About St. Malachy · Rantoul, Illinois
St. Malachy Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Rantoul, Illinois, established in 1888 and part of the Diocese of Peoria. It anchors a unified parish family that also includes St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Thomasboro and St. Lawrence in Penfield, serving Northern Champaign County and Northwestern Vermilion County. The parish operates St. Malachy Catholic School (founded 1914 as Donovan Memorial School) and cares for three parish cemeteries. Father Joel Phelps serves as pastor and Fr. John Verrier as parochial vicar, offering Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. Malachy (Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair, 12th-century Irish saint)
- Rector
- Father Joel Phelps
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Malachy offers a bilingual Catholic community (English and Spanish) with three weekend Mass times plus a Saturday Vigil option, a weekday Mass schedule, and the sacrament of Confession regularly available. The parish operates its own Catholic elementary school staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, with religious education (PSR) and RCIA programs directed by Sister Mary Paulette for those preparing to enter the Church. Active groups include the Knights of Columbus Council 4450, a parish youth group, altar servers, liturgical ministers, and the parish school — making St. Malachy a fitting spiritual home for families, students, and longtime residents of northern Champaign County.
Mass times at St. Malachy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday at 11:30 AM (per stmalachyparish.org unified schedule — 30 minutes before Spanish Mass)
- Friday at 11:30 AM (per stmalachyparish.org unified schedule — 30 minutes before noon Mass)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Malachy Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Peoria, established in 1888 and serving Rantoul and the surrounding area. The parish's mission is rooted in the faith of the early farming families of northern Champaign County and in the legacy of Chanute Air Force Base, dedicating itself to celebrating the sacraments, devotion to prayer, fostering apostolic faith, and building authentic community through fellowship and works of mercy. As part of Bishop Lou Tylka's Growing Disciples pastoral plan, St. Malachy now functions as a unified parish with St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Thomasboro and St. Lawrence in Penfield.
- Established 1888
- First Rantoul church building 1893
- Part of the Diocese of Peoria
- Unified parish: St. Malachy, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Thomasboro), St. Lawrence (Penfield)
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
History
St. Malachy Parish traces its origins to 1888, when the Catholic farming families of the Rantoul area organized a parish under the Diocese of Peoria. A church building was erected in 1893 on East Grove Avenue, the same address the parish still occupies. The 125th anniversary of that church building will be observed in December 2026. The parish has long been tied to both the agricultural community and to the men, women, and families who served at Chanute Air Force Base, with the parish's mission statement explicitly recalling both heritages.
- 1888: Parish established
- 1893: St. Malachy Church building, Rantoul
- 1914: Donovan Memorial School opens, staffed by Dominican Sisters of Springfield
- Late 1920s: High school program closes; elementary school continues
- 1962: New school building constructed west of original school, renamed St. Malachy School
- December 2026: 125th anniversary of the church building
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
Father Joel Phelps has served as pastor of St. Malachy since June 2017 and was named pastor of the unified parish also including St. Lawrence in July 2024. He provides ministry in both English and Spanish and serves as Vicar Forane (coordinator) of the Champaign Vicariate of the Diocese of Peoria. Father John Verrier has served as Parochial Vicar since July 2024, assisting the pastor in providing spiritual care and the sacraments. Sister Mary Paulette directs the Parish School of Religion (PSR) and RCIA programs. Donna Ayers serves as Pastoral Assistant, and Vanessa Martinez leads the Office of Development.
- Father Joel Phelps — Pastor (since June 2017)
- Father John Verrier — Parochial Vicar (since July 2024)
- Sister Mary Paulette — Director of PSR and RCIA
- Donna Ayers — Pastoral Assistant
- Vanessa Martinez — Office of Development
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is led by Sister Mary Paulette, who directs both the Parish School of Religion (PSR) and the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. The parish also operates its own Catholic elementary school, providing a continuous Catholic education pathway from preschool through eighth grade staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield since 1914.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- St. Malachy Catholic School (Pre-K–8)
- John Lancaster Spalding Scholarship (referenced in school forms)
St. Malachy Catholic School
St. Malachy Catholic School is a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Peoria, housed at 340 E. Belle Avenue, Rantoul. It began on September 8, 1914 as Donovan Memorial School, opened thanks to a bequest from Catherine Donovan and staffed from the start by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, who continue to serve there. The high school closed in the late 1920s; elementary education continued, and a new school building was constructed in 1962 just west of the original site. The current facility has been expanded over the decades with music and community rooms, administration offices, and recreational areas.
- Founded September 8, 1914 as Donovan Memorial School
- Staffed since 1914 by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield
- New building constructed 1962, renamed St. Malachy School
- Principal: Mr. Dave Auth
- Secretary: Mrs. Kim Clifford
- Accounts Manager: Mrs. Lois Rooney
- Maintenance: Mr. Terry Glazik
- Office of Development: Vanessa Martinez
- Before Care and After Care programs
- Tiger Academy program
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish supports an active community of ministries. The Knights of Columbus Council 4450 is a longstanding fraternal organization affiliated with the parish. Liturgical teams include lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers serving in both English and Spanish Masses. A parish Youth Group meets regularly, and the Home and School Association links the parish school with parish families.
- Knights of Columbus Council 4450
- Parish Youth Group
- Lectors (English and Spanish)
- Ushers (English and Spanish)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (English and Spanish)
- Altar Servers (Week Day Mass and weekend)
- Home and School Association
- Education Commission
Cemeteries
According to the parish's own description, St. Malachy Parish cares for three parish cemeteries as part of its mission, alongside its three worship sites in Rantoul, Thomasboro, and Penfield.
- Three parish cemeteries cared for by the unified parish
Facilities & Anniversary Plans
The parish is preparing a new parish hall to mark the 125th anniversary of St. Malachy Church in December 2026. According to the parish, the new hall will bring much-needed updates including modern restrooms, a new gathering space, improved parking, and better accessibility for families and those with mobility needs.
- 125th anniversary of St. Malachy Church building — December 2026
- Planned new parish hall: modern restrooms, gathering space, improved parking, accessibility
Contact & Visiting
St. Malachy Church is located at 311 East Grove Avenue, Rantoul, Illinois 61866. The parish office can be reached at (217) 892-2044. The mailing address for parish correspondence is 340 East Belle Avenue, Suite 1, Rantoul, IL 61866. The parish's legacy site is hosted at sms217.org and a newer unified-parish site is at stmalachyparish.org.
- Address: 311 East Grove Avenue, Rantoul, IL 61866
- Mailing: 340 East Belle Avenue, Suite 1, Rantoul, IL 61866
- Phone: (217) 892-2044
- School phone: (217) 892-2011
- Legacy website: sms217.org
- Unified parish website: stmalachyparish.org