About St. Charles Borromeo · Dubois, Illinois
St. Charles Borromeo is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural village of DuBois, Illinois, in Washington County. Founded in the late 1800s by Polish Catholic families who fled the Prussian Kulturkampf, the parish is famous for its monumental brick church — twin 116-foot spires and a body of 131 by 80 feet — long nicknamed the "Cathedral of the Prairie." The parish is part of the Diocese of Belleville and is currently partnered with St. Barbara in Scheller and St. Michael the Archangel in Radom for shared pastoral ministry, with Sunday Mass livestreamed on Facebook for those who cannot attend in person.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Felix Anyikwa
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo offers an intimate, multigenerational Catholic community in rural Washington County, anchored by one of the most architecturally striking small-town churches in Illinois — the 'Cathedral of the Prairie' with its 116-foot twin spires. Active lay life is real here: a parish council, a choir, religious education for youth, a cemetery board, hall rental, and trustees keep the parish running, and the Sunday Rosary and Mass are livestreamed on Facebook so that homebound parishioners and distant family can stay connected.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30–7:45 AM at DuBois
- Sunday 9:30–9:45 AM at Radom (partnered parish)
- By appointment
History of St. Charles Borromeo
The parish's roots run back to 1868, when Father Charles Klocke rode in from DuQuoin to baptize Katherine Oberhofer on December 26. The Polish-Catholic settlers who had founded the community — then called Coloma — first met as a board of trustees on March 2, 1871, and built their first church in 1877. After a brief closure in 1883 caused by language friction between German-speaking pastors and the Polish congregation, the parish reopened under Father Klocke. Monsignor Joseph Ceranski's arrival in 1898 launched 64 years of pastoral stability and the construction of the present church (1908–1910), followed by a school (1922), the current rectory (1938), a new school and convent (1966), and a major renovation in 1999.
- First baptismal record: December 26, 1868 (Katherine Oberhofer), by Father Charles Klocke
- First trustees' meeting: March 2, 1871 — Adam Kuhn (Secretary), William Oberhofer (Treasurer)
- First church built 1877; first Mass December 16, 1877 (Third Sunday of Advent)
- Parish closed April 12, 1883; reopened September 30, 1883
- Monsignor Joseph Ceranski appointed July 16, 1898; died August 9, 1962 — 64-year pastorate
- Present brick church constructed May 1908–1910; total cost ~$30,000
- Original school built 1922 using lumber from the first church
- Rectory built 1938; new school and convent 1966; church renovated 1999
- 125th Anniversary book compiled by Norma Richardson and Mary Ksycki (PDF on parish site)
Architecture — The 'Cathedral of the Prairie'
The present church — built 1908–1910 and designed by Monsignor Ceranski after St. Stanislaus Kostka in St. Louis — is a brick structure 131 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 58½ feet high. Its twin towers rise to 116 feet and dominate the tiny village of DuBois. A blend of Roman and Byzantine architectural elements, the building is celebrated for its pictorial stained-glass windows, which historical accounts call 'art treasures.' The nickname 'Cathedral of the Prairie' reflects the church's outsized presence in the rural landscape.
- 131 ft long × 80 ft wide × 58½ ft high brick structure
- Twin towers reaching 116 ft
- Roman and Byzantine architectural style
- Pictorial stained-glass windows described as 'art treasures'
- Nickname: 'The Cathedral of the Prairie'
Live-Streamed Sunday Mass
St. Charles Borromeo livestreams its Sunday Mass on Facebook for parishioners who cannot attend in person. The broadcast begins with the Rosary at 6:30 AM, followed by Mass at 7:00 AM. The parish also posts announcements, bulletins, and updates on its Facebook page.
- Sunday Rosary: 6:30 AM on Facebook
- Sunday Mass: 7:00 AM on Facebook
- Facebook page: 'St. Charles Borromeo Church DuBois'
Partnered Parishes
St. Charles Borromeo shares pastoral ministry with two neighboring parishes in southern Illinois — St. Barbara in Scheller and St. Michael the Archangel in Radom — forming a small cluster of rural Polish-Catholic heritage communities within the Diocese of Belleville.
