About St. Anthony of Padua · Rockford, Illinois
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in Rockford, Illinois, belonging to the Diocese of Rockford. Founded in 1909 by Italian immigrants and served by Franciscan priests for nearly ninety years, it remains a parish with deep Italian-American roots and the stated mission of "the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls." The community offers daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil, and two Sunday Masses, plus a 24/7 livestream of its liturgies. Devotions such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Rosary, and a weekly Novena to St. Anthony are part of the parish's regular rhythm of prayer.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Carl Beekman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers a small, prayerful Italian-American Catholic community centered on the Eucharist, with daily Mass Monday through Friday and a 24/7 livestream for the homebound. Parishioners can join traditional devotions such as the weekly Novena to St. Anthony, the daily Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Bible study groups, while serving others through the Parish Pantry, the Memory Garden, the Altar and Rosary Society, the Senior Holy Name Society, and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) team. It is a place where longtime Rockford Italian-American families, converts, and newcomers pray, worship, and serve side by side.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (before the 4:30 PM Mass)
- Weekdays after the 7:00 AM Morning Mass
Parish Overview & Italian Heritage
St. Anthony of Padua is a Catholic parish in Rockford, Illinois, part of the Diocese of Rockford, with a mission of "the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls." It is one of Rockford's historic national parishes, founded in 1909 by Italian immigrants and the Sicilian priest Father Anthony Marchesano. The parish has been served by Franciscan priests for 89 years (as of 2022) and remains a center of Italian-American Catholic life in Rockford, with parish traditions such as the Chicken and Pasta Dinner, an Italian-recipe cookbook, and the IL Santo Gift Shop ("the saint," as St. Anthony is affectionately called in Padua).
- Founded 1909; cornerstone laid October 17, 1909; dedicated January 23, 1910
- First pastor: Rev. Anthony Vincent Marchesano (Diocese of Cefalù, from Montemaggiore, Sicily)
- Served by Franciscan priests for 89 years (since 2022)
- Part of the Diocese of Rockford
Liturgy & Sacraments
The parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and Reconciliation, and offers preparation programs for each. Baptisms are celebrated every Sunday following the 10:30 AM Mass and must be scheduled at least six weeks in advance. Marriage preparation begins at least six months before the wedding and includes the Diocese of Rockford's Gift of Self Seminar.
- Baptism — every Sunday after the 10:30 AM Mass; contact the parish office 6+ weeks ahead
- Marriage — Saturday 1:00 PM weddings typical; Sundays and Saturday evenings unavailable; 6-month preparation process
- Reconciliation — Sat 3:00-4:00 PM and weekdays after 7:00 AM Mass
Weddings at St. Anthony
Couples getting married at St. Anthony begin by contacting the parish secretary at 815-965-2761 ext. 3 to secure their date and begin the preparation process, which must begin at least six months in advance. The parish reserves Saturday afternoons (typically 1:00 PM) for weddings; Sundays and Saturday evenings are not available. Required steps include the Rockford Diocese marriage preparation class (Gift of Self Seminar), completion of a Prenuptial Questionnaire with the priest or deacon, two witness affidavits, recent Baptismal certificates, a Winnebago County marriage license ($40, obtained within 60 days of the wedding), and, for interfaith couples, a dispensation completed four months before the wedding. Rehearsals are usually held on the Friday evening before the wedding at 5:00 PM.
- Standard wedding time: Saturday 1:00 PM
- Sundays and Saturday evenings are not permitted
- Marriage license: $40 from the Winnebago County Clerk's office, within 60 days prior
- Rehearsals: typically Friday evening at 5:00 PM
- Gift of Self Seminar required (Diocese of Rockford)
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, Father Carl Beekman, and supported by a permanent deacon, a Director of Religious Education, a Director of Music, a Business Manager, and an Office Manager/Parish Secretary. Father Beekman became pastor on June 15, 2022; he is a convert to Catholicism and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer who was ordained by Bishop Thomas G. Doran at the Cathedral of St. Peter on May 20, 2000.
