About St. Maria Goretti · Coal Valley, Illinois
St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church is a parish in Coal Valley, Illinois, in the Diocese of Peoria, serving the small community on the eastern edge of the Quad Cities area. The parish was formally established on June 1, 1972, and was dedicated to the young Italian martyr St. Maria Goretti. From 2018 onward it has been pastored by Father Anthony (Tony) Ego, who serves St. Maria Goretti jointly with its sister parish, Mary Our Lady of Peace in Orion. Effective September 29, 2025, the two parishes formally merged under the new name St. Gabriel the Archangel, with both worship sites retained and the existing Mass schedule remaining unchanged.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- St. Maria Goretti
- Rector
- Father Anthony (Tony) Ego
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Maria Goretti offers a small-town, family-sized Catholic community where parishioners know one another by name and pitch in together — about thirty parishioners volunteer at the Coal Valley Food Pantry, others cook and serve hot meals at the St. Joseph Meal Site in Rock Island on the second Tuesday of each month, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets blessed shawls for those in need of comfort. Strong faith formation runs from Kindergarten through 8th grade Confirmation, with RCIA welcoming unbaptized adults, Christians from other traditions, and Catholics seeking to complete their sacraments. Worship is grounded in a beautiful 1984 sanctuary that seats 360 and still carries sacred pieces — altar cross and stained glass — from the original 1972 church, while Deacon Tom Gainey and Father Tony Ego shepherd both this parish and its sister parish in Orion.
Mass times at St. Maria Goretti
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. Maria Goretti was formally established as a parish on June 1, 1972, and has been continuously served since by a succession of pastors beginning with Father Robert Schladen. The current sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1984 by Bishop Edward O'Rourke after the 1983 demolition of the original, much smaller church; during construction, Mass was celebrated at Trimble Funeral Home.
- Granted parish status June 1, 1972
- Original church seated only 150; current sanctuary seats 360
- Altar cross made from timber of the former church; original stained glass reframed and reinstalled
- Current church dedicated September 9, 1984 by Bishop Edward O'Rourke
Clergy, Deacons and Visiting Missionaries
Day-to-day pastoral care is provided by Father Anthony (Tony) Ego (pastor) and Deacon Tom Gainey, assisted by parish staff including Administrative Assistant Laurie Bonjour. The parish has been blessed in recent years with several priests of the Society of African Missions (SMA), including Fr. Nimorious (Nimo) Damanzing, Fr. Paul Kouassi, Fr. Mike Adri..., and Fr. Anthony Bernas. Former deacons include Dc. Bob Zimmerman and Dc. Chuck Breeden (retired 2014).
Merger into St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish
Effective Monday, September 29, 2025, St. Maria Goretti in Coal Valley and Mary Our Lady of Peace in Orion merged into a single parish named St. Gabriel the Archangel, with both worship sites retained and the existing Mass schedule kept unchanged. The merged parish operates with one Parish Council, one Parish Finance Council, and one administrative office located in Orion.
- New merged parish name: St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Worship sites retained: SMG Coal Valley + Mary Our Lady of Peace Orion
- Mass schedule unchanged at merger
- One combined Parish Council, Finance Council, and administrative office (in Orion)
- Donations continue to be made out to MOLOP or SMG until a new EIN is issued
Mass and Worship Schedule
Weekly Masses are celebrated at the Coal Valley church on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:00 A.M., Saturday at 4:00 P.M., and Sunday at 10:00 A.M., with a monthly Mass at Hope Creek Care Center on the first Tuesday at 10:30 A.M. The parish shares pastoral duties and leadership resources with its sister parish Mary Our Lady of Peace in Orion.
- Monday — No Mass
- Tuesday — Hope Creek Care Center, 10:30 A.M. (1st Tuesday only)
- Wednesday — 9:00 A.M.
- Thursday — No Mass
- Friday — 9:00 A.M.
- Saturday — 4:00 P.M.
- Sunday — 10:00 A.M.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education provides Catholic faith formation for children from Kindergarten through 6th grade on Wednesday evenings from 4:30–5:45 p.m., mid-September through early May, with a separate 7th & 8th grade Confirmation program held Sunday mornings following the 10:00 A.M. Mass. The parish also hosts a summer Vacation Bible School.