- St. Barbara, Scheller — Sunday Mass 8:30 AM
- St. Michael the Archangel, Radom — Saturday 5:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM
- Confession at Radom: Sunday 9:30–9:45 AM
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by an Administrator appointed by the Diocese of Belleville and supported by a deacon, a Coordinator of Religious Education, parish secretary, trustees, parish council, and ministry coordinators.
- Administrator: Rev. Felix Anyikwa
- Deacon: Deacon David Mills
- Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) / Youth-PSR Director: Judy Pieszchalski
- Secretary / Choir Coordinator: Monica Bochantin
- Parish Council President: Richard Majewski
- Trustees: Jack Boczek, Randy Janowski
- Cemetery contact: Jack Boczek
- Hall Rental: Richard Majewski
Faith Formation, Ministries and Parish Life
Parish life at St. Charles Borromeo centers on faith formation for children and youth, liturgical music, pastoral leadership, and stewardship of parish property including the cemetery and parish hall.
- Parish School of Religion / Youth PSR (Judy Pieszchalski)
- Parish Choir (Monica Bochantin)
- Parish Council (Richard Majewski)
- Trustees (Jack Boczek, Randy Janowski)
- Cemetery Committee (Jack Boczek)
- Hall Rental (Richard Majewski)
- Diaconate discernment resources linked from the parish site
Heritage: The Polish-Catholic Founders
The community of Coloma — later DuBois — was founded by ten Polish-Catholic families who emigrated to escape the Prussian Kulturkampf and Bismarck's anti-Catholic measures. Even today, the village and surrounding farms are predominantly Polish in heritage, and the twin-spired church is the visual and spiritual center of the town. The parish first met as a board of trustees on March 2, 1871.
- Founded by ten Polish-Catholic families fleeing the Prussian Kulturkampf
- Original community name: Coloma (also known historically as Bois)
- First trustees' meeting March 2, 1871
- Strong Polish heritage still evident in family names around the parish
Visit, Contact and Office Information
The parish office is located at 223 South Third Street, DuBois, Illinois (mailing address P.O. Box 6, DuBois, IL 62831-0006). Office hours are Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. The parish can be reached by phone at 618-787-2781 (fax 618-787-2781) or by email at [email protected]. The current website is stcharlesdubois.org (the parish has also historically used scbc.worthyofpraise.org).
- Address: 223 South Third Street, P.O. Box 6, DuBois, IL 62831-0006
- Phone: 618-787-2781 (Fax: 618-787-2781)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stcharlesdubois.org
- Office Hours: Wednesday 4:00–5:00 PM
- Diocese of Belleville parish directory listing also available at diobelle.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles Klockethrough 1877
First administrator; traveled from DuQuoin to say Mass for settlers. Recorded the parish's first baptism on Dec. 26, 1868. Helped reopen the parish in 1883.
- Father L. Riesen1878
Came from Pinckneyville to serve as pastor.
- Father Dezyderjusz Liss1879–1881
Polish-speaking pastor.
- Several unnamed pastors1881–1883 and after 1883
Mostly German-speaking; language barrier with the Polish congregation contributed to the parish's brief closure in 1883.
- Monsignor Joseph Ceranski1898–1962
Extraordinary 64-year pastorate. Ordained June 19, 1898; appointed to St. Charles July 16, 1898. Designed and helped build the present church. Died August 9, 1962 at age 88.
- Rev. Paulin Dobkowskiafter 1962
Succeeded Monsignor Ceranski as pastor (per a Washington County sesquicentennial history).
- Father Oliver Nwachukwu, Ph.D.
Listed as Administrator on the earlier scbc.worthyofpraise.org site.
- Rev. Felix Anyikwacurrent
Current Administrator per the Diocese of Belleville directory and the parish's present site.