About St. Columcille · Sullivan, Illinois
St. Columcille is a small Catholic parish in Sullivan, Illinois, serving approximately 175 parishioners across 94 families in the rural heart of Moultrie County. It is one of two parishes — the other being Immaculate Conception in nearby Mattoon — served by Very Rev. John M. Titus, V.F., and is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Worship is celebrated in an intimate setting at 516 W. Jackson Street, where weekend Masses, weekly weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a faithful tradition of devotional life (Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, All Saints/All Souls observances) are maintained by a tight-knit lay community organized into councils, guilds, and outreach committees.
- Established
- 1969
- Patron
- St. Columcille
- Rector
- Rev. John M. Titus, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Columcille offers the warmth of a small, faith-filled rural parish where nearly every family knows one another. Weekend Mass on Saturday evening is complemented by Wednesday and Thursday weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, an active Council of Catholic Women, a St. Vincent de Paul conference reaching the local poor, Spanish-speaking outreach, and ministries for seniors, youth, and the homebound. Because it shares staff with Immaculate Conception in Mattoon, parishioners also enjoy the benefits of a Christian Formation director, OCIA (RCIA) process, faith-formation programs, and joint sacramental celebrations with a larger faith family — all while belonging to a close-knit parish of fewer than 100 families that gathers at 516 W. Jackson Street in Sullivan.
Mass times at St. Columcille
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays at 11:00 AM (with Eucharistic Adoration/Exposition)
- Before and after 5:30 PM Wednesday Mass
Adoration times
- Wednesdays beginning at 11:00 AM
- Wednesdays following 5:30 PM Mass until Benediction at 6:30 PM
- Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle (church open during daylight hours)
About St. Columcille
St. Columcille Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, located at 516 W. Jackson Street in Sullivan, the seat of Moultrie County. The parish serves approximately 175 parishioners in 94 families and is twinned with Immaculate Conception Church in nearby Mattoon, sharing a pastor and Christian-formation staff. The parish carries the name of the sixth-century Irish monk-missionary St. Columcille (Columba), whose feast day is observed locally each June.
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
- Pastor: Rev. John M. Titus, V.F.
- Deacon: Gene Uptmor
- Secretary: Julie Robinson
- Director of Christian Formation: Carla Will (Immaculate Conception, Mattoon)
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Sharon Slaughter
- ~175 parishioners / 94 families
History
The present St. Columcille church was dedicated in 1969, and the parish marked its Golden Jubilee with a note of congratulations in the October 6, 2019, parish bulletin: 'We offer heartfelt congratulations to St. Columcille on the Golden Jubilee of their Church!' That same year the bulletin published a reflection titled 'ST. COLUMCILLE A Pilgrim's Progress,' framing the parish's story as a journey of faith. In subsequent years the parish has joined its resources with Immaculate Conception in Mattoon, sharing clergy and staff while retaining its own identity, traditions, and worship schedule.
- Church dedicated 1969
- Golden Jubilee observed October 2019
- Pastoral partnership with Immaculate Conception, Mattoon
Devotions & Seasonal Observances
The parish maintains a rich devotional rhythm throughout the liturgical year. During Lent, the Rosary is prayed daily at 2:00 PM and on Friday evenings there is a Rosary at 6:30 PM followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM, offered with the intention of Fallen-Away Catholics. October features the Rosary for Life prayed 30 minutes before each weekend Mass. May brings the May Crowning at the start of Mass, and November is dedicated to the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed: a book of remembrance sits near the baptismal font, photos of departed loved ones are placed in the vestibule partitions, and they are remembered at every Mass. Each June the Feast of St. Columcille is celebrated together with the parish's graduating high-school seniors and recent Sacrament recipients.
- Lenten Rosary — daily 2:00 PM
- Lenten Friday Devotions — Rosary 6:30 PM, Stations 7:00 PM
- October Rosary for Life — 30 minutes before weekend Mass
- May Crowning
- All Saints / All Souls — Mass November 1, book of remembrance at baptismal font
- Feast of St. Columcille — June 9
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick. Parents seeking infant baptism attend one pre-baptism session; couples contact the parish office at least six months before their wedding. First Communion and Confirmation for St. Columcille students are typically celebrated jointly with Immaculate Conception, Mattoon, and homebound parishioners are visited regularly with Holy Communion.
- Baptism — pre-baptism session required
- Marriage — 6 months advance notice
- First Communion & Confirmation — celebrated with Immaculate Conception, Mattoon
- Communion to the Sick/Homebound (Debbie Reinhart)
- Reconciliation — see Mass & Confession Schedule
Christian Formation & OCIA
Faith formation is coordinated by Director of Christian Formation Carla Will and is shared with Immaculate Conception, Mattoon. The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) — a weekly gathering for the unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics who were baptized but never confirmed. Adult faith formation includes studies such as 'The Bible and the Virgin Mary' and 'Share the Word,' along with Bible studies held at the Family of Faith Center (the former St. Mary School building).
