About St. Isidore the Farmer · Dieterich, Illinois
St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Parish is a merged rural parish in the Matton Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, formed by uniting three historic congregations — Immaculate Conception of Dieterich, St. Aloysius of Bishop Creek, and St. Joseph of Island Grove — under the patronage of St. Isidore the Farmer. The community celebrates a German agrarian heritage and a sacramental life grounded in Sacred Scripture, with worship spread across three church buildings in and around Dieterich and Teutopolis, Illinois. Father Juan Carlos Ruiz, O.F.M., serves as pastor and is assisted by a parochial vicar, religious-education staff, and lay councils. With about 1,600 parishioners in 549 families, the parish sustains daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, and an active faith-formation program for children and youth.
- Patron
- St. Isidore the Farmer
- Rector
- Rev. Juan Carlos Ruiz, O.F.M.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (Matton Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Isidore the Farmer offers small-town Catholic life with surprising depth: three historic worship sites near Dieterich, Teutopolis, and Bishop Creek all sharing one pastor and parish family, daily Mass several days a week, two long blocks of Eucharistic Adoration each week, and a full faith-formation program (CRE, area directors, youth ministry) for children and teens. Lay leadership is broad — a Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Council of Catholic Women, music ministry, buildings-and-grounds team, and social/outreach committee — so parishioners can plug in quickly. The parish's mission calls members to know, love, and serve the Lord, forgive those who offend them, welcome the stranger, and bring the Gospel into the rural marketplace, making it a true spiritual home for Catholic farm families and neighbors in the Teutopolis area.
Mass times at St. Isidore the Farmer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 pm – 5:50 pm (St. Aloysius, Bishop Creek, starting Oct 1)
- After the 8:00 am Tuesday Mass
- During Adoration 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Thursday and Sunday after Mass or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (St. Joseph, Island Grove)
- Tuesday 9:00 am to Wednesday 6:00 am (St. Aloysius, Bishop Creek)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Parish is a merged, multi-site rural parish in the Matton Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Its mission statement describes the community as coming together from three original parishes, shaped by ancestors with a German work ethic and a bond with the soil. Members see themselves as 'a sacramental people' sustained by Sacred Scripture and the sacraments, striving to know, love, and serve the Lord, forgive offenders, welcome the stranger, bring the Gospel to the marketplace, and develop grateful hearts. The parish endeavors to be instruments of the Holy Spirit in building the kingdom of God.
History of the Merged Parishes
Today's parish is the result of a canonical merger of three German-heritage Catholic congregations in Effingham County, Illinois: Immaculate Conception of Dieterich, St. Aloysius of Bishop Creek, and St. Joseph of Island Grove. Under the merged umbrella all three churches remain active so that local farming families can continue to attend Mass close to home. The new parish adopted St. Isidore the Farmer as its patron — a fitting symbol of its rural, agricultural identity.
- Immaculate Conception, Dieterich
- St. Aloysius, Bishop Creek (Dieterich, IL 62424)
- St. Joseph, Island Grove (16987 N. 200th St., Teutopolis, IL 62467)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Franciscan friars and supported by an experienced lay staff. The pastor and parochial vicar are both members of the Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.). A parish secretary/office manager keeps the front office running, and a Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) oversees faith formation together with area directors for each church site.
- Pastor: Fr. Juan Carlos Ruiz, O.F.M. — 217-536-2015
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Carmen Scuderi, O.F.M.
- Parish Secretary / Office Manager: Regina Walker — 217-925-5788
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Casey Repking
Pastoral & Finance Councils
Lay leadership is organized through a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council, with Council of Catholic Women officers rounding out parish governance.
- Pastoral Council — President: Beth Brummer; members include Scott Blackwell, Ken Meinhart, Amy Mette, Christine Niemerg, Kevin Lidy, Heather Bierman, Andy Mette, Scott Brummer
- Finance Council / Trustees — Lee & Angie Beckman, Dave Faller, Pam Apke, Keith Kuhl, Steve Mammoser, Karla Koebele
- Council of Catholic Women — President Melissa Ruholl; Vice President Ann Edwards; Secretary Brenda Kroeger; Treasurer Lexi Niemerg
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious education for children and youth is coordinated by Casey Repking (CRE) and supported by area directors at each church. A dedicated Youth Ministry team (Andy and Maria Zumbahlen) and parish families help pass on the faith to the next generation.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Casey Repking
- Area Director, St. Aloysius (Bishop Creek): Beth Brummer
- Area Director, St. Joseph (Island Grove): Valerie Rosa
- Youth Ministry: Andy and Maria Zumbahlen
Music, Liturgy & Spiritual Life
Music Ministry is led by Rose Ohnesorge and Valerie Rosa, supporting sung liturgy across all three church sites. A Liturgy/Spiritual Life committee helps shape the parish's worship life.
- Music Ministry: Rose Ohnesorge and Valerie Rosa
- Liturgy/Spiritual Life committee
Parish Life, Outreach & Facilities
Pastoral life extends beyond the liturgy through social outreach, hands-on building and grounds work, and the Council of Catholic Women, which organizes parish fellowship and service efforts. The Buildings and Grounds committee maintains the three church buildings and parish properties.
- Buildings and Grounds: Alan & Teresa Waldhoff
- Social/Outreach: Eric & Emily Brummer
- Council of Catholic Women officers — President Melissa Ruholl; Vice President Ann Edwards; Secretary Brenda Kroeger; Treasurer Lexi Niemerg
Contact, Office & Visiting
Parish visitors and parishioners can reach the unified parish office at the Dieterich address by phone, fax, or email. Office hours typically run 7:30 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday. The other two worship sites (St. Joseph in Island Grove and St. Aloysius in Bishop Creek) are listed separately for visitors seeking those locations.
- Parish office: 19812 E. 1000th Ave., Dieterich, IL 62424
- Phone: (217) 925-5788 — Fax: (217) 925-5879
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Joseph rectory / Island Grove: 16987 N. 200th St., Teutopolis, IL 62467 — (217) 925-5579
- Office hours: typically 7:30 am – 3:00 pm Monday–Thursday