About St. John the Baptist · Lostant, Illinois
St. John the Baptist is a Catholic oratory in Lostant, Illinois, founded in 1862 and now operated as an additional worship site of St. Mary Parish in Wenona within the Diocese of Peoria. The oratory shares pastoral care with the neighboring '4 Saints' cluster — St. Mary (Wenona), St. Patrick (Minonk), St. Ann (Toluca), and St. John the Baptist (Lostant) — served by Conventual Franciscan priests of St. Mary's. The church is open daily for private prayer and hosts First Tuesday Adoration and Mass, weekly Marian Movement of Priests Cenacles, and the Tuesday Holy Face Devotion.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a small but active country oratory in rural Lostant where parishioners can worship together at a monthly Mass on the First Tuesday, gather for Eucharistic Adoration and confession, and pray the Marian Movement of Priests Cenacle each Thursday and the Holy Face Devotion each Tuesday. It is one of four linked Catholic communities in the '4 Saints' cluster and is currently shepherded by Conventual Franciscan friars of nearby St. Mary's.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Tuesday of every month, 4:15 PM (before Mass)
- After weekday Mass
Adoration times
- First Tuesday of every month, 4:15 PM (followed by Mass at 5:00 PM)
The 4 Saints Catholic Cluster
St. John the Baptist belongs to a four-church Catholic cluster in north-central Illinois marketed locally as '4 Saints.' The cluster links St. Mary in Wenona (the canonical parish), St. Patrick in Minonk, St. Ann in Toluca, and St. John the Baptist in Lostant. Together they share priests, bulletins, and a joint website at 4saints.org. Each church retains its own schedule, building, and community identity.
- St. Mary — Wenona (canonical parish)
- St. Patrick — Minonk
- St. Ann — Toluca
- St. John the Baptist — Lostant (oratory)
Mass & Worship Schedule at Lostant
Because St. John the Baptist is an oratory rather than a parish church, its Mass schedule is much smaller than the cluster's parish sites. Its principal public Mass is celebrated on the First Tuesday of every month at 5:00 PM, preceded by Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation at 4:15 PM. On the First Thursday of the month, Adoration is also followed by Mass at 5:00 PM. Visitors should always check the parish bulletin for any schedule changes and for Holy Day observances.
- First Tuesday Mass: 5:00 PM
- First Tuesday Adoration & Confessions: 4:15 PM
- First Thursday Adoration followed by Mass: 4:15–5:00 PM
Devotions at St. John the Baptist
Beyond Mass, the oratory is a regular gathering place for several established devotions. The Holy Face Devotion is prayed every Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM, and the Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests (MMP) is offered every Thursday morning at 9:00 AM. These devotions are open to anyone from the wider 4 Saints community as well as visitors.
- Holy Face Devotion — Tuesdays, 5:30 PM
- MMP Rosary Cenacle — Thursdays, 9:00 AM
Parish Leadership & Clergy
The 4 Saints cluster is shepherded by Conventual Franciscan (OFM Conv.) friars who are incardinated in a religious order and serve in the Diocese of Peoria. Father Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv., is listed as the pastor of the cluster, with Father Patrick Greenough, OFM Conv., serving alongside him. Because St. John the Baptist is an oratory, it does not have its own resident priest; the friars from St. Mary's travel to Lostant for scheduled liturgies.
- Father Stephen McKinley, OFM Conv. — Pastor
- Father Patrick Greenough, OFM Conv. — Associate
The Friends of St. John's
The official 4 Saints website notes that 'St. John the Baptist Oratory is not a Parish, it is under the care of St. Mary's Catholic Church and The Friends of St. John's.' The Friends of St. John's is the lay support community that keeps the Lostant oratory maintained, hosts devotional gatherings, and helps coordinate special events and fundraisers. Members of the broader Lostant Catholic community are encouraged to join this group to help preserve and animate the historic 1862 church.
- Lay volunteer group supporting the Lostant oratory
- Coordinates events, devotions, and maintenance
Visiting the Oratory
St. John the Baptist is located at 301 S. Sheridan Street in the village of Lostant, in LaSalle County, Illinois. The church is open every day for private prayer from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, making it a peaceful stopping point in the rural Illinois countryside. Mailing and phone contact for the cluster is handled through St. Mary Parish in Wenona.
- Address: 301 S. Sheridan St., Lostant, IL 61334
- Open daily for private prayer: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Cluster phone: (815) 853-4558
- Diocese: Peoria