- K–6th grade Religious Education (Wed. evenings 4:30–5:45)
- 7th–8th grade Confirmation (Sun. mornings after 10:00 A.M. Mass)
- Summer Vacation Bible School
- Director of Religious Education: Jammie Jamieson
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults interested in becoming Catholic — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian church, or baptized Catholic seeking First Communion or Confirmation — are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Formation meetings typically begin in September and conclude with the Easter Vigil welcoming ceremony.
- Available to all adults (unbaptized, other Christians, baptized Catholics)
- Children over 9 needing First Communion or Confirmation may also participate
- Meetings generally September–Easter
Outreach Ministries
St. Maria Goretti has a strong local outreach footprint through the Coal Valley Food Pantry (one of 24 Churches United food pantries), the St. Joseph Meal Site in Rock Island, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and the parish Social Concerns Committee. The parish contributes about thirty volunteers to the food pantry, picks up supplies from River Bend Food Bank on the second Tuesday of each month, and prepares and serves a hot meal for about 60–65 people at the Rock Island meal site on the second Tuesday evening of each month.
- Coal Valley Food Pantry — served 1,931 individuals / 579 households in 2014
- Volunteers supply the pantry on the 2nd Tuesday and 2nd Friday
- River Bend Food Bank pickup on the 2nd Tuesday
- St. Joseph Meal Site — SMG designated night is the 2nd Tuesday
- Prayer Shawl Ministry meets 2nd Monday and 4th Saturday at 10:00 A.M.
- Social Concerns Committee meets 2nd Tuesday, Sept.–May, 6:00 P.M.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Knitters and crocheters gather on the second Monday and fourth Saturday of each month at 10:00 A.M. to create prayer shawls for those in need of comfort. Each shawl is begun with prayers for the recipient, intentions are continued throughout its creation, and a final blessing is offered before it is delivered. Contact Maureen Bennett at (309) 269-6565.
Parish Leadership & Staff
Parish leadership is shared between clergy, an Administrative Assistant, a Parish Council, a Finance Committee, trustees, and a Social Concerns Committee. Finance Committee members are Crystal Arnold (Chairperson), Chet Doyle, Aaron Venker, and Alan Wilson. Parish Council officers are Emil Maslanka (President), Mark Fennell (Vice President), and Pam Wilks (Secretary).
- Pastor: Father Anthony (Tony) Ego — 309-581-2923, Press 1
- Administrative Assistant: Laurie Bonjour — (309) 799-3414
- Deacon Tom Gainey — (309) 521-8223
- Finance Committee Chair: Crystal Arnold (309) 738-5117
- Trustees: Crystal Arnold (309) 738-5117, John Kratt (235-2712)
- Parish Council President: Emil Maslanka
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors are invited to the church at 220 E. 22nd Avenue in Coal Valley. General questions can be directed to the Administrative Assistant; the parish email address is [email protected], and website feedback is welcomed via that same address.
- Address: 220 E. 22nd Avenue, P.O. Box 159, Coal Valley, IL 61240
- Parish phone: (309) 799-3414
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: smgcv.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Robert Schladen1972–1976
First pastor when St. Maria Goretti was granted parish status on June 1, 1972.
- Father Joseph Nickerson1976–1981
Second pastor.
- Father Duane Jack1981–1991
Oversaw the 1984 demolition and rebuilding of the present church; re-assigned in 1991.
- Father Harold (Harry) Schmitt1991–1994
Succeeded Father Jack in 1991.
- Father Richard (Dick) Bresnahan1994–2002
Served until his retirement in 2002.
- Father Michael Schaab2002–2005
Served as administrator.
- Father Raymond Guthrie2005–2007
Pastor from June 2005 until 2007.
- Father James DeBisschop2007–2018
Became pastor of St. Maria Goretti and Mary Our Lady of Peace in June 2007; took a leave for cancer treatment, returned to duties summer 2014, passed away 2018.
- Father Anthony (Tony) Ego2018–present
Assigned in 2018; current pastor of both SMG and Mary Our Lady of Peace; leads the merged St. Gabriel the Archangel parish from 2025.