About St. Mary Church in Downs · Downs, Illinois
St. Mary Church in Downs, Illinois is a Catholic parish located at 108 E. Washington Street in the small community of Downs (population ~1,000), just east of Bloomington-Normal. Originally established in 1883 as an independent parish, St. Mary's became a secondary worship site of Most Holy Eucharist Parish on February 22, 2025, when it merged with St. Patrick Church of Merna under the Diocese of Peoria's Growing Disciples Initiative. The parish is currently pastored by Father Dustin Schultz, with Father Ben Schoonmaker and Father Derick Mwesiga serving as parochial vicars, and is supported by three deacons and a full parish staff. St. Mary offers a Sunday morning Mass, a weekly Wednesday Mass, Saturday Vigil Mass, Religious Education for grades 1-8, Eucharistic Adoration, and is a constituent campus of Corpus Christi Catholic School.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Dustin Schultz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Mary Church in Downs offers an intimate, small-town Catholic community in the heart of McLean County, with the warmth of a rural parish backed by the resources of Most Holy Eucharist Parish. Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated at the Downs campus (Saturday Vigil 4:30 pm, Sunday 8:30 am, Wednesday 5:30 pm), with Eucharistic Adoration and regular confession opportunities. The parish runs a full Religious Education program for grades 1-8 on Sunday mornings, is part of Corpus Christi Catholic School, and offers ministries for youth, families, music, evangelization, stewardship, and outreach. It is a great fit for families and individuals seeking a rooted, Eucharistic-centered Catholic life.
Mass times at St. Mary Church in Downs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:45 pm – 6:00 pm (after Mass)
- Sunday: 9:45 am – 10:00 am (after Mass)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration offered at the parish (see mheparish.org for current schedule at St. Mary)
About Most Holy Eucharist Parish
Most Holy Eucharist Parish was formed on February 22, 2025 from the merger of St. Patrick Church of Merna and St. Mary Church in Downs, under the Diocese of Peoria's Growing Disciples Initiative. The parish serves the Bloomington-Normal area and surrounding central Illinois community, with worship offered at two campuses: St. Patrick's in Bloomington (primary) and St. Mary's in Downs (secondary). The parish mission is for everyone to be rooted in the Most Holy Eucharist and to grow in a deeper relationship with God by loving and serving others through their God-given gifts.
- Two worship campuses: St. Patrick Church of Merna (Bloomington) and St. Mary Church (Downs)
- Mission: 'rooted in the Most Holy Eucharist'
- Heritage dating back to 1883
Parish History
St. Mary Church in Downs was established in 1883 and has served the small McLean County village of Downs and surrounding farmland for more than 140 years. In 2024, the Diocese of Peoria announced that St. Mary's would be joined with St. Patrick Church of Merna under the Growing Disciples Initiative. A joint transition team of members from both parishes met to discern a new parish name, submitting three options to the bishop. The chosen name, 'Most Holy Eucharist Parish,' took effect on February 22, 2025.
- St. Mary Church established: 1883
- St. Patrick Church of Merna established: 1910
- Most Holy Eucharist Parish officially merged: February 22, 2025
Our Priests
The parish is served by a pastor and two parochial vicars, supported by three deacons.
- Father Dustin Schultz — Pastor (and Vicar Forane of the Bloomington/Lincoln Vicariate)
- Father Ben Schoonmaker — Parochial Vicar
- Father Derick Mwesiga — Parochial Vicar
Father Dustin Schultz, Pastor
Father Dustin Schultz was born in Moline, Illinois on December 12, 1979 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria on May 24, 2008. He felt called to the priesthood during his third year of college, entered Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, MN (earning a bachelor's degree), and continued at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. He was happily installed pastor of St. Patrick Church of Merna and St. Mary Church in Downs on Easter Sunday of 2017 and also serves as Vicar Forane of the Bloomington/Lincoln Vicariate.
Father Ben Schoonmaker, Parochial Vicar
Father Ben Schoonmaker has served parishes and schools in the Peoria, Streator, and Champaign areas and currently assists at Most Holy Eucharist Parish alongside the pastor.
