About St. Mary · Pecatonica, Illinois
St. Mary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving Pecatonica, Illinois, and surrounding rural communities in Winnebago and Stephenson Counties — including portions of Pecatonica, Ridott, Seward, and Winnebago. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rockford and is pastored by Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Sweeney. As one of three St. Mary parishes founded in Winnebago County before 1900, it offers weekend Masses, weekday Masses, and Saturday confessions in the Roman (Latin) Rite.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Sweeney, JCB
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers a welcoming, small-town Catholic community where regular Mass-goers and visitors alike are invited to register as parishioners. With two Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, and a pastor who knows the community personally, the parish provides the rhythm of traditional Catholic worship rooted in 150 years of local history. Its territory spans multiple small municipalities, making it a gathering point for Catholic families across this stretch of rural northern Illinois.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:45 PM
- Or by appointment
About St. Mary Catholic Church, Pecatonica
St. Mary's Church of Pecatonica is the Roman Catholic parish serving Pecatonica, Illinois, and surrounding rural areas. According to the parish's own website, its territory covers portions of Winnebago and Stephenson Counties, including the municipalities of Pecatonica, Ridott (partially), Seward, and Winnebago. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rockford and worships in the Roman (Latin) Rite.
- Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rockford
- Serves Pecatonica, Ridott (partial), Seward, and Winnebago
- Spans portions of Winnebago and Stephenson Counties
Parish History
According to a historical overview of Winnebago County church histories, the St. Mary Catholic parish at Pecatonica was established in 1872, predating Rockford's St. Mary Church (1885) and following Durand's St. Mary (1862). For more than a century and a half, the parish has ministered to Catholic families in this stretch of northern Illinois, weathering the rise and fall of small-town rural communities. Today it continues as an active mission parish of the Diocese of Rockford.
- Parish established in 1872
- One of three St. Mary Catholic parishes founded in Winnebago County before 1900
- Other early Winnebago County St. Mary parishes: Durand (1862) and Rockford (1885)
Clergy and Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Sweeney, JCB, who serves as pastor. Monsignor Sweeney is a diocesan priest of the Diocese of Rockford, where his name appears on the official diocesan clergy roster. He is the primary contact for the parish and can be reached through the parish office phone number or email.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Sweeney, JCB
- Diocesan priest of the Diocese of Rockford
Parish Registration
St. Mary's invites anyone who attends Mass at the parish 'at least once in a while' to register as a parishioner. The parish offers a downloadable Parish Registration Form linked from its website. Completed forms may be dropped in the designated box under the table in the church vestibule, mailed to St. Mary's Church at P.O. Box 656, Pecatonica, IL 61063, or scanned and emailed to [email protected]. Already-registered parishioners whose information has changed are also encouraged to update their records.
- Downloadable Parish Registration Form available on website
- Drop in vestibule, mail to P.O. Box 656, or email scan
- Updates welcome from current parishioners
Contact and Location
The parish office is at 126 W. 5th Street in Pecatonica, with mailing address P.O. Box 656, Pecatonica, IL 61063. Telephone is (815) 239-1271 and email is [email protected] (a Diocese of Rockford email address).
- Address: 126 W. 5th Street, P.O. Box 656, Pecatonica, IL 61063
- Phone: (815) 239-1271
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmarypecatonica.org/
Diocese of Rockford
St. Mary Parish is part of the Diocese of Rockford, the Roman Catholic diocese serving the northern Illinois counties under the Province of Chicago. The Diocese of Rockford maintains a public roster of its diocesan priests, which includes the pastor of St. Mary's, Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Sweeney, JCB.
- Part of the Diocese of Rockford
- Pastor listed on the diocesan clergy roster