About St. Mary Oratory · Rockford, Illinois
St. Mary Oratory is a Catholic public oratory and shrine in Rockford, Illinois, entrusted in 1997 to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and canonically erected as a 'public oratory' in early 2007 by Bishop Thomas G. Doran. It is one of the oldest Catholic parishes on the west side of the Rock River (founded 1885, church dedicated October 1887), and it serves as the spiritual home for traditional Latin Mass (1962 Roman Rite) faithful from across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Its adjoining Lourdes-style grotto, built in 1928 by the Chick family and restored by the Daprate Company of Chicago, makes it a popular pilgrimage site that draws visitors year-round.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Canon Gerald Bell (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Mary Oratory is the traditional Latin Mass heart of the Rockford Diocese — canonically erected as a public oratory, it welcomes any Catholic drawn to the extraordinary form, no matter where they live, with faithful celebration of every sacrament in the 1962 rubrics. Its attached Lourdes Grotto (built 1928 from Flanigan Biedenweg windows salvaged from WWI-devastated European churches) is a year-round pilgrimage stop, and the parish community gathers around Marian prayer groups (Maria Auxilium Christianorum, Holy Face), mothers' tea parties, First Communion classes, and biweekly coffee-and-donuts fellowship. People visit from across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin — Dixon, Pearl City, Crystal Lake, Monroe WI — to encounter neo-Gothic architecture, restored stained glass, the Augustinian heritage, and a tight-knit Institute of Christ the King community.
Mass times at St. Mary Oratory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Wednesday: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Thursday: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Friday: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Saturday: 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM (after the 8 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM and 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Blessed Sacrament is continually reserved in the low altar of the Lourdes Grotto
History of St. Mary Oratory
St. Mary was founded in 1885 by Fr. Edward Murphy, sent by Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan from St. James parish to organize a new Catholic congregation on the west side of the Rock River. The cornerstone was laid in July 1886 and the church dedicated in October 1887. A parochial school staffed by Dominican sisters opened in the church basement in 1888. The Lourdes Grotto was added in 1928, paid for by the Chick family as a memorial to Lena Chick (d. 1928). In 1933 the parish was confided to the Augustinian Fathers, who served it for 64 years. A devastating fire on February 13, 1962 destroyed the organ, choir loft, ceiling, roof, bell tower, pews, and confessionals; restoration reached only 'a portion of its former elegance.' After decades of decline and impending closure, Bishop Thomas G. Doran confided St. Mary to the Institute of Christ the King in 1997 and canonically erected it as a public oratory in early 2007. Since then the sanctuary, stained glass, altar rail, and priory have all been carefully restored.
- 1885 — Parish founded by Fr. Edward Murphy under Archbishop Feehan
- 1886 — Cornerstone laid by Archbishop Feehan
- 1887 — Church dedicated (October)
- 1888 — Parochial school opened (Dominican sisters)
- 1913 — Rectory built (now Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Priory)
- 1928 — Lourdes Grotto constructed by the Chick family
- 1933 — Parish confided to the Augustinian Fathers
- February 13, 1962 — Devastating fire
- 1997 — Confided to the Institute of Christ the King (October)
- Early 2007 — Canonically erected as a public oratory by Bishop Doran
- 2012 — Bishop David J. Malloy succeeds Bishop Doran as 9th Bishop of Rockford
- 2025–2026 — Fundraising campaign for urgent repairs (steeple, stained glass, pews, confessionals)
Architecture & The Lourdes Grotto
St. Mary's late-19th-century neo-Gothic design still bears the imprint of the Augustinian Fathers (who served the parish 1933–1997) and of the meticulous restorations carried out by the Institute of Christ the King since 1997. The sanctuary has been refurbished, the original altar rail restored to its place, and two side altars dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and to St. Joseph were constructed. The stained-glass windows have been re-leaded and reconditioned. The Lourdes Grotto is the parish's other great architectural treasure. Built in 1928 and modeled on the Shrine in Lourdes, France (site of the Virgin Mary's 1858 apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous), its cave-like interior was fashioned by the Daprate Company of Chicago and reconstructed on-site by Mr. Bell of the Carian Company. Ruby and dark blue glass windows came from the Flanigan Biedenweg Company of Chicago, fabricated from glass fragments Mr. Flanigan had collected in Europe from churches destroyed in World War I. A flowing stream recalls the miraculous spring at Lourdes; shrines honor Our Lady of Lourdes (with St. Bernadette in adoration), St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Anthony. A low altar in the grotto continually reserves the Blessed Sacrament.
