About St. John the Baptist Catholic Church · Rapids City, Illinois
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Rapids City, Illinois, situated just a half-mile north of I-80 on Route 84 and two blocks from the Mississippi River. Founded in 1878 as a mission of nearby St. Mary's, it grew to surpass St. Mary's in membership and for generations has served the Catholic families of Rapids City and the surrounding Rock Island County river towns in the Diocese of Peoria. As of June 29, 2025, St. John the Baptist merged with St. Anne Parish of East Moline to form the new Our Lady of Grace Parish, though the historic Rapids City church remains an active worship site with its own weekend and weekday Mass schedule.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Julien Esse, SMA
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a tight-knit rural Catholic community where the historic 1878 parish still worships in its 1972 church just two blocks from the Mississippi River, with daily weekday Masses (Wednesday morning and Thursday noon) and a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass schedule that fits working families. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into a parish shaped by longstanding Eucharistic devotions — First Friday Adoration, 40 Hours of Divine Mercy, Eucharistic processions, and First Saturday Devotions — and by an active Women's Guild, religious education for children and adults, and a parish hall that hosts parish life. Now part of the new Our Lady of Grace Parish formed in June 2025 with St. Anne of East Moline, St. John's remains a beloved worship site with the same familiar pastor, Fr. Julien Esse, SMA, and a clear mission to celebrate Christ's presence in Word and Sacrament and to bring people closer together and closer to God.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. (at St. John the Baptist)
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m. (per Catholic Quad Cities listing — please confirm with parish office)
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month at St. John's: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
About St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Peoria serving the village of Rapids City, Illinois, and the surrounding Rock Island County river communities. The parish traces its roots to 1878, when it was formally founded as a mission of nearby St. Mary's in Hampton. Today it is part of the newly formed Our Lady of Grace Parish (created June 29, 2025), which also includes St. Anne of East Moline, with Fr. Julien Esse, SMA, as pastor and Deacon Robert DePauw in diaconal ministry. The parish's mission statement, drawn from its official website, calls the community 'through Baptism to celebrate the presence of Christ in Word and Sacrament' and to live as faithful stewards of time, talent, and treasure.
- Patron: St. John the Baptist (feast day June 24)
- Founded: 1878
- Diocese: Peoria
- Pastor: Rev. Julien Esse, SMA
- Deacon: Robert DePauw
History of the Parish
Catholic life in the Rapids City area began in the 1850s under the missionary priest Fr. John G. Alleman, who with Fr. John P. Donelson built up the network of Catholic churches across the Quad Cities — including Holy Name in Coal Valley, St. Patrick's in Edgington, and the foundations for what became St. Mary in Hampton (1865) and St. John the Baptist in Rapids City (1878). Originally a mission of St. Mary's, St. John's eventually grew larger than its mother parish, reversing the relationship. Under Fr. Richard Moran, a sustained building program produced the current St. Mary Church (1953) and the present St. John Church and rectory (1972).
- 1850s: Fr. John G. Alleman lays the regional Catholic foundation
- 1865: St. Mary's, Hampton, formally founded
- 1878: St. John the Baptist, Rapids City, founded as a mission of St. Mary's
- 1953: New St. Mary Church built under Fr. Richard Moran
- 1972: Current St. John Church and rectory built
- 1978: Church Hall added at St. Mary's
Building & Campus Milestones
St. John the Baptist's physical plant reflects more than 50 years of investment. The current church and rectory date from 1972, with Fr. John Gaughran becoming pastor the following year and serving 22 years. A parish center was added in 1991 (replacing the older church and rectory that had served as meeting space), and in 2000 a multi-function building was constructed — now used for storage. St. Mary's Church, the sister worship site, received significant sanctuary renovations under Fr. James DeBisshop, including new furniture incorporating elements from an altar made by Fr. L. F. Sheen, nephew of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
- 1972: Current St. John Church and rectory built
- 1991: New parish center at St. John built
- 2000: Multi-function building added at St. John
- 2010s–2020s: Marian Patio and St. Joseph Patio added (Holy Family focus)
Merger into Our Lady of Grace Parish
On June 29, 2025, St. Anne Parish of East Moline and St. John the Baptist of Rapids City were formally merged by the Diocese of Peoria into a new parish: Our Lady of Grace Parish. The Diocese of Peoria lists the new parish's establishment date as June 28, 2025. Although the two congregations are now canonically one parish, both St. Anne Church and St. John the Baptist Church continue as active worship sites with their own Mass and reconciliation schedules, and parishioners keep their familiar relationships with Fr. Esse and Deacon DePauw.