Father Derick Mwesiga, Parochial Vicar
Father Derick Mwesiga is originally from another diocese and was sent by his bishop as a missionary to the Diocese of Peoria in June 2022. He has served at Holy Family in Lincoln, St. Vincent de Paul in Peoria, St. Patrick in Wapella, and currently Most Holy Eucharist Parish and Central Catholic High School in Bloomington.
Our Deacons
Three deacons assist at the parish and its two campuses.
- Deacon Gayle E. Cyrulik Jr.
- Deacon Mike Pool
- Deacon Troy Morris
Parish Staff
Most Holy Eucharist Parish has a robust lay staff supporting faith formation, music, communications, evangelization, development, and facilities at both the Bloomington and Downs campuses.
- Bobbi Hassel — Religious Education (Grades 1-8)
- Jennifer O'Brien — Religious Education at St. Mary Church in Downs; Front Office
- Julia Nalewajka — Front Office
- Lindsey Adams — Youth Ministry
- Josh Miller — Evangelization
- Colleen Cavi — Development and Stewardship
- Jenny Cook — Music and Liturgy
- Jessica Elliott — Music
- Jeff Lopez — Communications
- Pam Goode — Nursery
- Rodney Becker — Building and Grounds
- Joey Eells — Building and Grounds
- Kristie Klingler — Finance
Religious Education at St. Mary Church in Downs
Faith formation is offered as a life-long journey at St. Mary's, with classes for children entering 1st grade through 8th grade meeting on Sunday mornings following the 9:00 am Mass. First Holy Communion is a two-year program beginning in 1st grade and is received in 2nd grade. Confirmation is also a two-year program beginning in 7th grade, with the sacrament received in 8th grade, using the DECISION POINT program from Dynamic Catholic. The junior high program combines classroom learning with small-group discussion led by adult volunteers, exploring how Catholicism is part of everyday life. High school students who missed the two-year prep are welcome to catch up.
- Grades 1-5 Religious Education (Sunday mornings)
- Grades 6-8 Religious Education (combined classroom + small group)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (2nd grade, two-year prep)
- Confirmation (8th grade, two-year prep; uses DECISION POINT)
- Coordinator: Jennifer O'Brien (St. Mary Church in Downs)
- Coordinator: Bobbi Hassel (Grades 1-8 parish-wide)
Youth Ministry
The parish runs a Youth Ministry program with summer and year-round offerings for teens. Summer Small Groups are open to all students entering 7th through 12th grade — a place to grow in faith, build meaningful friendships, and have fun. Groups meet Wednesday mornings from 8-10 am during the summer (typically mid-June through early August) and include both boys and girls small groups.
- Summer Small Groups for 7th-12th graders
- Wednesday mornings, 8-10 am, mid-June through early August
- Led by parish youth ministry staff (Lindsey Adams)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation) and the other sacraments of the Church. Contact the parish office for current preparation programs, marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade)
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
Corpus Christi Catholic School
Most Holy Eucharist Parish operates Corpus Christi Catholic School, the parish school shared between the Merna/Bloomington and Downs campuses. The new parish name was deliberately chosen to relate to the school without causing confusion with other area churches.
- Parish school: Corpus Christi Catholic School
- Location: 1001 N. Towanda Barnes Road, Bloomington, IL 61705
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, and are welcome to attend Mass at either campus. The St. Mary Church in Downs campus is located at 108 E. Washington Street, Downs, IL 61736, with the parish mailing address in Bloomington.
- Address: 108 E. Washington Street, Downs, IL 61736
- Mailing: 1001 N. Towanda Barnes Road, Bloomington, IL 61705
- Phone: (309) 662-7361
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.mheparish.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Dustin Schultz2017–present
Installed pastor of St. Patrick Church of Merna and St. Mary Church in Downs on Easter Sunday 2017; became pastor of the merged Most Holy Eucharist Parish in February 2025; also serves as Vicar Forane of the Bloomington/Lincoln Vicariate.