- Neo-Gothic ecclesiastical architecture (late 19th century)
- Restored original altar rail
- Side altars to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and St. Joseph
- Re-leaded stained-glass windows
- Lourdes Grotto — Daprate Company (Chicago), 1928
- Flanigan Biedenweg windows from post-WWI European fragments
- Shrines to Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Anthony
- Tomb of Rev. Michael E. McLaughlin (2nd pastor, d. 1892) at the foot of the shrine
- Carian Company reconstruction by Mr. Bell (also plasterwork on other Rockford buildings)
Prayer Groups & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Mary Oratory hosts a robust devotional life rooted in traditional Catholic piety: a Marian prayer group under the title 'Mary, Help of Christians' (Maria Auxilium Christianorum), a Holy Face devotion, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and a parish prayer chain. Coffee-and-donuts fellowship follows the 2nd and 4th Sunday Masses; a mothers' tea party and ongoing First Communion catechesis round out parish life.
- Maria Auxilium Christianorum Prayer Group — Saturdays after 8:00 AM Mass
- Holy Face Prayer Group — Third Mondays at 11:00 AM
- Parish Prayer Chain — email the office to join
- Confraternity of Christian Mothers
- Coffee & Donuts — after the 2nd and 4th Sunday Masses
- Mothers' Tea Party — 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated in the 1962 Roman Rite by the Institute of Christ the King. Parents are reminded of the grave obligation (Can. 867) to baptize children within the first few weeks after birth and to contact the office at least one month in advance. Couples planning marriage are asked to contact the office at least six months before the wedding date. In danger of death, the Anointing of the Sick is administered without delay — for sacramental emergencies call 815-965-5971 ext. 6.
- Baptism — register at least 1 month before baby is due
- First Holy Communion — register with the office
- Confirmation — Rite of Confirmation classes announced when registration opens
- Holy Matrimony — at least 6 months' notice
- Anointing of the Sick / Extreme Unction — emergency line 815-965-5971 ext. 6 (Can. 1004)
- Funerals — funeral home contacts the office to schedule Mass and burial
- Confession — see Mass & Confession schedule above
Staff & Clergy
The oratory is served by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Rev. Canon Gerald Bell is the current Rector. Mrs. Brigid Ehrke is the Business Manager and Mr. Skot Lien is the Director of Sacred Music. Oversight of the Institute's U.S. Province comes from Very Rev. Msgr. R. Michael Schmitz (Vicar General & Delegate for the United States) and Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico (Provincial Superior).
- Rev. Canon Gerald Bell — Rector
- Mrs. Brigid Ehrke — Business Manager
- Mr. Skot Lien — Director of Sacred Music
- Very Rev. Msgr. R. Michael Schmitz, STD, JCD — Vicar General & U.S. Delegate
- Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico — Provincial Superior (U.S. Province)
- Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest — canonical superior
Office & Grotto Hours
The parish office is open four days a week; closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Holy Days. The Lourdes Grotto is open to visitors throughout the year.
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Friday / Saturday / Sunday / Holy Days: CLOSED
- Sacramental emergencies: 815-965-5971 ext. 6 (anytime)
- Grotto: open year-round to visitors
Restoration & Building Campaign (2025–2026)
In early 2026 local press reported that a structural engineer's inspection had confirmed significant repairs are needed. The oratory is raising funds to refit and re-protect stained-glass windows currently exposed to the weather, repair the ceiling, repaint the interior, replace the pews, restore the original confessionals, and preserve the steeple and bell tower. Canon Bell has described the project as requiring 'substantial investment.'
- Stained-glass windows need refitting and weather protection
- Interior ceiling repairs and new paint
- New pews and restoration of original confessionals
- Steeple / bell-tower preservation
- Weekly collection goal: $8,731 (per bulletin)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward Murphy1885–1892 (approx.)
Founding pastor; sent by Archbishop Feehan from St. James to organize the parish; opened school staffed by Dominican sisters.
- Rev. Michael E. McLaughlinbefore 1892
Second pastor; died 1892 at age 37; tomb at the foot of the Lourdes Grotto shrine.
- Fr. McMahon1892–c.1919
Third pastor; served 27 years; built the convent, school building, and the 1913 rectory (now Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Priory).
- Canon Rev. Brian A. T. Bovee1997–
First Institute of Christ the King prior and rector; had previously offered Latin Mass in the chapel of the Poor Clares.