- Merger effective: June 29, 2025 (Diocese of Peoria: June 28, 2025)
- New parish: Our Lady of Grace Parish
- Pastor: Fr. Julien Esse, SMA
- Combined worship sites: St. Anne (East Moline) and St. John the Baptist (Rapids City)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish website links directly to religious-education resources for both children and adults. Children's faith formation (the parish's PSR/CCD program) and an adult enrichment track support parishioners in ongoing catechesis. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage is coordinated through the parish office.
- Children's Religious Education
- Adult Faith Formation / Adult Enrichment
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. John the Baptist runs an active roster of lay ministries. The Women's Guild is open to all women of the parish and exists to inspire and strengthen the community through spiritual, social, and charitable activities. Liturgical service is supported through scheduled Greeters, Ushers, and Altar Servers, with published ministry schedules that parishioners can consult on the website. A Prayer Requests ministry keeps the community connected through intercessory prayer.
- Women's Guild
- Greeters & Ushers (scheduled)
- Altar Servers (scheduled)
- Prayer Requests ministry
- Parish Hall Rental for community events
Devotions & Eucharistic Life
Since the tenure of Fr. Steve Loftus (2007–2011), the parish has cultivated a rich devotional life centered on the Eucharist. First Friday Adoration, First Saturday Devotions, 40 Hours of Divine Mercy, and Eucharistic Processions are all part of the parish's regular rhythm. The grounds at St. John's include a Marian Patio and a St. Joseph Patio (added 2024) that together focus the campus on the Holy Family.
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration
- First Saturday Devotions
- 40 Hours of Divine Mercy
- Eucharistic Processions
- Marian Patio and St. Joseph Patio (parish grounds)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and offers dedicated preparation. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office; First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the religious-education program; Marriages require diocesan and parish preparation; Anointing of the Sick and Funeral liturgies are coordinated with the pastor and deacon. Reconciliation is offered weekly before Sunday Mass and by appointment.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Holy Communion (Eucharist)
- Marriage / Weddings
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral Liturgies
- Reconciliation (Confession)
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is located at 1416 Third Avenue, Rapids City, IL 61278-0250, about half a mile north of I-80 on Route 84 and just two blocks south of the Mississippi River. The parish office sits on the St. John church property; office hours and appointments can be arranged by calling (309) 496-2414 or emailing [email protected]. Weekend bulletins and homilies are posted on the parish website at stjohnstmaryqc.org.
- Address: 1416 Third Avenue, Rapids City, IL 61278-0250
- Phone: (309) 496-2414
- Fax: (309) 496-3414
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stjohnstmaryqc.org/home
- Bulletin & homilies posted weekly online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John G. Alleman1850s (missionary founder)
Established the network of mission churches in the Quad Cities region, including the eventual founding of St. John the Baptist.
- Fr. Richard Moran
Guided a major building program starting in the 1950s that produced the current St. Mary church (1953) and the current St. John church and rectory (1972).
- Fr. John Gaughran1973–1995
Became pastor when the new St. John church was completed; served the parish for 22 years.
- Fr. James DeBisshop1995–2007
Oversaw extensive building improvements at both St. John and St. Mary, including the 2000 multi-function building at St. John and sanctuary renovations at St. Mary with altar pieces by Fr. L. F. Sheen.
- Fr. Steve Loftus2007–2011
Introduced new devotions to the parish, including First Friday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Fr. Glenn Harris2011–2024
Fostered a deep Eucharistic devotion (40 Hours of Divine Mercy, Eucharistic processions, First Saturday Devotions); added the Marian Patio and St. Joseph Patio to the parish grounds.
- Fr. Julien Esse, SMA2024–present
Society of African Missions priest appointed by Bishop Louis Tylka; named pastor of the newly merged Our Lady of Grace Parish effective July 1, 2024.