About St. Aloysius · Wataga, Illinois
St. Aloysius is a Roman Catholic mission parish in the small village of Wataga, Knox County, Illinois, established in 1878. It is one of the Catholic communities served by the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and today is part of a linked cluster of parishes in the Galesburg area. As a mission of the Galesburg-area parishes, it shares pastoral ministry with St. Crescent Parish in Galesburg and St. James in Williamsfield, and its current pastor is Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato, a Tanzanian-born priest incardinated in the Diocese of Peoria who also serves as chaplain of OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. The mission sits at 220 N. Depot Road in Wataga and is supported by a parish website administrator and deacon.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga
- Rector
- Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Aloysius is the historic Catholic presence in Wataga and remains a welcoming mission church for Catholics living in rural Knox County. Sunday Mass is offered weekly at 8:00 a.m. at 220 N. Depot Road, supported by a pastor who also ministers as a hospital chaplain and a parish website administrator/deacon — making it a small but accessible community for families and individuals across the Galesburg area. As part of the Diocese of Peoria's Growing Disciples pastoral plan, it is currently linked with St. Crescent Parish in Galesburg and St. James in Williamsfield, so visitors and parishioners can stay connected across the cluster.
Mass times at St. Aloysius
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Aloysius, Wataga
St. Aloysius is a Catholic mission parish in the village of Wataga, Knox County, Illinois, established in 1878 and entrusted to the Diocese of Peoria. It serves Catholics in the rural Wataga area and is part of a pastoral cluster that links St. Crescent Parish in Galesburg and St. James in Williamsfield with this small mission church. The parish sits at 220 N. Depot Road, Wataga, IL 61488, and is led by Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato, who also ministers as chaplain of OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg.
- Mission status within the Diocese of Peoria
- Linked parishes: St. Crescent (Galesburg), St. James (Williamsfield)
- Year established: 1878
- Patron: St. Aloysius (Gonzaga)
History
St. Aloysius was founded in 1878, just one year after the Diocese of Peoria was canonically erected, to serve the small village of Wataga platted two and a half decades earlier in 1854. Through the late 20th and early 21st centuries it was served by a succession of diocesan priests, including Father Michael Menner from 1998 and Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato from 2009 (Administrator) and 2014 (Pastor) onward. In the 2020s the parish was caught up in the Diocese of Peoria's 'Growing Disciples' pastoral planning process, under which it has been proposed to be merged with the Galesburg-area parishes.
- 1878 — Parish established
- 1998 — Father Michael Menner serves as Pastor of St. Aloysius and St. Theresa (Alexis)
- 2009 — Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato appointed Administrator of St. Aloysius
- 2014 — Father Byabato named Pastor of St. Aloysius (effective June 11, 2014)
- 2023–2024 — Parish included in Diocese of Peoria 'Growing Disciples' pastoral plan
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
St. Aloysius is led by Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato, a priest incardinated in the Diocese of Peoria who was born in Bukoba, Tanzania, on November 14, 1962, and ordained November 20, 1993. He came to St. Aloysius in 2009 as Administrator while remaining chaplain of OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, and was formally named Pastor in June 2014. Deacon Michael Crummer is listed on the diocesan parish site as Website Administrator for the cluster of Wataga – St. Aloysius, Galesburg – St. Crescent Parish, and Williamsfield – St. James.
- Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato — Pastor (since 2014; Administrator since 2009)
- Deacon Michael Crummer — Website Administrator (linked cluster)
Mass & Liturgy
St. Aloysius celebrates weekly Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. The Mass is offered in English in the Roman-Latin rite. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to confirm the current schedule with the parish office or the Diocese of Peoria parish page, especially in light of the ongoing Growing Disciples pastoral planning process.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Rite: Roman-Latin
- Confession and adoration times not published on the diocesan parish page at time of research
Parish Cluster & Diocese
St. Aloysius belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and is part of a pastoral cluster of three communities — St. Crescent Parish in Galesburg, St. James in Williamsfield, and St. Aloysius in Wataga. As part of the diocese's broader 'Growing Disciples' pastoral plan (with final decisions announced May 19, 2024 and implementation beginning July 1, 2024), the parish has been proposed to be merged into a larger combined Galesburg-area parish, though Masses may continue during the implementation period.
- Diocese of Peoria
- Linked parishes: St. Crescent (Galesburg), St. James (Williamsfield)
- 2024 — Implementation phase of Growing Disciples pastoral plan begins
Visit & Contact
St. Aloysius is located at 220 N. Depot Road, Wataga, IL 61488 (mailing address: PO Box 83, Wataga, IL 61488). The parish can be reached by phone at (309) 344-3161, ext. 61188. The parish's online presence is hosted through the Diocese of Peoria at cdop.org.
- Address: 220 N. Depot Road, Wataga, IL 61488
- Mailing: PO Box 83, Wataga, IL 61488
- Phone: (309) 344-3161, ext. 61188
- Parish website: cdop.org/parishes/st-aloysius-wataga
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Menner1998
Pastor of St. Theresa (Alexis) and St. Aloysius (Wataga) beginning in 1998; came from chaplaincy at the Daughters of St. Francis Motherhouse in Lacon.
- Father Deus-Dedit B. Byabato2009–2014 (Administrator); 2014–present (Pastor)
Tanzanian-born priest (b. Bukoba, November 14, 1962; ordained November 20, 1993); first served as Administrator of St. Aloysius (Wataga) in 2009 while remaining chaplain of OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg; named Pastor of St. Aloysius (Wataga) effective June 11, 2014; continues to serve.