parish is named after Our Lady of Lourdes, recalling the 1858 apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto of Massabielle near Lourdes, France. Over the course of eighteen visions, Our Lady revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the visions, and directed Bernadette to a spring whose waters have since shown remarkable healing power. Lourdes is today the most famous modern Marian shrine, and in 2008 Pope Benedict XVI made a pilgrimage there to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions.
- Apparition year: 1858
- Visionary: Bernadette Soubirous
- Site: Grotto of Massabielle, Lourdes, France
- Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes: February 11
Parish Staff
Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Elizabeth share a small pastoral team that operates from the Parish Center in Robinson. Father David Beagles is the pastor of both parishes, and Father James A. Flach serves as Pastor Emeritus in private residence.
- Rev. David Beagles — Pastor
- Rev. James A. Flach — Pastor Emeritus (in private residence)
- Patti Buercklin — Office Manager
- Roselene Quick — Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry
- Eileen Hartrich Cooper — Parish Outreach
- Chris Jansen — Music Director
- Lori Davis — Custodial Care for Our Lady of Lourdes
- Adam Davis — Landscape Care for Our Lady of Lourdes
- Jenny Brady Head — DRE (at St. Elizabeth)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the standard Catholic sacraments and encourages parishioners to contact the Parish Center to arrange preparation. Baptisms require a parent meeting first; marriages must be arranged at least six months in advance with Father Beagles; the Anointing of the Sick is available for those who are seriously ill or facing surgery; and the R.C.I.A. process welcomes adults and older children seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or First Communion.
- Baptism — by appointment through the Parish Center
- Marriage — at least six months' notice to Father Beagles
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Penance — Saturdays at St. Elizabeth or by appointment
- R.C.I.A. — ongoing, by contacting the Parish Center
Ministries and Outreach
Though small, the parish maintains an active program of faith formation, youth ministry, liturgical music, and outreach. A dedicated Parish Outreach coordinator works with those in need across Crawford County, while the Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry oversees sacramental preparation and youth activities.
- Religious Education
- Youth Ministry
- R.C.I.A.
- Parish Outreach
- Liturgical Music Ministry
Visiting and Joining the Parish
New parishioners are always welcome at Our Lady of Lourdes. Registration can be completed in person or by calling the Parish Center. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch) and is staffed by Office Manager Patti Buercklin.
- Parish Center: 202 South Lincoln Street, Robinson, IL 62454
- Phone: (618) 544-7526
- Fax: (618) 544-9327
- Email: [email protected]
Diocese and Wider Church
Our Lady of Lourdes is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, which covers the southern and central portions of the state. The parish shares Crawford County ministry with St. Elizabeth in Robinson, forming a single Catholic community under one pastor.
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
- Sister parish: St. Elizabeth, Robinson, IL
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James A. Flach
Pastor Emeritus, now in private residence