About St. Mary · Sterling, Illinois
St. Mary Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 600 Avenue B in Sterling, Illinois, in the Diocese of Rockford. Originally established in the 1850s as St. Patrick's, the parish was renamed St. Mary's around 1900 and has served the Sterling community continuously since the Civil War era. Today the parish celebrates six weekend Masses (including one in Spanish), daily weekday Masses, a Spanish-language religious education program, a parish school, and a broad ministry roster including St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, a Hispanic Ministry, and a Heart to Heart Prayer Group. The parish mission statement reads: 'We are committed through the Holy Eucharist and Sacred Scripture to be united as a Catholic Community, loving one another as Christ loves us.'
- Established
- 1854 (mission); c. 1860 (separate parish); incorporated 1876
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish renamed in her honor c. 1900)
- Rector
- Very Rev. James R. Keenan, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Mary's is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the Sauk Valley, with more than 160 years of continuous worship on the same corner of Avenue B and 6th Street in Sterling. The parish combines a traditional schedule of daily and Sunday Masses with a vibrant Spanish-language Mass each Sunday (11:30 AM), a parish school (founded 1913), religious education for school-age children, OCIA (RCIA) for adults seeking initiation, and active outreach ministries including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Knights of Columbus #662, a Hispanic Ministry, a Shut-in Ministry, the St. Martha's Circle Quilters, and a Heart to Heart Prayer Group that meets every Friday. Newcomers can register at the parish office and find a place to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Communal Penance Services during Advent and Lent (see bulletin)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with Benediction, in the church)
Parish History
St. Mary's story begins in 1854, when visiting Dixon-area priests said Mass in Captain Lyons' east-side log cabin and later in the old Whiteside County courthouse. Around 1860 the parish was formally constituted as St. Patrick's with a small frame church that was moved west of Broadway to follow the Catholic population. After a serious setback in the 1880s — when the parish lost virtually all of its property to litigation — the congregation was rescued with the help of Bishop Foley, who purchased a former Presbyterian church to keep school and worship going. In the late 1890s a new and far more handsome church was built on the corner of Avenue B and 6th Street and renamed St. Mary's in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a balcony choir loft, stained-glass windows and white altars reflecting the taste of the pastor of the day. St. Mary's also operates Calvary Cemetery (acquired 1889–1890) and continues as one of the older parishes of the Diocese of Rockford.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. James R. Keenan, V.F. (Pastor and Vicar Forane), with Rev. Carlos Monsalve, CS serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Dan Goetz assisting. Lay staff include an executive assistant, bookkeeper, principal and staff of St. Mary's School, religious education coordinator, cemetery manager, and a Hispanic Ministry administrative assistant (Luz Ortiz).
- Pastor: Very Rev. James R. Keenan, V.F. (ext. 211)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Carlos Monsalve, CS (ext. 212)
- Permanent Deacon: Dan Goetz
- Executive Assistant: Lissett Ramirez (ext. 210)
- Bookkeeper: Tori McDaniel (ext. 220)
- School Principal: Melanie Selmi (ext. 227)
- Religious Education (CRE): Maribel Reyes (ext. 243)
- Hispanic Ministry Admin: Luz Ortiz (ext. 225)
- Cemetery Manager: Jesus Reyes (ext. 222)
- Shut-in Ministry: Sally Kellen & Char O'Connor
Religious Education & OCIA (RCIA)
Family Religious Education programs run each year for parish children not enrolled in the school (a 2024–2025 family registration form is published on the website). Adults wishing to become Catholic — or to be received into full communion — participate in OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA), coordinated by the Diocese of Rockford and supported at the parish.
- Family Religious Education (yearly registration)
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact parish office
St. Mary School
St. Mary's Catholic School (6 West 6th Street, smsterling.org) has been putting faith in children since 1913. The school partners with Newman Central Catholic High School (1101 W. 23rd Street, 815-625-0500, principal Jennifer Oetting) for upper-grade Catholic education. Mission: 'St. Mary's Catholic School, located in Sterling, IL, strives to provide a curriculum which gives opportunity for growth in the student's relationship with Jesus, while building competence in academic disciplines, basic skills, aesthetic appreciation, and physical development.'
