About St. Flannen · Harmon, Illinois
St. Flannen Parish is a small Roman Catholic church in the village of Harmon, in rural western Lee County, Illinois, in the Diocese of Rockford. The parish is linked with neighboring St. Patrick Parish in Amboy and St. Mary Parish in Walton under a single pastoral team, and shares the website stpatrickamboy.org along with a joint Facebook page called 'Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen.' It is celebrated as the only Catholic church in the United States named for St. Flannan, a 7th-century Irish bishop of Killaloe, whose name was rendered with a local 'e' spelling when the parish was organized in 1898. Sunday Mass in the modest brick church on South Second Street is the weekly focal point for about two dozen active parishioners, many from families who have worshipped there for generations.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Flannan (rendered locally as 'St. Flannen'), 7th-century Irish bishop and first bishop of Killaloe, Ireland
- Rector
- Rev. John E. Gow
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Flannen offers a small, tight-knit rural Catholic community where multigenerational families have worshipped together for 125 years. Sunday Mass is celebrated in a uniquely named church — the only St. Flannen parish in the United States — with the warmth and familiarity of a country parish. As part of the Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen cluster, parishioners enjoy a full sacramental life, including baptisms and weddings, supported by an active Religious Education program and a shared pastoral staff.
Mass times at St. Flannen
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Flannen Parish
St. Flannen is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the village of Harmon in rural western Lee County, Illinois. The parish is part of the Diocese of Rockford and is clustered for pastoral care with St. Patrick Parish in Amboy and St. Mary Parish in Walton. The three parishes share a pastor, a parish office, and a joint Facebook page called 'Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen.' St. Flannen is celebrated as the only Catholic church in the United States named for St. Flannan, the 7th-century Irish bishop of Killaloe. Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM draws about two dozen regulars from families who have worshipped there for generations.
- Located at 213 South Second Street, Harmon, IL 61042
- Diocese of Rockford
- Part of the Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen parish cluster
- Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM
Parish History
St. Flannen Parish was organized on October 5, 1898, in the small Lee County community of Harmon, which had been platted along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the 1870s. Catholic farming families who settled the area built the church and chose as patron a saint venerated in Ireland, intending St. Flannan, the 7th-century Irish abbot and first bishop of Killaloe. The local rendering of the name became 'St. Flannen' — a spelling that has remained for more than a century. The parish grew with the rural Catholic community through the 20th century and is now part of a three-parish cluster served by a single pastor. In 2023, parishioners and a former pastor marked the parish's 125th anniversary (quasquicentennial).
- Parish organized: October 5, 1898
- Original patron: St. Flannan (rendered locally as 'St. Flannen')
- Quasquicentennial (125th anniversary) celebrated in 2023
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation and celebration are arranged through the shared parish office with Fr. Gow. Because St. Flannen is part of the Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen cluster, sacramental policies apply across all three parishes.
- Baptism — contact the Parish Office at (815) 857-2315 for an appointment with Fr. Gow; families must live within the boundaries of St. Patrick, St. Flannen, or St. Mary Parish.
- First Holy Communion — normally celebrated in the Spring when a child is in second grade or higher, in conjunction with Religious Education classes.
- Confirmation — preparation provided through parish Religious Education.
- Marriage — couples should contact the parish at least six months before the anticipated date; no date is finalized until marriage preparation is completed.
Faith Formation
Religious Education classes are offered through the cluster parishes to prepare children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Sacramental preparation is closely tied to these classes.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation for children
- First Communion preparation (2nd grade and higher)
- Confirmation preparation
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Flannen shares its pastoral leadership with St. Patrick Parish in Amboy and St. Mary Parish in Walton. The current pastor of the cluster is Rev. John E. Gow, appointed in June 2022 by the Diocese of Rockford. The parish office can be reached at (815) 857-2315 or (815) 857-2670. Earlier pastors who served the cluster include Msgr. Thomas Bales (2010-2015) and Fr. Carl E. Beekman (who served St. Flannen-Harmon, St. Mary-Walton, and St. Patrick-Amboy from 2005 to 2010 as parochial vicar, administrator, and pastor).
- Rev. John E. Gow — Pastor (appointed June 15, 2022)
- Msgr. Thomas Bales — Pastor of the cluster, 2010-2015; retired June 15, 2015
- Rev. Carl E. Beekman — Served the cluster parishes 2005-2010
- Parish office: (815) 857-2315 or (815) 857-2670
Visit and Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Flannen. The church is located at 213 South Second Street in Harmon, Illinois. Because it is part of a three-parish cluster, the easiest way to contact St. Flannen is through the shared St. Patrick Parish office in Amboy, by phone at (815) 857-2315 or (815) 857-2670, or through the joint Facebook page for Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen.
- Address: 213 South Second Street, Harmon, IL 61042
- Phone: (815) 857-2670
- Parish office (Amboy): (815) 857-2315
- Website: https://stpatrickamboy.org/
- Facebook: Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Thomas Bales2010-2015
Retired June 15, 2015; previously pastor of Holy Family Parish (2001-2010) and St. Mary Parish, Sterling (1987-2001); ordained 1974; born in Dixon, IL.
- Rev. Carl E. Beekman2005-2010
Served St. Flannen-Harmon, St. Mary-Walton, and St. Patrick-Amboy as parochial vicar (2005-2006), parochial administrator (2006-2008), then pastor (2008-2010).
- Rev. John E. Gow2022-present
Appointed pastor of the three-parish cluster (St. Patrick-Amboy, St. Flannen-Harmon, St. Mary-Walton) effective June 15, 2022.