About St. Brigid · Liberty, Illinois
St. Brigid Catholic Church is a small rural parish in the village of Liberty, Adams County, western Illinois, and one of three linked Catholic churches served by a single pastor. According to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois' Pastoral Directory, the parish has about 521 parishioners in 198 families. St. Brigid is grouped with St. Edward the Confessor in Mendon and St. Joseph in Quincy as the 'Tri-Parishes' of Adams County, sharing clergy, faith formation staff, and ministry schedules. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and is currently served by Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F.
- Established
- 1847
- Patron
- St. Brigid of Ireland
- Rector
- Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Brigid offers a welcoming rural Catholic community with the full sacramental life of the Church — weekly Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, Confession before Saturday Mass, and a parish family that supports faith formation for all ages. As part of the Tri-Parishes grouping with St. Edward the Confessor (Mendon) and St. Joseph (Quincy), parishioners benefit from a broader ministry network, shared faith formation staff, and a 'Journey of Faith' (RCIA) program for those becoming Catholic. For families and individuals in western Adams County, it is a small parish with deep roots — established in 1847, with its church built in 1870 — where people know one another by name.
Mass times at St. Brigid
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM (or by appointment)
History of St. Brigid Parish
St. Brigid Catholic Church was established in 1847 and is among the oldest Catholic parishes in Adams County, Illinois. For roughly its first two decades, the small Catholic community worshipped in private homes before completing its own church building about 1870 in the village of Liberty. The parish was founded by Father Thomas Cusack, who simultaneously cared for the Camp Point mission (later St. Thomas) — establishing a long pattern in which the pastor of Liberty would also shepherd surrounding missions, a custom continued today through the Tri-Parishes arrangement.
- Parish established: 1847
- Church building completed: c. 1870
- Founder: Rev. Thomas Cusack
- Saint Bridget Cemetery lies in Section 20 of Liberty Township
The Tri-Parishes of Adams County
St. Brigid in Liberty is one of three Catholic churches served by a single pastoral team in Adams County, referred to collectively as the Tri-Parishes. The other two are St. Edward the Confessor in Mendon and St. Joseph in Quincy. The three parishes share a pastor (currently Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F.), a parish secretary (Misty Cramsey), a Coordinator of Religious Education (Emily Wellman), and a Director of Music (Greg White, serving St. Joseph). Ministry schedules, faith formation, and the diocesan directory are organized across all three parishes.
- St. Brigid — Liberty, IL (706 N. Main St.)
- St. Edward the Confessor — Mendon, IL
- St. Joseph — Quincy, IL (1435 E. 1500th St.)
- Shared pastor: Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F.
Faith Formation and the Journey of Faith (RCIA)
Faith formation for children and adults is coordinated across the Tri-Parishes. The parishes offer a 'Journey of Faith – Becoming Catholic' program, which is the parish's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Emily Wellman serves as the Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) for the grouping.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation for parish youth
- Journey of Faith – Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
- Emily Wellman, CRE
Parish Ministries
The parish website highlights a diverse set of ministries that span ages and interests, designed to help parishioners deepen their faith and build community. Ministry assignments across the Tri-Parishes are coordinated on a shared ministry schedule.
- Youth Outreach
- Women's Ministry
- Music Ministry
- Liturgical ministries (scheduled across the Tri-Parishes)
Pastor: Father Scott Snider
St. Brigid's current pastor is the Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F., who serves as pastor of the Tri-Parishes (St. Brigid in Liberty, St. Edward in Mendon, and St. Joseph in Quincy) and resides at the St. Brigid rectory at 806 N. Main Street. Father Snider has a remarkable vocation story: he was a longtime Protestant minister before converting to the Catholic Church and was ordained a Catholic priest in 2012. His conversion was featured by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois for being a rare and winding path to Catholic priesthood. He and his wife Pam have been married more than 40 years.
- Title: Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F. (Vicar Forane / Dean)
- Ordained a Catholic priest: 2012
- Convert from Protestant ministry
- Residence: St. Brigid Rectory, 806 N. Main, Liberty
Parish Staff
The Tri-Parishes share a small staff supporting pastoral, administrative, and faith-formation ministries across St. Brigid, St. Edward the Confessor, and St. Joseph.
- Very Rev. Scott A. Snider, V.F. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Misty Cramsey — Secretary
- Emily Wellman — Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)
- Greg White — Director of Music (serving St. Joseph)
Visiting and Contacting St. Brigid
St. Brigid's church, parish hall, and rectory are all located along North Main Street in Liberty, Illinois. Visitors and parishioners are invited to stop by the parish office or contact the staff during business hours.
- Church: 706 N. Main St., Liberty, IL 62347
- Parish Hall: 704 N. Main St., Liberty, IL 62347
- Rectory: 806 N. Main St., Liberty, IL 62347
- Mailing: P.O. Box 228, Liberty, IL 62347-0228
- Phone: (217) 645-3444
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Cusackfounded the parish c. 1847
Founder of St. Brigid at Liberty; also cared for the Camp Point mission parish.