- Address: 6 West 6th Street, Sterling, IL
- Phone: 815-625-2253
- Website: smsterling.org
- Feeder high school: Newman Central Catholic High School
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
A Spanish-language Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 11:30 AM, supported by a dedicated Hispanic Ministry office staffed by Luz Ortiz and Maribel Reyes. The community also gathers for evening Mass and devotions in Spanish on listed days and prays the Rosario on Good Friday.
- Sunday Spanish Mass: 11:30 AM
- Spanish evening Mass: 7:00 PM (on listed days)
- Rosario: Good Friday
- Adoración en la iglesia después de la Misa (per bulletin)
Parish Outreach & Service
St. Vincent de Paul Society (7 West 6th Street, 815-625-0311) is open Monday through Thursday from 12:00 noon to 2:30 PM and helps neighbors in need with food, financial aid and prescriptions. The Knights of Columbus #662 host a Fish Fry every Friday in Lent (carry-out from 5:00 PM) in the Parish Center / Bales Hall. A Food Pantry collection is gathered every Thursday morning and 'Feed the Homeless' is held the third Thursday of each month.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (food pantry, financial help)
- Knights of Columbus Council #662 — Fish Fry Fridays
- Shut-in Ministry for homebound parishioners
- St. Martha's Circle (quilters, Thursdays 9:00 AM, O'Neill Room)
- Feed the Homeless — 3rd Thursday of the month
- Food Pantry collection — Thursdays 9:15 AM
Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery was acquired in 1889–1890 under Fr. E.A. McMahon. It is the final resting place of pioneer mission priest Rev. Michael Ford of Dixon, whose remains were moved to the circular plot at the cemetery's entrance. Today the parish operates the cemetery; for inquiries call the parish office (Jesus Reyes, ext. 222).
- Acquired c. 1889–1890
- Buries and monuments overseen by the parish
- Contact: Jesus Reyes, Cemetery Manager — ext. 222
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments in keeping with Diocese of Rockford norms. Couples must contact the parish 9–12 months before a wedding; baptism preparation includes a Pre-Baptismal class (English); and the OCIA process welcomes adults seeking initiation.
- Baptism — parish office contact; English class by text 815-441-9583
- First Communion & Confirmation — parish office
- Matrimony — 9–12 months' notice, call parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — parish office notification
- Confession — Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM, plus Advent/Lent communal services
- OCIA — contact parish office
- Sacramental emergency: 815-625-4768
Plan Your Visit & Contact
The parish office is at 600 Avenue B, Sterling, IL 61081 (corner of Avenue B and W. 6th Street). It is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 to 3:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The office is closed on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Telephone: 815-625-0640 (Line 1) and 815-625-0644 (Line 2); fax 815-625-1684. New parishioners are warmly invited to register at the parish office.
- Parish Office: 600 Avenue B, Sterling, IL 61081
- Phone: 815-625-0640
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–12:30 PM & 1:30–3:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 noon
- Sacramental Emergency: 815-625-4768
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Fitzgerald (Dixon, visiting priest)from 1854
First priest to serve Sterling Catholics, saying Mass in Captain Lyons' log cabin a few times a year.
- Rev. Kennedyafter Fitzgerald
Visiting Dixon priest who followed Fitzgerald; Mass in Sterling 3–4 times a year.
- Rev. Michael Ford (Dixon)April 1859 – 1862
Held monthly Masses in Sterling; died 1862 and was famously disinterred from Dixon and reinterred in Sterling by his parishioners; reburied at Calvary Cemetery c. 1890.
- Rev. Hubert (Reverend Herbert)early 1860s
Built a small frame church and parish house; records note discrepancies about exact dates.
- Rev. John Daly1863 – May 1875
First resident pastor; appointed by Bishop James Duggan; built the brick church and frame rectory c. 1865–68, established the school, and oversaw St. Anne's Academy (1869).
- Rev. Michael J. ByrneMay 1875 – c. 1877
Took over from Fr. Daly; led parish through its 1876 incorporation under Illinois law.
- Rev. C.J. O'Callaghanc. 1877–1888
Eleven-year pastorate.
- Rev. E.A. McMahon1889 – c. 1892
Acquired Calvary Cemetery; a bronze Crucifixion altar with life-size statuary was erected over his grave.
- Rev. Bennettc. 1900 era
Built the present Mary-named church on Avenue B and 6th Street; installed the balcony choir loft, stained-glass windows and white altars.
- Very Rev. James R. Keenan, V.F.present
Current pastor, holding the title V.F. (Vicar Forane / Pastoral Vicar for the diocese).