St. Louis

About St. Louis Parish

St. Louis Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Princeton, Illinois, committed to loving God and others and growing in the Catholic faith. The parish serves about 650 families in the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and welcomes new faces and longtime friends alike. The community gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Reconciliation, and forms disciples through family, youth, and adult programs.

Parish History

St. Louis was founded in 1864 when land was purchased from Andrew and Mrs. Gosse near the Princeton fairgrounds. Mass was first celebrated in the Gosse home, then in a small frame church built in 1865. For decades the mission was served by traveling priests from LaSalle, Mendota, Sheffield, and Tiskilwa until Father James Dollard became the first resident pastor in 1910. The original frame church was relocated to Main Street in 1909 and later enlarged, before being replaced by the present English Gothic-style church built 1949–1951 by the Swanson Brothers. St. Louis School opened in 1964 and the parish preschool in 2005.

• 1862: Land purchased from Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Gosse
• 1864: Parish founded; first Mass in the Gosse home
• 1865: Small frame church built
• 1909: Original church moved to Main Street & Central Ave
• 1910: Father James Dollard becomes first resident pastor
• 1950: First Mass in the new Gothic-style church, Christmas Eve
• 1951: Church dedicated by Bishop Schlarman on June 17
• 1964: St. Louis School opens in September; blessed by Bishop Franz in May 1965
• 2005: Parish Preschool opens in the converted convent

Patron: Saint Louis IX, King of France

The parish takes its name from King Saint Louis IX of France, honored on his feast day, August 25. The parish holds him up as a model of being entrusted with a kingdom that must be served faithfully as a means of building up the Kingdom of God. Parishioners are encouraged to imitate his example by cherishing the parish community as something entrusted to them by the Providence of God and by being trustworthy stewards of its life and mission.

Clergy and Staff

The parish is led by Parochial Administrator Father Austin Bosse (ordained May 29, 2021; born in Onaga, Kansas; assigned in 2025) and served by Deacon John P. Murphy. The wider staff and lay leadership coordinate everything from religious education and music to finance and the parish farms.

• Administrator: Father Austin Bosse
• Deacon: Deacon John Murphy
• Administrative Assistant / Bulletin: Paula Lough
• Business Manager: Renee Toomey
• Religious Education Coordinator: Rebekah Mead
• Catechetical Assistant: Bethany Bringham
• OCIA & Project Coordinator: Susanna Prushinski
• Music Director: Matthew Ernat
• Maintenance: Tim Hermeyer
• Janitorial: Tim and Emily Smith
• Parish Trustees: Dan Legner & Mary Paula Schmitt
• Knights of Columbus Grand Knight: Matthew Ernat

Faith Formation and Discipleship

St. Louis runs a Family Discipleship program that brings families together to support one another in growing as disciples, with ongoing formation for children and youth including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Youth Ministry. Adults can take part in prayer groups, Bible studies, and small groups, and there are unique opportunities for young adults as well. The parish's Baptism Preparation program is called 'Belonging.'

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Youth Ministry
• Family Discipleship program
• Adult prayer groups and Bible studies
• Young adult opportunities
• Baptism Preparation: Belonging
• Confirmation Preparation

Parish Ministries and Service

St. Louis offers opportunities for service and fellowship through the Knights of Columbus, the Altar & Rosary Society, and the Respect Life Committee. Liturgical ministries include altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, and church decorators, plus a Music Ministry directed by Matthew Ernat. The parish also runs the Magi Baby Chest and a Prayer Support Circle (Prayer Chain).

• Knights of Columbus
• Altar & Rosary Society
• Respect Life Committee
• Altar Servers, Lectors, EMHCs, Sacristans
• Music Ministry
• Church Decorators
• Prayer Support Circle / Prayer Chain
• Magi Baby Chest

Parish School and Preschool

St. Louis School opened in September 1964 and was blessed by Bishop Franz in May 1965. In 1978, a Kindergarten and new library were added to the school, and in 1998 a large addition connected the church and school with a parish hall, library, computer lab, and offices. Father Jeffrey Stirniman converted the former convent into a Parish Preschool at parishioners' request, and it opened its doors in September 2005.

• St. Louis School (opened September 1964)
• 1978: Kindergarten and library addition
• 1998: Parish hall, library, computer lab, and offices added
• Parish Preschool opened September 2005 (in converted convent)

Parish Life and Operations

Beyond worship, St. Louis is supported by a Finance Committee (chaired by Chuck Hanson) that assists the pastor with budgeting and long-range planning, and an Agriculture Committee (advised by Dan Legner) that oversees the two farms owned by the parish. Parish Trustees Dan Legner and Mary Paula Schmitt, appointed by the Bishop of Peoria, sit with the pastor on the parish executive committee.

• Finance Committee (President: Chuck Hanson)
• Agriculture Committee — oversees the two parish farms (Advisor: Dan Legner)
• Parish Trustees: Dan Legner & Mary Paula Schmitt
• Bulletin printed by Liturgical Publications, Inc.

Contact and Visit

Parish office hours are Monday–Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The parish is located at 616 S Gosse Blvd, Princeton, IL 61356, with the main parking lot off of Gosse and additional parking off of Park Avenue. The church and Adoration Chapel are open for private prayer; a code is available from the parish office.

• Address: 616 S Gosse Blvd, Princeton, IL 61356
• Phone: (815) 879-0181
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Parking: main lot off Gosse, additional lot off Park Avenue