About St. Edmund · Watseka, Illinois
St. Edmund Catholic Church is a rural Roman Catholic parish in Watseka, Illinois, in the Diocese of Joliet. Founded in 1879, it serves as the Catholic presence in Iroquois County and is paired with two mission parishes: St. Joseph in Crescent City (est. 1874) and St. Mary's in Beaverville, all under one pastor. The parish is led by Reverend Michael Powell and offers daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Confession, First Friday Benediction with Adoration, and a wide network of lay ministries including the CCW, Knights of Columbus, Parish and Finance Councils, and Religious Education.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- Saint Edmund, King of East Anglia (9th-century martyr)
- Rector
- Reverend Michael Powell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Joliet
Why belong here
St. Edmund offers the full rhythm of traditional Catholic parish life in a small-town setting: daily Mass four mornings a week, a Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass, weekly Confession on Saturdays, and First Friday Benediction with Adoration. Active groups — the CCW, Knights of Columbus Council 4391, Parish and Finance Councils, Senior Citizens, and a Religious Education program under CRE Patti Duffy — give parishioners of every age a way to serve, socialize, and support the local food pantry and Good Samaritan Fund.
Mass times at St. Edmund
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–4:50 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday: Benediction with Adoration following 7:30 AM Mass, at the Church
About St. Edmund Parish
St. Edmund Catholic Church is a rural Roman Catholic parish in Watseka, Illinois, in the Diocese of Joliet. According to its own welcome statement, the parish has been 'a rural Church in Watseka since 1879,' and through the decades has remained the principal Catholic presence in Iroquois County. Its mission parish of St. Joseph in Crescent City — seven miles west on Route 24 — dates back to 1874, and together with St. Mary's in Beaverville the three communities are served today by a single pastor, Rev. Michael Powell, with shared bulletins, lay ministry schedules, and a unified parish community.
- Diocese: Joliet
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Powell
- Founded: 1879
- Linked missions: St. Joseph (Crescent City, 1874) and St. Mary's (Beaverville)
Clergy and Staff
St. Edmund Parish and its two linked missions are led by Reverend Michael Powell, Pastor, who can be reached at the rectory at 219 East Locust Street. Religious Education is coordinated by Patti Duffy, CRE. The parish is supported by elected lay leaders, including CCW co-presidents Sandra Harris and Kendra Martin and other volunteer coordinators who organize ministries across the three churches.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Powell
- Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE): Patti Duffy
- Parish Secretary: Colette (per bulletin references)
- CCW Co-Presidents: Sandra Harris & Kendra Martin (2026–2028)
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish runs a robust set of lay-led organizations documented on its 'Gatherings' page and in its weekly bulletin. These include the CCW, Knights of Columbus Council 4391, the Parish and Finance Councils, the Senior Citizens group, and the St. Joseph CCW for the Crescent City mission. Many of the groups meet at the Parish Center or in the church basement on a fixed monthly rotation.
- St. Edmund CCW — meets monthly; sponsors Spring Banquet and other events
- Knights of Columbus Council 4391 — meetings quarterly at 6:30 PM in the Church basement
- Finance Council — meets at the Parish Center (next meeting Feb 2 at 6:30 PM in bulletin cycle)
- Parish Council — meets at the Parish Center (Feb 2 at 6:30 PM)
- St. Edmund's Senior Citizens — hosts Euchre Parties (e.g., 1:00–3:00 PM at the Parish Center)
- St. Joseph CCW — affiliated with the Crescent City mission
- Lay Ministers schedule — Lectors, Ushers, Money Counters listed weekly in the bulletin
Religious Education and Sacraments
Religious Education at St. Edmund is coordinated by Patti Duffy, CRE, with an office reachable at (815) 432-5569. The RE program runs through the school year, ending classes in early May, and the staff and students take on parish service projects such as an annual Food Pantry drive. The parish prepares children for First Communion and welcomes inquiries about Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick through the rectory.
- RE Office: (815) 432-5569 — Patti Duffy, CRE
- First Communion preparation — recent class prepared by Kendra Martin with music by Gary Cahoe
- Annual Food Pantry Drive coordinated by RE staff and students
- Sacramental preparation inquiries directed to the rectory
Outreach and Charity
St. Edmund's lives out its mission tagline — 'Transforming the world in which we live by bringing the teachings of Jesus Christ to every living person' — through several outreach efforts. These include the Good Samaritan Fund (a regular special collection), ongoing support for the local food pantry (the parish's RE program holds an annual drive), a special collection for those affected by tornadoes in Kankakee County, and hosting an Alcoholics Anonymous group in the church basement on Monday evenings.
- Good Samaritan Fund — special collection
- Local Food Pantry donations (canned goods collected at events)
- Tornado relief collection for Kankakee County neighbors
- AA meetings hosted at the parish on Monday evenings
- Online giving option in addition to Sunday offertory
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Edmund Catholic Church by phone at the rectory, (815) 432-3274, with fax (815) 432-3275. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Monday through Friday. The Religious Education office is reached separately at (815) 432-5569. The mailing and physical address is 219 East Locust Street, Watseka, IL 60970. The parish shares leadership of St. Joseph (307 Union Street, Crescent City, IL 60928) and St. Mary's (308 St. Charles Street, PO Box 152, Beaverville, IL 60912).
- Rectory/Parish Phone: (815) 432-3274
- Fax: (815) 432-3275
- RE Office: (815) 432-5569
- Office Hours: 8:00 AM–12:00 PM, Mon–Fri
- Website: http://www.stedstjoe.org/