About St. Elizabeth · Robinson, Illinois
St. Elizabeth is a Roman Catholic parish in Robinson, Illinois, belonging to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Together with the neighboring Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Oblong, it forms the Catholic community of Crawford County, both administered from the Parish Center adjacent to St. Elizabeth's church and served by a single pastor, Father David Beagles. The parish traces its roots to 1907 and today numbers roughly 463 parishioners in 235 families, offering daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, a Parish School of Religion (PSR), youth ministry, and outreach to the sick and homebound. Its patron is St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), the medieval princess renowned for her charity to the poor.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231)
- Rector
- Rev. David W. Beagles
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth is a welcoming, family-sized Catholic community rooted in Robinson since 1907, with daily Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, and a Rosary prayed thirty minutes before every Mass. Children are formed in the faith through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) on Wednesday evenings, while adults preparing for the Church or returning to it find a home in the parish's RCIA program. With a single pastor serving both St. Elizabeth and Our Lady of Lourdes in Oblong, plus a music director, youth minister, and parish outreach coordinator, newcomers quickly become part of a tight-knit Crawford County Catholic family that visibly cares for its homebound, sick, and poor.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM at St. Elizabeth's (per parish website)
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM (per Diocese of Springfield directory)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration following Wednesday Mass — check bulletin, times subject to change
Parish Identity and Patron Saint
St. Elizabeth takes its name from St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), a medieval princess renowned for her remarkable charity to the poor. She is traditionally depicted in rich clothing — symbolizing her royal station — but with an apron full of red roses and a loaf of bread hidden behind her back, representing the humility and charity for which she is venerated. Her feast day is November 17. The parish invokes her example in its ongoing mission to serve the people of Crawford County.
- Patron: St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231)
- Feast day: November 17
- Symbols in art: rich dress, apron of red roses, loaf of bread
History of St. Elizabeth Parish
The Catholic community of Robinson traces its roots to 1907, when the first pastor is documented in parish records. A 'Clergy Gratitude' historical marker on South Lincoln Street commemorates the long succession of priests and Daughters of Charity sisters who served here. Over more than a century, the parish has grown into a 463-parishioner, 235-family community and now shares pastoral leadership with the neighboring Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Oblong.
- First recorded pastor: Rev. Patrick Ducey (1907)
- Longest-tenured pastor of the early decades: Rev. Florent Delfossl (1907–1925)
- Rev. Matthew Malley served 26 years (1961–1987)
- Daughters of Charity sisters served from 1978 to 1994
- Rev. David Beagles named pastor in 2022, jointly with Our Lady of Lourdes, Oblong
Clergy and Staff
St. Elizabeth is currently served by Rev. David W. Beagles as pastor, with Rev. James A. Flach serving as Pastor Emeritus. A small staff of lay ministers and office personnel support the parish's daily life and formation programs.
- Rev. David W. Beagles — Pastor (also pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Oblong, and chaplain of Robinson Correctional Center)
- Rev. James A. Flach — Pastor Emeritus
- Patti Buercklin — Office Manager
- Roselene Quick — Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry
- Eileen Hartrich Cooper — Parish Outreach
- Chris Jansen / Chris Jensen — Music Director / Liturgical Music Coordinator
- Lori Davis — Custodial Care for Our Lady of Lourdes
- Adam Davis — Landscape Care for Our Lady of Lourdes
Sacraments
In addition to the Eucharist and Penance, St. Elizabeth prepares parishioners for Baptism, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, and Christian initiation through RCIA. Couples considering marriage are asked to contact Father David at least six months in advance so that diocesan and parish guidelines can be explained.
- Baptism: contact the Parish Center; parents must attend before the child can be baptized
- Marriage: contact Father David Beagles at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: for the seriously or critically ill, or before surgery
- RCIA: ongoing formation for adults and older children seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and/or First Communion
Faith Formation — Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides Roman Catholic religious instruction to children of St. Elizabeth and Our Lady of Lourdes parishes. PSR catechists proclaim the message of Jesus, foster community, motivate service, and lead the children in prayer, supporting parents as the primary teachers of the faith at home.
