St. Joseph

History of St. Joseph Parish

Established in 1722 as a chapel under the royal church of Ste. Anne at Fort Chartres, St. Joseph is the only truly French-founded parish in the Diocese of Belleville. Two Jesuit priests, Father Le Boullenger and Father De Beaubois, originally served the French families around the fort from the church in the village of Nouvelle Chartres. When settlers moved to higher ground at the foot of the rock bluffs, Jean St. Therese Langlois — nephew of Fort Chartres commandant Pierre Duque Boisbriant — received a land grant and founded 'La Belle Prairie du Rocher,' where a log chapel was built in what is today the original parish cemetery. In 1734 it was replaced by a larger log church.

The Bourbon Era, the British Surrender, and the Sacred Vessels of Ste. Anne

In 1765 Fort Chartres — the last place in America to fly the Bourbon flag of France — surrendered to the British, ending French rule in the Mississippi Valley. The royal church of Ste. Anne fell into disrepair, but St. Joseph Chapel survived and took its place as the parish church of the area. In 1767 the records and sacred vessels of Ste. Anne were transferred to St. Joseph at Prairie du Rocher, and after a civil suit in the British court they were returned once more to Prairie du Rocher for safekeeping — where, the parish says, they remain to this day and are 'the marvel and admiration of historians.'

• Fort Chartres surrendered to the British in 1765
• Records and sacred vessels of Ste. Anne transferred to St. Joseph in 1767
• St. Joseph described as 'the only living monument of the French power in Mid America'

The Present Church Building (1858)

The current Romanesque church was inspired by the basilicas of Rome. After two Prairie du Rocher residents returned from the Holy Year of 1850 and agitated for a new church, foundations were laid beside the old log church. The great flood of 1851 surrounded the site and forced the builders to abandon the foundations and rebuild at a higher spot that has never again been flooded. The corner stone was laid July 19, 1858, and the resulting flat-ceilinged Romanesque interior is a direct echo of the great churches of Rome.

• Romanesque style with flat ceiling, modeled on the basilicas of Rome
• Cornerstone laid July 19, 1858
• Relocated after the 1851 Mississippi flood

Parish Partnership of Chester, Ellis Grove, and Prairie du Rocher

St. Joseph is one of three parishes linked in a pastoral partnership with St. Mary Church of Divine Maternity in Ellis Grove and St. Mary in Chester, Illinois. The three parishes share a pastor, Rev. Sebastian Ukoh, CM, and collaborate on regular devotions including a monthly Mass of Healing and a monthly evening of Eucharistic Adoration rotating among the three churches.

• St. Mary Church of Divine Maternity, Ellis Grove — Sunday 8:00 a.m. (even months), Saturday 6:00 p.m. (odd months)
• St. Mary, Chester — Saturday Vigil 4:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m.
• Mass of Healing: first weekend of the month at each parish
• Eucharistic Adoration: St. Joseph first Monday 7:00 p.m., St. Mary's Chester first Tuesday 7:00 p.m.

Parish Staff and Contacts

The parish is led by pastor Rev. Sebastian Ukoh, CM, a member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). Jill Whelan serves as Parish Secretary. The Parish Council is led by President Leonard DeRousse, and the Finance Council is chaired by Roger Henry. Cemetery stewardship is divided between Patrick Mueller for St. Joseph Cemetery and Joe Mollet for St. Leo Cemetery.

• Pastor: Rev. Sebastian Ukoh, CM
• Parish Secretary: Jill Whelan
• Parish Council President: Leonard DeRousse
• Finance Council President: Roger Henry
• St. Joseph Cemetery: Patrick Mueller
• St. Leo Cemetery: Joe Mollet

Mission Statement

We, the people of St. Joseph Catholic Parish of Prairie du Rocher, St. Mary Church of Divine Maternity of Ellis Grove, and St. Mary of Chester, Illinois are called to give witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our worship and prayer, through the fostering of a community of faith, and through service to our neighbors. We are centered in the Eucharist and united in the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to nurture our individual spiritual growth while caring for one another with compassion and love.

Getting Involved

Parishioners are welcomed into parish life through the New Parishioner Registration Form (linked from the parish website) and through service on the Parish Council or Finance Council. Active ministries named on the website include the Parish Council, Finance Council, and the care of the historic St. Joseph and St. Leo Cemeteries.

• New Parishioner Registration Form available on stjoespdr.org
• Parish Council
• Finance Council
• Cemetery care

Contact and Visit

St. Joseph is located at 802 Middle Street in the village of Prairie du Rocher, with mailing address P.O. Box 365, Prairie du Rocher, IL 62277. The parish office can be reached by phone at 618-284-3314 or by email at [email protected]. The parish maintains a Facebook page where visitors and parishioners can keep up with announcements.

• Address: 802 Middle Street, P.O. Box 365, Prairie du Rocher, IL 62277
• Phone: 618-284-3314
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.stjoespdr.org
• Facebook page linked from parish website