About St Mary · Elizabeth, Illinois
St. Mary's Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small rural community of Elizabeth, Illinois, in the rolling driftless hills of Jo Daviess County. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rockford and today numbers roughly 175 families, gathered around a single historic church building that has stood on the corner of Washington and Catlin streets since 1914. It is served by Rev. Joachim Tyrtania as pastor, with a parish secretary/bookkeeper, a catechetical religious leader, and lay staff. The parish offers weekend and daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a healing Mass on First Fridays, the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Saturday Mass, an active Religious Education / Family Faith Formation program (PREP), a youth ministry called CIA (Catholics in Action), and a Sacramental Confirmation program based on Ascension Press's "Chosen."
- Established
- 1849
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Sorrows (the parish's 1882 frame church was dedicated to "Our Lady of the Sorrows" St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Joachim Tyrtania
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a tight-knit, multi-generational Catholic parish where about 175 families still worship in the same 1914 church their ancestors helped build. The parish offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, daily Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a First Friday Healing Mass, Saturday confessions, RCIA for adults, a family-based PREP Religious Education program for K–12, Confirmation preparation through Ascension Press's "Chosen," and a youth ministry called CIA (Catholics in Action). For anyone moving into Elizabeth or the wider Jo Daviess County area, it is a welcoming rural parish with a real sense of history and a thriving faith-formation program for children and adults alike.
Mass times at St Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30–5:50 PM (before the 6:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- By appointment — call the Rectory at 815-858-3422
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00–9:30 AM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, following the 8:30 AM Mass)
- First Friday after the 8:30 AM Healing Mass (Healing Mass and Adoration)
About St. Mary's Church, Elizabeth
St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic parish serving about 175 families in the small town of Elizabeth in Jo Daviess County, in the driftless region of northwest Illinois. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rockford and is pastored by Rev. Joachim Tyrtania, supported by parish secretary/bookkeeper Cheryl Rife, Catechetical Religious Leader Cindy Shaw, and other lay staff. From its historic 1914 church on Washington Street the parish offers weekend and daily Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, RCIA, family faith formation, youth ministry, and Confirmation preparation — a complete rhythm of parish life for a rural community.
Parish History
Catholic life in Elizabeth began in the early 1840s with visiting priests from Galena and Dublin who said Mass in private homes. The first Catholic church, a log building named St. Elizabeth, was built on the south side of town in 1849, following the founding of Methodist (1834) and Presbyterian (1847) congregations. A second log church was built in 1854 at what is now 209 Madison Street, and in 1866 the congregation moved into a remodeled brick building on the north side of town called St. Thomas.
- 1840s — Priests from Galena and Dublin celebrate Mass in private homes for the Elizabeth Mission.
- 1849 — First Catholic church built (a log building on the south side of town), named St. Elizabeth.
- 1854 — Second log church built at what is now 209 Madison Street.
- 1866 — Congregation moves to a remodeled brick building on the north side, called St. Thomas.
- 1882 — Wooden-frame church built at the NW corner of Washington and Catlin, dedicated to 'Our Lady of the Sorrows' St. Mary; served by priests from Savanna, IL.
- 1887 — After 'many letters to the Bishop,' Rev. Joseph Ruetershoff becomes the first resident priest; the railroad arrives in Elizabeth the same year.
- 1913 — Old church torn down; cornerstone of the present Church of St. Mary laid in October 1913.
- 1914 — Present Church of St. Mary dedicated. Construction cost $25,000; $21,500 raised by parishioners and townspeople.
- Today — Parish still worships in the same 1914 building; ramp, handicap-accessible door, and parking lot added over the years.
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates the seven sacraments in keeping with the Diocese of Rockford's guidelines. The Confirmation program is a two-year course using Ascension Press's 'Chosen,' beginning in 8th grade with confirmation at the end of the freshman year, with possible exceptions for grades 7, 9, or 10. Adults seeking Confirmation are prepared through the RCIA process.
- Baptism — by arrangement through the parish office.
- Confirmation — two-year program beginning in 8th grade using 'Chosen' (Ascension Press); adults prepared through RCIA.
- Eucharist — celebrated at every Mass; First Friday Healing Mass is a particular devotion.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 5:30–5:50 PM and by appointment.
- Anointing of the Sick / Healing Mass — First Fridays at 8:30 AM.
- Matrimony — arranged through the Rectory.
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
St. Mary's runs a year-round faith-formation program for children and youth, with a family-based PREP model that combines monthly parish gatherings with at-home catechesis. A dedicated youth ministry, CIA — Catholics in Action — gives middle- and high-school-aged parishioners a place to grow together as disciples. Adult formation includes RCIA and periodic Adult Studies sessions.
- PREP Family Faith Formation — for K–12th grade; uses Loyola Press' 'Finding God: Our Response to God's Gifts.'
- PREP meetings — twice monthly on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, 6:00–7:45 PM in the Parish Hall (2nd Sunday with parents/supporting adults; 4th Sunday youth only).
- CIA — Catholics in Action (youth ministry program).
- Confirmation prep — two-year program, 'Chosen' (Ascension Press), beginning in 8th grade.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; weekly classes over several months; all are welcome, including the simply curious.
- Adult Faith Formation / Adult Studies — scheduled periodically throughout the year.
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Joachim Tyrtania and supported by a small team of lay staff who keep the parish office, religious education program, and finances running. The Rectory office is open Tuesday through Thursday during business hours, with Wednesday open by appointment.
- Pastor — Rev. Joachim Tyrtania
- Secretary / Bookkeeper — Cheryl Rife
- Catechetical Religious Leader — Cindy Shaw
- Office Hours — Tuesday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM (by appointment); Thursday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
- Rectory phone — (815) 858-3422
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Joseph Ruetershoff1887–
First resident priest assigned to St. Mary's after years of being served by visiting priests from Savanna, IL; arrived the same year the railroad came to Elizabeth.