- Classes meet Wednesdays from 6:30–7:30 PM
- Program runs from early September through April
- Open to students through grade 8
- Grades K–6 meet at grade-level tables in the Parish Center; grades 7–8 meet in the church basement classroom
- Uses a green/red sign system at each table to coordinate movement to classrooms
Youth Ministry
St. Elizabeth and Our Lady of Lourdes jointly invite all parish youth to remain active in their Catholic faith through the Youth Ministry. The program's three pillars are empowerment as disciples of Christ, responsible participation in the life and mission of the faith community, and personal and spiritual growth in the Catholic tradition.
- Empowerment: living as disciples of Christ in today's world
- Participation: responsible involvement in parish life and mission
- Growth: personal and spiritual growth in the Catholic faith tradition
- Contact the Parish Center to join or volunteer
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is an ongoing formation process for adults and older children who wish to become Catholic or who seek to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and/or First Communion. Classes cover topics such as the Creed, the Eucharist as sacrifice, Catholic morality, and family life. The parish uses Catholicism For Dummies (Rev. John Trigilio & Rev. Kenneth Brighenti) along with the TAN Catechism.
- Open to adults and older children
- Catechetical textbook: Catholicism For Dummies
- Supplementary text: TAN Catechism
- Call the Parish Center for information
Liturgical Music and Altar Servers
Music for Sunday and weekday liturgies is led by Music Director Chris Jansen / Chris Jensen. The parish also maintains an active altar server program; training sessions are scheduled periodically for both new and experienced servers in grade 3 and up.
- Music Director: Chris Jansen / Chris Jensen
- Server training scheduled throughout the year
- Open to servers in grade 3 and above
Parish Outreach and Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is coordinated by Eileen Hartrich Cooper, the parish's Outreach minister. The Anointing of the Sick is available for parishioners who are seriously or critically ill or preparing for surgery, and Father David visits the sick and homebound upon request. The parish is also actively involved with the Robinson Correctional Center through Father Beagles' chaplaincy.
- Parish Outreach: Eileen Hartrich Cooper
- Anointing of the Sick and home visits by Father David upon request
- Chaplaincy at Robinson Correctional Center (Father Beagles, 2022–present)
Our Sister Parish — Our Lady of Lourdes, Oblong
St. Elizabeth shares pastoral leadership with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in nearby Oblong, Illinois. Both parishes are administered jointly from the Parish Center in Robinson and have coordinated PSR, Youth Ministry, and ministry schedules.
- Address: 506 West Missouri Street, Oblong, IL 62449
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Shared pastor and staff with St. Elizabeth
- Custodial and landscape care: Lori and Adam Davis
Visiting, Registering, and Getting Involved
New parishioners are always welcome at St. Elizabeth. Registration can be completed in person or by calling the Parish Center. The parish website directs visitors to its Facebook group for ongoing news, and ministry schedules for St. Elizabeth and Our Lady of Lourdes are posted online each month.
- Parish registration: in person or by phone at the Parish Center
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch)
- Facebook: Crawford County Catholics (linked from parish website)
- Ministry schedules posted on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick Ducey1907–1907
Listed on the parish's historical marker as the first recorded pastor.
- Rev. Florent Delfossl1907–1925
Long tenure in the parish's early decades.
- Rev. William Yahner1925–1926
- Rev. Francis Gribbin1926–1927
- Rev. Walter Speeman1927–1937
- Rev. Charles Sandon1937–1942
- Rev. Louis Elbow1942–1961
Served nearly twenty years.
- Rev. Matthew Malley1961–1987
Longest modern tenure at 26 years.
- Rev. Richard Weltin1987–2001
- Rev. Jeffrey Golckner2001–2004
- Rev. William Overmann2004–2010
- Rev. Aloysius Ndeanaffo2010–2016
- Rev. James A. Flach2016–2022
Now Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. David W. Beagles2022–present
Also pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Oblong, and chaplain of Robinson Correctional Center; ordained June 19, 2020.