About St. Joseph · Ivesdale, Illinois
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a small rural parish in the village of Ivesdale, Illinois, founded in 1869 by Irish Catholic settlers in a region once known as 'Little Ireland.' The present brick church, completed in 1894 under Fr. Charles C. O'Brien, is a landmark locally nicknamed the 'Cathedral of the Cornfield' for its two tall towers — one 80 feet, the other 105 — and imported Italian stained glass. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Peoria and today consists of about 80 families who worship together in the historic building on Fifth Street. It is currently linked with St. Patrick Parish in nearby Tolono and served by Fr. Patrick K. O'Neal.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Patrick K. O'Neal
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a close-knit, faith-filled rural community of about 80 households where, in the words of Deacon Brewer, 'everyone truly cares about one another.' The parish offers Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, an active CCD religious education program led by Deacon Jim Brewer, a thriving Altar and Rosary Society, and its own Knights of Columbus council (Immaculate Conception Council No. 1047), along with a beloved annual Harvest Mass. Worshiping in a building nicknamed the 'Cathedral of the Cornfield' — a 1894 brick church with twin towers and Italian stained glass — families here join a parish with deep roots, more than 50 documented vocations to priesthood and religious life, and a living tradition of rural Catholic life in central Illinois.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:15–7:45 AM
- Tuesday 4:30–5:15 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 4:30 PM (followed by 5:30 PM Mass)
Parish History
St. Joseph Parish was founded in 1869 by Irish Catholic pioneers who built the first frame church under the leadership of Fr. Patrick Toner of Champaign. The parish grew rapidly in a region affectionately known as 'Little Ireland,' and by 1894 the present brick church was completed under Fr. Charles C. O'Brien, just east of the original building. The cornerstone laying was a major village celebration, with a parade through town and a dinner attended by more than 2,000 people. The first Mass in the new church was the wedding of John Driscoll and Margaret Donovan on May 23, 1894. In 1897, the original frame church became St. Joseph's Academy, staffed first by Dominican Sisters from Springfield (with boarding facilities for farm children) and later by Benedictines of Nauvoo; the school finally closed in 1968. The parish marked its 150th anniversary on November 3, 2019, with a Mass of Thanksgiving and Harvest Mass celebrated by Father Joel Phelps, vicar of the Champaign Vicariate, followed by a dinner in the parish hall.
- 1869: First white frame church built under Fr. Patrick Toner
- 1873: First resident pastor Fr. Patrick Bermingham arrives
- 1894: Current brick church with twin towers completed under Fr. C.C. O'Brien
- 1897: Old church becomes St. Joseph's Academy, run by Dominican Sisters
- 1910: Benedictines of Nauvoo take over the school
- 1968: School closes; CCD religious education continues
- 2019: 150th anniversary celebrated Nov. 3 with Mass of Thanksgiving and Harvest Mass
The Cathedral of the Cornfield
The 1894 brick church — completed just east of the original 1869 frame building — was long the largest Catholic church in central Illinois south of Kankakee and earned the lasting local nickname 'Cathedral of the Cornfield.' Its twin towers, rising 80 and 105 feet, could be seen for miles across the surrounding fields, even when the corn was tall. The church features stained glass windows imported from Italy. Today it still anchors the village as both a place of worship and a beloved local landmark.
- Twin towers: 80 feet and 105 feet tall
- Stained glass windows imported from Italy
- Largest Catholic church in central Illinois south of Kankakee at the time of dedication
- Local landmark visible across miles of farmland
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently led by Father Patrick K. O'Neal as pastor (since 2022), who also serves the linked parish of St. Patrick in Tolono. Deacon James Brewer, a lifelong Ivesdale resident, has served as the parish's permanent deacon since his ordination in 2013 and directs the religious education program. Fr. Fredi Gomez-Torres, who served as pastor from 2017 and who was himself born in Mexico, also pastored St. Mary in Champaign and St. Patrick in Tolono during his tenure.
- Pastor: Fr. Patrick K. O'Neal (since 2022)
- Deacon & Director of Religious Education: Deacon James Brewer
- Deacon Brewer's contact: (217) 898-9111
- Parish office: (217) 352-8364
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Although the parish school (St. Joseph's Academy, staffed first by the Dominican Sisters and later by the Benedictines of Nauvoo) closed in 1968, St. Joseph has maintained an active CCD religious education program for its children and youth. The program is directed by Deacon James Brewer. The parish has historically fostered vocations, with more than 50 documented vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and permanent diaconate having come from St. Joseph over its 150+ year history.
- Active CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program
- Director of Religious Education: Deacon James Brewer
- Historical legacy of 50+ vocations to priesthood, religious life, and diaconate
Parish Life & Organizations
St. Joseph is a close-knit rural community of about 80 households. The parish supports an active Altar and Rosary Society, the Knights of Columbus Immaculate Conception Council No. 1047, and parish-wide gatherings in the parish hall — including the dinner following the annual Harvest Mass. As Deacon Brewer has said of the community: 'This is a very close-knit, faith-filled community. Everyone truly cares about one another. That's the beauty of a small parish.'
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Knights of Columbus — Immaculate Conception Council No. 1047
- Parish hall dinners and social gatherings
- Annual Harvest Mass and parish anniversary celebrations
Sacraments
As a parish of the Diocese of Peoria, St. Joseph celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Sunday and weekday Masses include the Eucharist; Reconciliation is offered Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons. The parish also prepares parishioners for Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and supports discernment of Holy Orders. The parish's long history of fostering vocations — more than 50 to date — reflects its deep commitment to priestly and religious life.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion and ongoing)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders — supported by the parish's vocation culture
Visit, Location & Contact
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is located at 201 Fifth Street, Ivesdale, IL 61851 (mailing address: PO Box 175, Ivesdale, IL 61851). The parish phone is (217) 352-8364. Ivesdale is a small village of about 300 residents between Champaign and Decatur, situated along the Champaign/Piatt county line, and St. Joseph is among the most southern parishes in the Diocese of Peoria — with some of its 80 households actually residing in neighboring communities within the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
- Address: 201 Fifth Street, Ivesdale, IL 61851
- Mailing: PO Box 175, Ivesdale, IL 61851
- Phone: (217) 352-8364
- Deacon Jim Brewer: (217) 898-9111
- Website: http://stjosephivesdale.com/
- Diocese: Diocese of Peoria (linked with St. Patrick, Tolono)
- Location: village of Ivesdale (~300 residents), between Champaign and Decatur
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Toner1869
From Champaign; organized Irish Catholic families to build the first frame church
- Fr. Patrick Bermingham1873
First resident pastor
- Fr. Thomas Shanley1874
- Fr. Daniel O'Dwyer1884
- Fr. M.J. Byrne1885
- Fr. Charles C. O'Brien1893
Oversaw construction of the present brick church in 1894
- Fr. J.J. Smith1907
- Fr. John W. Armstrong1917
- Fr. Charles D. Martin1933
Served about two decades
- Fr. Raymond Sprague1955
- Fr. Marvin J. Colgan1956
- Fr. Joseph A. Marzolf1968
Served about two decades
- Fr. Tom Royer1989
- Fr. Thomas Gibson2001
- Fr. Joseph Dondanville2003
- Msgr. Albert Hallin, PA2007
- Fr. John Cyr2012
- Fr. Patrick Riordan2013
- Fr. Fredi Gomez-Torres2017
Born in Mexico; also served as pastor of St. Mary, Champaign and St. Patrick, Tolono
- Fr. Patrick K. O'Neal2022
Current pastor; also serves linked parishes