About St. Mary (Also, see linked parish St Thomas, Philo.) · Pesotum, Illinois
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Pesotum, Illinois (Champaign County), established in 1875 by German Catholic settlers and renowned as the "Cathedral on the Prairie" for its striking 1894 brick Gothic church with a 144-foot spire. It is one of the historic faith communities that today shares a pastor with the linked parish of St. Thomas in Philo (with Fr. Keith A. Walder as pastor) and, together with St. Patrick in Tolono, forms a joint parish arrangement under the Diocese of Peoria with St. Thomas as the primary worship site. The church sits about three miles east of Pesotum along County Road 200 N, surrounded by corn and soybean fields, and continues to be maintained largely through the volunteer labor and donations of multigenerational parishioner families.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Father Keith A. Walder
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Mary is one of central Illinois' most architecturally distinctive country parishes — a soaring 1894 Gothic 'Cathedral on the Prairie' set among the corn and soybean fields of southern Champaign County, maintained for nearly 150 years largely by the volunteer labor and donations of multigenerational Catholic families. As a linked parish of St. Thomas in Philo (sharing pastor Fr. Keith Walder and Deacon Don Koeberlein), it offers Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, First Saturday adoration, and the Sacramental and faith-formation programs of the joint parish — including the connected St. Thomas Catholic School. Visitors are welcomed into a small but deeply rooted rural Catholic community proud of its German-Catholic pioneer heritage.
Mass times at St. Mary (Also, see linked parish St Thomas, Philo.)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 am (before 7:30 am Mass)
- Friday 7:00 am (at St. Thomas, Philo)
- Saturday 3:00 pm (at St. Thomas, Philo)
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- First Saturday 7:30 am (at St. Thomas, Philo)
History of St. Mary Parish
St. Mary was founded in 1875 by German Catholic immigrants who settled in southern Champaign County. The congregation first met in a small 22 × 32 frame church, replaced in 1882 by a 33 × 64 frame building. The present brick Gothic church was built in 1894 — every brick hauled by parishioners from the local Bernie Youngman Tile Factory in Pesotum — and is widely known as the 'Cathedral on the Prairie.' Interior decoration was simplified in the late 1960s following Vatican II, but the stained-glass windows and original pipe organ remain defining features. Parish historian Bob Schaefer, a lifelong member, compiled the parish centennial history in 1994.
- 1875 — Parish founded; original 22 × 32 frame church built
- 1882 — Larger 33 × 64 frame church replaces the first
- 1894 — Current brick Gothic church completed; 144-foot spire
- 1926 — School building constructed (later partly funded as public school)
- 1966 — School closes; building becomes fellowship hall
- Late 1960s — Interior simplified under Vatican II renewal
- Recent — $200,000+ tuck-pointing and organ refurbishment completed
- 1994 — Centennial history published
Architecture: The Cathedral on the Prairie
The 1894 brick Gothic church is the visual landmark of the parish. Its 144-foot spire, topped by a large golden cross, rises above the prairie and can be seen for miles. The sanctuary is flanked by five stained-glass windows on each side, each a unique multi-color design reaching nearly from floor to ceiling; the original pipe organ — still in use — is another notable interior feature.
- Style: Brick Gothic Revival
- Spire height: 144 feet
- Stained glass: 10 floor-to-ceiling windows (5 per side)
- Original pipe organ still in service after restoration
- Interior simplified in the late 1960s post-Vatican II
Linked Parish Life with St. Thomas, Philo
St. Mary shares a pastor and parish staff with St. Thomas Catholic Church in Philo (Fr. Keith A. Walder, Pastor) and is part of a joint parish arrangement with St. Patrick, Tolono, under the Diocese of Peoria. The St. Thomas and St. Mary Parish Office serves both communities. The parishes share Mass schedules, confessions, adoration, sacramental preparation, and faith formation, with St. Thomas designated as the primary worship site of the joint parish.
- Pastor: Fr. Keith A. Walder
- Deacon: Don Koeberlein (217-369-8453, [email protected])
- Parish Office: 205 South Garfield, Philo, IL 61864
- Parish phone: 217-684-5107
- Joint parish also includes St. Patrick, Tolono
St. Thomas Catholic School (Linked Parish School)
The linked parish's Catholic school, St. Thomas Catholic School in Philo, serves the joint parish community. It is officially recognized by the National Catholic Education Association and the Illinois State Board of Education, and offers Preschool, K-8 academics, religion classes, weekly Mass, sacramental preparation, and IESA athletics. The mission: 'to guide our students to LIVE as examples of Christ, LOVE as Christ loves us, and SERVE as Christ calls us to serve.'
- Principal: Jean Cothron
- Pastor/Administrator: Fr. Keith Walder
- Athletic Director: Beth Pugh
- Office Manager: Kathy Webb
- Receptionist/Marketing: Tracy Cain
- Music/Band/Choir: Chad Billman
- Preschool (ages 3-5), K-8 academics, Aftercare until 5:30 pm
- Extracurriculars: Worship Band, Choir, Cheer, Art Club, Spanish Club (5th-8th)
- Athletics (IESA, Illini Conference, Tigers): cross country, basketball, volleyball, track, golf, baseball, softball, speech
- Address: 311 E. Madison St., Philo, IL 61864; (217) 684-2309
Sacraments & Faith Formation
Sacramental preparation is coordinated across the joint parish. Second-grade students prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist; eighth graders prepare for Confirmation. Students attend weekly Friday Mass and have additional Reconciliation opportunities during Advent and Lent.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade preparation
- Confirmation — 8th grade preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Weekly school Mass: Fridays 8:30 am (Children's Mass) at St. Thomas, Philo
St. Mary Parish Cemetery
The parish cemetery lies on the west side of the church and dates back to the founding of the parish in 1875. Many generations of the original German-Catholic pioneer families are buried there among ornate older headstones that complement the Gothic grandeur of the church.
- Established 1875
- Located west of the church building
- Burial ground for generations of founding families
Parish Staff & Contact
The St. Thomas and St. Mary Parish Office in Philo serves the joint parish community. Fr. Keith Walder serves as Pastor; Deacon Don Koeberlein assists with pastoral ministry; the school and parish share office staff.
- Pastor: Fr. Keith A. Walder — [email protected]
- Deacon: Don Koeberlein — [email protected], 217-369-8453
- Parish Office: 205 South Garfield, Philo, IL 61864
- Phone: 217-684-5107
- Fax: 217-684-2217
- School Principal: Jean Cothron — [email protected], 217-684-2309
- Parish/School Office Manager: Kathy Webb