About Saint John Paul II Parish (Visitation Church) · Kewanee, Illinois
Saint John Paul II Parish is a Catholic community in Kewanee, Illinois, in the Diocese of Peoria. It is the current parish entity formed in 2013 from the merger of Kewanee's historic parishes, and it worships at the Visitation Church on West Central Boulevard, originally dedicated in 1915. The parish's stated mission is to 'nourish the growth of individuals in their love of God and one another through the reception of sacraments and active participation in public worship, personal prayers, Catholic education and the sharing of Time, Talent, and Treasure.' It serves a bilingual (English and Spanish) flock and operates Visitation Catholic School, a PreK–8 elementary school in Kewanee.
- Established
- 2013 (Visitation Church: 1915; parish heritage dating to 1855)
- Patron
- Saint John Paul II (parish); the worship site is the Visitation Church (Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Narcis Katambe, PhD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Saint John Paul II Parish offers a bilingual Catholic home in Kewanee with both English and Spanish Masses each weekend, a weekly Confession schedule, First Communion and Confirmation preparation programs (CCD), and a parish-run Catholic school (Visitation Catholic School, PreK–8). Rooted in Kewanee Catholic life since 1855 and now bearing the name of Pope Saint John Paul II, the parish combines historic worship at the 1915 Visitation Church with the everyday ministries of religious education, sacramental preparation, and stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure.
Mass times at Saint John Paul II Parish (Visitation Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:40 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. (or by appointment)
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (per Discover Mass listing)
Parish Identity & Mission
Saint John Paul II Parish is the Catholic community in Kewanee, Illinois, worshiping at the historic Visitation Church on West Central Boulevard. The parish's published mission is to nourish the growth of individuals in their love of God and one another through the sacraments, public worship, personal prayer, Catholic education, and the sharing of Time, Talent, and Treasure.
- Parish name: Saint John Paul II
- Worship site: Visitation Church, Kewanee
- Heritage date shown on website: Established in 1855
- Year parish was established: 2013 (Diocese of Peoria)
History of Catholic Kewanee
Catholic life in Kewanee began in early 1854, when St. Mary's parish was organized at the home of Matthew Joyce. Father Lynch was the first pastor, and in 1855 a small church was built and later enlarged. The parish grew, took the name Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and built again in 1885 on Park Street before dedicating the present Visitation Church at 4–10 W. Central Blvd in 1915. The Visitation Church building was designed by George P. Stauduhar, the well-known Rock Island, Illinois architect of many Midwest Catholic churches.
- 1854 – St. Mary's parish organized at Matthew Joyce home
- 1855 – First church built, 18' x 24'
- 1885 – New Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary church on Park St.
- 1915 – Present Visitation Church dedicated on W. Central Blvd
- 1915 – Building designed by architect George P. Stauduhar of Rock Island
- 1982 – Parish name reverted to St. Mary's
- 2013 – Saint John Paul II Parish canonically established by Diocese of Peoria
Religious Education for Children (CCD)
The parish's CCD program serves children from Kindergarten through 8th grade and meets at Visitation Catholic School on Sundays from 10:30–11:45 a.m., following the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The curriculum walks students through First Communion preparation and Confirmation preparation across multiple years.
- Meets Sundays 10:30–11:45 a.m. at Visitation Catholic School
- First Communion track: Primer Year, Year 1 (Communion Preparation), Year 2 (Holy Communion)
- Middle Years: Years 3, 4, 5 (Promotion Year)
- Confirmation track: Year 6 (Confirmation Preparation), Year 7 (Confirmation), Year 8 (Confirmation)
- Registration form available in English and Español
- Contact: Religious Education Office at (309) 852-4549
Visitation Catholic School
Visitation Catholic School is the parish-supported Catholic elementary school located at 107 S. Lexington Ave., Kewanee. It serves PreK through 8th grade and is accredited through the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). The school's stated mission is to 'inspire excellence and to develop future leaders for Christ, through quality education grounded in Catholic values, principles, and traditions.'
- Address: 107 S. Lexington Ave., Kewanee, IL 61443
- Phone: (309) 856-7451 / Fax: (309) 852-4259
- Grades: PreK–8
- Principal: Mr. Wayne Brau
- School website: https://visitationcatholic.com/
- Motto: 'Where a Rich Heritage of Quality Catholic Education Awaits Your Child'
- Mascot: Giants
- 2024–2025 enrollment (Diocese of Peoria): 80
Clergy & Leadership
The parish is currently served by Father Narcis Katambe, PhD. According to the Diocese of Peoria, Father Katambe is incardinated in another diocese and is serving in the Diocese of Peoria. He was appointed Administrator of Saint John Paul II Parish (Kewanee) in 2025 and was named Pastor in the Diocese of Peoria's 2026 priest assignments. He was born in Bukongo-Kamachumu, Muleba, Tanzania, and was ordained on July 23, 1995.
- Pastor: Father Narcis Katambe, PhD
- Appointed Administrator of Saint John Paul II Parish, 2025
- Named Pastor in 2026 priest assignments (Diocese of Peoria)
- Birthday: April 10, 1965
- Ordained: July 23, 1995
Diocese of Peoria
Saint John Paul II Parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria, which serves Catholic faithful across central Illinois. The parish was canonically established as Saint John Paul II Parish in 2013 and is listed on the diocese's parish directory at cdop.org.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Peoria
- Diocese parish listing: https://www.cdop.org/parishes/saint-john-paul-ii-parish-kewanee
- Year Established: 2013
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person at the parish address on West Central Boulevard in Kewanee.
- Mailing address: 406 W. Central Blvd, Kewanee, IL 61443
- Physical address: 410 W. Central Blvd, Kewanee, IL 61443 (Diocese listing)
- Phone: (309) 852-4549
- Fax: (309) 853-4106
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://saintjohnpaulii-kewanee.org/