About St. John XXIII Parish · Henry, Illinois
St. John XXIII Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Henry, Illinois, in the Diocese of Peoria. It was formed on July 6, 2014, by the merger of the two long-standing Henry parishes — St. Joseph and St. Mary — and is the first parish in the diocese named for 'Good Pope John,' canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014. St. Mary Church, located at 401 South Street, serves as the primary worship site of the new parish, while the historic St. Joseph Church is still used occasionally for First Friday Masses, weddings, funerals, and the Feast of St. Joseph. The parish is pastored by Father Michael Pica, who also serves Immaculate Conception Parish in nearby Lacon, and it serves a rural north-central Illinois community through weekend and weekday Mass, confession, RCIA, and shared religious-education programs.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Saint John XXIII (Pope John XXIII, 'Good Pope John')
- Rector
- Father Michael Pica
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria (Catholic Diocese of Peoria)
Why belong here
St. John XXIII Parish offers the warmth of a small-town Catholic community that has been worshiping in Henry for more than a century and a half, now united under the patronage of a beloved modern pope. Weekend and weekday Masses — with an additional vigil Mass and a Sunday morning celebration — are celebrated at St. Mary Church, and the historic St. Joseph Church is still used for First Fridays and special occasions, keeping both communities' heritage alive. The parish welcomes newcomers and returning Catholics through RCIA, shared religious-education classes, and the simple neighborliness of a tight-knit rural congregation.
Mass times at St. John XXIII Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15–3:45 PM
- Weekdays — 15 minutes before Mass
History & Heritage of St. John XXIII Parish
St. John XXIII Parish is the new face of a Catholic presence in Henry, Illinois that reaches back to the 1860s. St. Joseph Parish and St. Mary Parish — each more than a century old — were unified in 2014 under the patronage of 'Good Pope John,' who had just been declared a saint by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky's decree on that same day created the first parishes in the Diocese of Peoria named for the two newly canonized modern popes, and Henry's new community became the first in the diocese to bear John XXIII's name.
- Two founding parishes: St. Joseph (c. 1869, ~145 years old at merger) and St. Mary ('a little longer')
- Merger took effect July 6, 2014 at a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary Church, 401 South Street
- Name chosen to honor Pope Saint John XXIII, canonized April 27, 2014
- First parish in the Diocese of Peoria named for Pope John XXIII
The Unification Mass (July 6, 2014)
The creation of St. John XXIII Parish was marked by a richly symbolic liturgy that began at St. Joseph Church and concluded at St. Mary Church. Father Tom Mizeur, the pastor, exposed the Blessed Sacrament for silent prayer and led the Litany of St. Joseph before the Eucharist was carried by procession — in golf carts and cars — across town. Members of St. Mary Church greeted the procession, the community prayed the Litany of St. Mary together, and Benediction followed.
- Preaching by Father Tom Mizeur on how God changes names at new stages of mission (Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul)
- Bagpipe rendition of 'Amazing Grace' by Patrick Martin to honor St. Joseph's Irish heritage
- Handmade altar cloth by Karol Real presented by descendants of St. Joseph's founding families
- Final Mass at St. Joseph celebrated June 29, 2014, followed by fellowship and a chicken dinner in the parish hall
Worship Sites
St. Mary Church (401 South Street) serves as the primary worship site for the merged parish, hosting the regular weekend and weekday Mass schedule. St. Joseph Church, the historic Irish-founded church, remains an active part of parish life and is used at the pastor's discretion for special occasions.
- St. Mary Church — 401 South Street, Henry, IL 61537 — primary worship site
- St. Joseph Church — used for First Friday Masses, weddings, funerals, and the Feast of St. Joseph
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish has been served by a small number of priests since its 2014 founding, with Father Tom Mizeur shepherding the merger and Father John Bosco Mujuni formally installed as pastor in 2019. Since 2024 the parish has been led by Father Michael Pica, who also serves as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lacon and is incardinated in the Diocese of Peoria.
- Father Tom Mizeur — founding pastor (through 2014)
- Father John Bosco Mujuni — named pastor 2019; also chaplain of St. Joseph Nursing Home, Lacon
- Father Michael Pica — Administrator 2023; Pastor 2024 to present; ordained May 28, 2016; also pastor of Immaculate Conception, Lacon
Faith Formation & Sacramental Life
Even before the parishes officially merged, the two Henry communities had begun sharing religious-education classes and RCIA — a comingling Father Mizeur pointed to as evidence that the new parish was already emerging organically. Today the parish continues that tradition of shared formation, preparing members for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) and welcoming new Catholics through RCIA.
- Religious education classes (shared across the merged community)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation (weddings may be held at St. Joseph Church)
Parish Life & Community
St. John XXIII Parish carries forward the social traditions of both founding parishes — potluck meals in the parish hall, festive dinners, music, and intergenerational fellowship. The 2014 closing Mass at St. Joseph included a special Irish-heritage musical program and a chicken dinner that brought together longtime parishioners and newcomers, embodying the message that the merger was about gaining, not losing, identity.
- Parish-hall fellowship gatherings (coffee, doughnuts, chicken dinners)
- Heritage celebrations honoring the Irish roots of St. Joseph Parish
- Welcoming of returning and new Catholics through RCIA and neighborliness
Diocese & Wider Catholic Community
St. John XXIII Parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, which stretches across central and north-central Illinois. The parish's formation in 2014 was part of a wider pattern in the diocese of merging smaller rural parishes and naming them after the newly canonized modern popes — Henry received the John XXIII name, while Kewanee became St. John Paul II Parish in the same year, both established by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky's decree of April 27, 2014.
- Diocese of Peoria
- Bishop Daniel R. Jenky — issued the decree creating the parish
- Pastor also serves Immaculate Conception Parish in nearby Lacon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Tom Mizeurthrough 2014 (founding pastor of St. John XXIII Parish)
Led the 2014 unification Mass at St. Mary Church and closing Mass at St. Joseph; preached 'We're not losing. We're just gaining — a new name and a new identity.'
- Father John Bosco Mujuninamed pastor in 2019; administrator before that
Also served as chaplain of St. Joseph Nursing Home in Lacon.
- Father Michael PicaAdministrator 2023; Pastor 2024 to present
Also pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Lacon; born April 2, 1989; ordained May 28, 2016; incardinated in the Diocese of Peoria.