- Rev. Carl Beekman — Pastor (815-965-2761 ext. 5)
- Deacon Peter Addotta — Permanent Deacon (815-965-2761 ext. 7)
- Heather Dunaway — Director of Religious Education (815-965-3448 / ext. 6)
- Bernadette Johnson — Religious Education Assistant
- Doreen Addotta — Office Manager / Parish Secretary (ext. 3)
- Leo Lynch — Business Manager (ext. 4)
- John Summers — Director of Music
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Anthony of Padua is led by Heather Dunaway (Director of Religious Education) and Bernadette Johnson (Religious Education Assistant). Programs include the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) Team of sponsors who journey weekly with inquirers, Baptismal Preparation for parents and godparents (monthly), and parish Bible Study groups that meet in the Pedrini Center for two six-session cycles each year. Catechists and teacher's aides are recruited to support parish religious education.
- OCIA Team / Sponsor (begins in September)
- Baptismal Preparation (monthly)
- Bible Study — six 1- to 1.5-hour sessions, twice a year, in the Pedrini Center
- Catechists and Teacher's Aides
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Parishioners serve the Mass as Lectors, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Ushers. Music is coordinated by John Summers, Director of Music, supported by volunteer Musicians and Cantors.
- Lectors
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers
- Musicians and Cantors (John Summers, Director of Music)
Parish Life & Organizations
St. Anthony of Padua has an active parish life anchored by traditional men's and women's groups: the Altar and Rosary Society (Women's Group) and the Senior Holy Name Society (Men's Group). The parish also runs an annual Chicken and Pasta Dinner, an Arts and Environment Committee, a Garden Committee, a Memory Garden, and the IL Santo Gift Shop, located in the gathering space of the church and open Sundays before and after Mass.
- Altar and Rosary Society (Women's Group)
- Senior Holy Name Society (Men's Group)
- Chicken and Pasta Dinner
- Arts and Environment Committee
- Garden Committee
- IL Santo Gift Shop (Linda Giorgi, 815-871-1291) — open Sundays before and after Mass
Service Opportunities & Outreach
The parish maintains a robust culture of stewardship with many volunteer roles. The Parish Pantry collects nonperishable foods, personal items, and household items on the first weekend of every month for distribution to local food pantries. The Memory Garden offers ways to honor loved ones through Mass stipends ($10) or monetary donations and engraved memorial bricks. Other volunteer opportunities include counting the weekly collection, office mailings and bulletins, sewing for priests' vestments and linens, and skilled trades for parish projects. Grief Support and a Homebound Ministry extend pastoral care beyond the parish walls.
- Parish Pantry — first weekend of every month
- Holy Dusters — monthly church cleaning
- Money Counters
- Office Help
- Stewardship — Parish & DA phone volunteers
- Seamstress / Tailor (vestments and linens)
- Parish Grounds and Memory Garden
- Carpenter, Electrician, Painter, or Plumber volunteers
- Homebound Ministry
- Grief Support
Giving & Stewardship
Parishioners are encouraged to support St. Anthony of Padua through regular giving and participation in the annual Diocesan Appeal. Half of all Catholic Parish Initiatives Raffle sales benefit the parish. The parish also promotes ongoing formation through a parish-wide subscription to Formed.org, giving parishioners access to Catholic video, audio, and reading resources.
- Online giving through the parish website
- Diocesan Appeal (annual)
- Catholic Parish Initiatives Raffle (1/2 of sales benefits St. Anthony)
- Formed.org subscription (parish-wide)
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is at 1010 Ferguson Street, Rockford, IL 61102 (phone 815-965-2761; email [email protected]). Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed noon to 1:00 PM) and Friday 8:00 AM to noon; the office is closed Saturday and Sunday. Bulletins are finalized by Monday at noon. The church also live-streams Mass and devotions 24/7 on its YouTube channel, allowing the homebound and distant parishioners to remain connected.
- Address: 1010 Ferguson Street, Rockford, IL 61102
- Phone: 815-965-2761
- Office hours: Mon-Thu 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (closed noon-1:00 PM); Fri 8:00 AM-noon
- Live-stream: YouTube @stanthonychurchrockford (24/7)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony Vincent Marchesano1909-1915+
Founder and first pastor; priest of the Diocese of Cefalù from Montemaggiore, Sicily. Ordained March 31, 1906. Came to Rockford in April 1909 at the invitation of Bishop Muldoon. Built the church (cornerstone 1909, dedicated January 23, 1910), the gymnasium/community center, and opened the parish school on September 7, 1915.
- Franciscan priests (succession)From approximately 1933 onward (89 years as of 2022)
St. Anthony of Padua has been served by Franciscan priests for 89 years; the parish website highlights this long-standing Franciscan stewardship.