About St. Edward's Catholic Church · Rockford, Illinois
St. Edward Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rockford serving the south side of Rockford, Illinois from its church at 3004 11th Street. The parish describes itself as 'a loving parish family bound together in faith to the universal Catholic Church and our Rockford Diocese, worshiping the merciful and almighty God,' and its mission statement commits the community to evangelize, proclaim the Good News, and grow in faith, hope, love, and mercy through the Holy Mass. Sunday liturgy is offered in both English and Spanish, with three of the five Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish, reflecting the parish's strong Hispanic Catholic identity. The parish office is operated from the Father Murphy Community Center, where weekday staff assist with religious education, sacramental preparation, and parish life.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Edward (the Confessor)
- Rector
- Rev. Oscar Cortés (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Edward is one of the most visibly bilingual parishes in the Rockford area, with three of its five Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish (Saturday 6:30 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM, Sunday 12:00 PM), making it a spiritual home for Rockford's Hispanic Catholic community while still welcoming English-speaking families. The parish maintains a robust sacramental life — daily Mass Monday through Friday, weekly Wednesday Adoration, and twice-weekly Reconciliation (English on Saturday, bilingual on Wednesday) — alongside an active Religious Education program directed by Nancy Perez and a Spanish-language RCIA process that meets every Saturday evening in the Youth Center. With a small, identifiable staff and the Father Murphy Community Center anchoring its ministries, St. Edward is the kind of parish where newcomers are quickly known by name.
Mass times at St. Edward's Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (English)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Bilingual)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
About St. Edward Parish
St. Edward Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rockford, located on the south side of Rockford, Illinois at 3004 11th Street. The parish presents itself as a loving parish family bound to the universal Church and to the Rockford Diocese, worshiping the merciful and almighty God. Its mission statement calls the community to evangelize, proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, and grow in faith, hope, love, and mercy through the Holy Mass, while serving the family of God.
- Parish identity: Roman Catholic, Diocese of Rockford
- Motto on the website: 'All Are Welcome!'
- Mission: to evangelize and proclaim the Good News that Jesus Christ is Lord
- Parish office is located in the Father Murphy Community Center
History
St. Edward Parish was established in 1929, during the second decade of the Diocese of Rockford. A published history of Winnebago County Catholicism lists St. Edward's among several parishes founded in those years to care for the spiritual needs of a growing Catholic population in Rockford, alongside parishes serving Italian, Lithuanian, and Polish immigrant communities. Today the parish is led by a Parochial Administrator, a diocesan arrangement used when a parish is between resident pastors.
- Founded: 1929
- Diocese of Rockford established 1908 by Pope Pius X; first bishop Most Rev. Peter J. Muldoon
- Parish named in honor of St. Edward (the Confessor), feast day October 13
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently served by a Parochial Administrator and supported by a small lay staff. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM, and the office is located in the Father Murphy Community Center.
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Oscar Cortés
- Business Manager: Diana Adame
- Parish Secretary (AM): Priscilla Rodriguez
- Parish Secretary (PM): Sandra Patino
- Religious Education Director: Nancy Perez ([email protected], 815-229-8914)
- RCIA (Spanish): Margarita Miramontes
Religious Education (Catechesis)
The parish runs an ongoing Religious Education program for children and families, directed by Nancy Perez. The Religious Education office can be reached by email or phone during parish office hours and is the main point of contact for parents registering children for ongoing faith formation and First Communion / Confirmation preparation.
- Director: Nancy Perez
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (815) 229-8914
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
St. Edward runs an active RCIA program, with a dedicated Spanish-language track. The process follows the classical four periods: Inquiry, the Rite of Acceptance into the catechumenate, the Catechumenate itself, and the final Rites leading to initiation at Easter. Inquirers are encouraged to contact the parish office for more information.
- Spanish RCIA: taught by Margarita Miramontes, Saturdays 6:00 – 7:30 PM in the Youth Center
- Cycle: begins each October and concludes at Easter
- Open to unbaptized catechumens and to already-baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church
- Contact: parish office at (815) 229-0282
Holy Orders & Vocations
Information about the priesthood and diaconate is shared through the parish and the Diocese of Rockford Vocation Office. The parish website explains the theology of Holy Orders — episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate — and refers men discerning a vocation to the diocesan office.
- Diocese of Rockford Vocation Office: P.O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61108
- Phone: (815) 399-4300
- Web: http://www.rockforddiocese.org/vocations/
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The office is in the Father Murphy Community Center on the parish campus.
- Address: 3004 11th St, Rockford, IL 61109
- Phone: (815) 229-0282
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Facebook: facebook.com/stedwardrockfordil
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William E. Vallejo
Listed as pastor in older parish directory snapshots (joinmychurch.com archive)
- Rev. Johnson Lopez
Listed as Parochial Administrator in an older directory snapshot
- Rev. Oscar Cortés
Current Parochial Administrator per the official parish directory page