About Resurrection · Illiopolis, Illinois
Resurrection Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Illiopolis, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The parish was formed through the merger of three historic country parishes — St. Ann in Nianti, St. Joseph in Buffalo, and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Illiopolis — and now serves the surrounding rural community from its church on Anne Street. It is currently part of a pastoral grouping with St. John Vianney Parish in Sherman and St. James Parish in Riverton, sharing one pastor across the three communities.
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere (Pastor of Resurrection, Illiopolis; St. John Vianney, Sherman; and, since 2026, St. James, Riverton)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Resurrection is a small, family-sized Catholic community where nearly everyone knows one another — an authentic rural parish rooted in the merger of three older country churches (St. Ann of Nianti, St. Joseph of Buffalo, and Visitation of Illiopolis). Weekly Sunday Mass at 10:15 a.m. is the heart of parish life, with weekday Mass on Wednesday morning and regular Confession times advertised. The parish is enriched by active lay involvement — Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, ushers, altar servers, sacristans, the Rosary group, the choir, PSR (Parish School of Religion) catechists, the maintenance group, and the parish picnic — all of which are recognized and celebrated by the pastor. It is also paired with St. John Vianney in Sherman and St. James in Riverton under one pastor, giving parishioners access to a wider circle of Catholic community while keeping Illiopolis a close-knit worshipping family.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st and 3rd Sundays, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (also listed by some sources as 11:15–11:45 AM)
- By appointment
Parish Identity & History
Resurrection Parish is the Catholic community serving Illiopolis, Illinois, and the surrounding Sangamon County farmland. It was created through the merger of three older country parishes — St. Ann of Nianti, St. Joseph of Buffalo, and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Illiopolis — bringing their families together into one worshipping community under the name Resurrection. Visitation of the BVM itself had a long history in Illiopolis and is the parish most directly continued by today's Resurrection community. The merged parish takes its identity from the central Christian mystery of Christ's Resurrection, celebrated liturgically at every Sunday Mass and especially at Easter.
- Merged from St. Ann (Nianti), St. Joseph (Buffalo), and Visitation (Illiopolis)
- Part of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
- Named for the Resurrection of the Lord
Pastoral Unit with Sherman and Riverton
Since 2011, Resurrection has been paired by the diocese with St. John Vianney Parish in Sherman and St. James Parish in Riverton as a single pastoral unit. The three parishes share clergy and coordinate Mass schedules, faith formation, and pastoral planning while each retaining its own identity. As of 2026 the same pastor, Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere, serves all three communities, with Deacon Andrew Krug assisting across the Illiopolis and Sherman parishes.
- St. John Vianney, Sherman (902 St. John Drive)
- St. James, Riverton (112 N. Sixth St.)
- Deacon Andrew Krug serves Resurrection and St. John Vianney
Clergy & Staff
Resurrection is currently led by Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere, Pastor, with the assistance of Deacon Andrew Krug. Fr. Mbiere, a priest of the Diocese of Nnewi, Nigeria ordained in 2006, first came to Illiopolis as Parochial Administrator in 2017 and was named Pastor in 2021; in 2026 the diocese also entrusted him with St. James, Riverton, in addition to his existing pastorates at Resurrection and St. John Vianney. He is supported by a small parish staff.
- Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere — Pastor
- Deacon Andrew Krug — serves Resurrection and St. John Vianney
- Catherine Mitchell — Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) / Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Nancy Pease-Woosley — Liturgical Music Coordinator
- Trisha Hildebrandt — Parish Secretary
- Sara Blair — Bookkeeper
Liturgical Ministries
The parish runs on the dedicated service of lay ministers who keep the Mass and parish life running week to week. They are formally recognized each year at the parish's volunteer-appreciation cookout, and new ministers are commissioned publicly by the pastor during Mass.
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans / Altar and Rosary group
- Choir / Music ministry (led by Nancy Pease-Woosley)
- Church cleaners
Faith Formation & PSR
Children's religious education at Resurrection is provided through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), coordinated by Catherine Mitchell, CRE. PSR teachers are among the volunteer groups formally thanked by the parish each year, and sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation) is coordinated through the parish office.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) for parish children
- Sacramental preparation coordinated through the parish office
- RCIA and adult faith formation: contact the parish office
Parish Life & Community Events
Resurrection is known for its warm parish socials that draw together parishioners from across the Illiopolis farming community. The parish hosts an annual fried chicken dinner on its grounds each September, and every year Fr. Freddie gathers the lay volunteers — parish and finance councils, staff, maintenance, choir, sacristans, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, ushers, PSR teachers, cemetery directors, and luncheon helpers — for a parish picnic in their honor.
- Annual fried chicken dinner on parish grounds
- Volunteer appreciation picnic each year
- Lenten devotions including Stations of the Cross
- Dynamic Catholic 'Best Lent Ever' reflections promoted in Lent
- CRS Rice Bowl participation
Calvary Cemetery
The parish is responsible for Calvary Cemetery in Illiopolis, listed in the diocesan pastoral directory under Resurrection Parish with the pastor serving as cemetery manager. Burial arrangements and plot information are handled through the parish office.
- Calvary Cemetery, Illiopolis
- Cemetery managed through Resurrection Parish, P.O. Box 47, Illiopolis, IL 62539
- Office: (217) 486-3851
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed to Resurrection. The parish office is staffed during the week and can be reached by phone or email; the pastor and staff are happy to help with baptisms, weddings, anointing of the sick, RCIA, or sacramental records. Anyone interested in joining a ministry — choir, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, PSR, maintenance, or the parish picnic team — is encouraged to contact the office.
- Address: 410 Anne St., P.O. Box 47, Illiopolis, IL 62539-0047
- Phone: (217) 486-3851
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan website: dio.org/parishes/resurrection-illiopolis.html
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere2017–present
Originally Parochial Administrator (2017–2021); named Pastor of Resurrection and St. John Vianney, Sherman in 2021; in 2026 also appointed Pastor of St. James, Riverton while retaining Resurrection and St. John Vianney. A priest of the Diocese of Nnewi, Nigeria, ordained July 15, 2006; previously chaplain at St. John's Hospital, Springfield (2016–2021) and in residence at Christ the King, Springfield (2016–2017).
- Rev. Joseph Ringby 2011
Listed as priest-moderator of Resurrection in the 2011 Springfield State Journal-Register report on the diocese's pastoral unit planning, while also serving as pastor of St. James, Riverton.