- Director of Christian Formation: Carla Will
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Tuesdays 6:30 PM at Family of Faith Center
- Adult Bible studies
- Share the Word
- Family of Faith Center (former St. Mary School)
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Lay leadership at St. Columcille is organized into councils, guilds, and outreach committees, each with named contact people listed in the bulletin. The St. Elizabeth Council of Catholic Women (CCW) is among the most active, hosting the annual Christmas Bazaar with quilt raffle, Lenten Fish Fry Fridays, and a scholarship for graduating high-school female parishioners. The Knights of Columbus Council 1057 sponsors a weekly Holy Hour for Vocations. St. Vincent de Paul, the Ladies Guild, Golden Hearts (seniors), St. Elizabeth of Hungary Widows, Spanish-Speaking Outreach, and the Communion-to-the-Homebound ministry round out the parish's pastoral reach.
- St. Elizabeth Council of Catholic Women — Lori Creek
- Pastoral Council — Kathy Woodworth
- Finance Council — Mike Mossman
- Knights of Columbus Council 1057
- St. Vincent de Paul — Cheryl Smith
- Ladies Guild — Julie Robinson
- Golden Hearts (seniors)
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary Widows
- Spanish-Speaking Outreach — Rosa Olvera
- Communion to the Sick/Homebound — Debbie Reinhart
- Social Committee — Tim Knepple
Outreach & Charity
St. Columcille parishioners actively support the local community and the wider Church. Monthly collections benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry; the parish also collects for the Mattoon Food Pantry, Catholic Charities, and Choices Pregnancy & Health (including a baby-bottle blessing campaign). Each Lent, donations for the St. Joseph Table are gathered for the food pantries and Catholic Charities. Parishioners volunteer at the Mattoon Food Pantry, deliver Peace Meals to seniors, and participate in the annual Life Chain pro-life prayer on Hamilton & Jackson Streets.
- Moultrie County Food Pantry monthly collection
- Mattoon Food Pantry volunteer night
- St. Joseph Table (Lent)
- Choices Pregnancy & Health Baby Bottle Campaign
- Peace Meal delivery to Mattoon seniors
- Life Chain pro-life witness
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Columcille is coordinated by Sharon Slaughter, working alongside Deacon Gene Uptmor who coordinates liturgical roles (servers, lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers). An annual 'What is the Mass?' Explanatory Mass presentation has been offered to help parishioners enter more deeply into the liturgy.
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Sharon Slaughter
- Liturgical Roles Coordinator: Deacon Gene Uptmor
- Servers, lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers
- Periodic 'What is the Mass?' Explanatory Mass presentations
Parish Staff
Parish staff are shared with Immaculate Conception, Mattoon, allowing St. Columcille to maintain a wide range of ministries despite its small size. Fr. John M. Titus serves as Pastor with the title V.F. (Vicar Forane), Julie Robinson is Parish Secretary and Senior Ministry Coordinator, Carla Will directs Christian Formation, Sharon Slaughter coordinates liturgical music, and Deacon Gene Uptmor assists with liturgical roles and parish life.
- Rev. John M. Titus, V.F. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Gene Uptmor — [email protected]
- Julie Robinson — Parish Secretary / Senior Ministry Coordinator
- Carla Will — Director of Christian Formation
- Sharon Slaughter — Liturgical Music Coordinator
- Kim Rose — Parish Administrative Assistant & Safe Environment Coordinator (Immaculate Conception, Mattoon)
Bulletin & Communications
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin — printed jointly with Immaculate Conception — that is archived on the parish website. Newsletters include Mass intentions, a prayer list, ministry announcements, seasonal devotions, and fundraising events. A parish Facebook page (search 'Saint Columcille Sullivan') supplements bulletin announcements.
- Weekly bulletin archived at stcolumcillesullivan.org
- Joint bulletin with Immaculate Conception, Mattoon
- Facebook: Saint Columcille Sullivan
Practical Information
St. Columcille's physical church is at 516 W. Jackson Street in Sullivan, while the parish office and mailing address are shared with Immaculate Conception at 320 N. 21st Street, Mattoon, IL 61938. Office hours are managed through the Immaculate Conception campus, with Deacon Gene Uptmor available Tuesdays 9 AM–3 PM. Parishioners may register by contacting the Parish Office to make an appointment with Fr. John.
- Church address: 516 W. Jackson St., Sullivan, IL 61951
- Mailing address: 320 N. 21st St., Mattoon, IL 61938
- Phone: (217) 235-0539
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stcolumcillesullivan.org