About St. John Vianney · Cambridge, Illinois
St. John Vianney is a Roman Catholic mission church located at 313 S. West Street in Cambridge, Illinois, established in 1964. It is one of three worship sites that today make up St. John the Beloved Parish in the Diocese of Peoria, alongside St. John the Beloved in Galva (the parish church) and St. John in Woodhull. The Cambridge mission was founded to serve rural Henry County Catholics who had been traveling to surrounding towns for Mass, and today it celebrates Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM with confessions before each liturgy. The community is currently served by Monsignor Michael C. Bliss, pastor of the combined St. John the Beloved Parish.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. John Vianney
- Rector
- Monsignor Michael C. Bliss
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. John Vianney offers a small, rural Catholic community where Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and confessions beforehand (7:30–7:50 AM) are part of a tight-knit family of three Henry County worship sites now gathered as St. John the Beloved Parish. Rooted in the founding sacrifice of 1964 farm and factory families, the mission continues that legacy today through its CCD religious education program, the Altar & Rosary Society, and shared pastoral leadership with Monsignor Bliss. It is a place where rural Catholics can find faithful liturgy, ongoing faith formation for their children, and a parish family that still knows one another by name.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
History of St. John Vianney, Cambridge
St. John Vianney Parish was established in 1964 to serve the Catholics of Cambridge, Illinois and the surrounding Henry County farmland. The effort was led by local layman Francis Langheim, whose survey showed many families driving to nearby towns for Sunday Mass. After Bishop John B. Franz expressed his support, Rev. George M. Herbach of St. Malachy's in Geneseo was appointed the first pastor on March 13, 1964. The first Mass was offered on May 17, 1964 in the American Legion Hall, with Joseph and James Moriarity serving as altar boys.
- Founded March 13, 1964 — Father Herbach appointed first pastor
- First Mass celebrated May 17, 1964 in rented American Legion Hall
- First assistant pastor: Rev. John O'Connor (1964–1967)
- First trustees: Francis Langheim and Peter DeBoever
- August Boelens replaced Langheim as trustee in 1966
Pastoral Leadership
St. John Vianney is currently shepherded by Monsignor Michael C. Bliss, who also serves as pastor of the combined St. John the Beloved Parish that unites the Cambridge, Galva, and Woodhull worship sites. Ordained in 1991 for the Diocese of Peoria, Monsignor Bliss has served as chaplain, vicar forane, and pastor in several parishes and was honored as Chaplain to His Holiness in 2007.
- Monsignor Michael C. Bliss — current pastor
- Ordained 1991, Diocese of Peoria
- Chaplain to His Holiness, 2007
Part of St. John the Beloved Parish
Cambridge's St. John Vianney now operates together with St. John the Beloved in Galva (the parish church) and St. John in Woodhull as a single combined parish family called St. John the Beloved Parish. The three communities share a mission statement: to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus in word and action, welcome all into the faith community, encourage disciples of Christ, and share their gifts in service to God and one another.
- Combined parish name: St. John the Beloved Parish
- Three worship sites: Cambridge (St. John Vianney), Galva, Woodhull
- Shared parish website: sjthebeloved.org
- Shared Facebook: facebook.com/sjthebeloved/
Faith Formation (CCD)
The parish operates a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program for the children of the Cambridge community, with its own calendar, teachers, and contacts coordinated at the parish level.
- CCD Program for children
- CCD Calendar of Events
- CCD Teachers and Contacts
Altar & Rosary Society
The Altar & Rosary Society is the long-standing women's devotional and service organization at St. John Vianney, Cambridge. The society supports the liturgical life of the parish and gathers for regular meetings, with minutes and a calendar of events published on the parish website.
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Society Calendar of Events
- Meeting Minutes published online
Parish Life & Facilities
Beyond liturgy and formation, St. John Vianney maintains a busy parish life with a calendar of events, regular parish meetings (minutes of which are posted online), and a parish hall available for rental under the parish's Hall Rental Policy.
- Calendar of Events
- Minutes of Parish Meetings
- Hall Rental Policy
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Cambridge office at (309) 937-3304 or by email at [email protected]. The parish mailing address is 313 S. West Street, Cambridge, IL 61238. The parish also shares a single office email for the combined St. John the Beloved Parish at [email protected].
- Phone: (309) 937-3304
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 313 S. West Street, Cambridge, IL 61238
- Parish email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George M. Herbach1964–
First pastor; concurrently pastor of St. Malachy's, Geneseo; appointed by Bishop John B. Franz on March 13, 1964.
- Rev. John O'Connor1964–1967
First assistant pastor; came from Alleman High School in Rock Island; transferred in 1967.