About St. Mary (the Immaculate Conception) · Rock Island, Illinois
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Rock Island, Illinois, founded in 1851 by the missionary priest Father John George Alleman — making it the oldest Catholic church in Rock Island County. Located at 2208 4th Avenue, the parish belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and is linked with neighboring Sacred Heart and St. Pius X parishes, all currently shepherded by Conventual Franciscan (OFM Conv.) priests of the Krakow Province in Poland. Worship is offered in English and features a beloved African Catholic Community Mass each Sunday afternoon. The parish's school-age children attend Jordan Catholic School, a PreK–8 elementary serving families across the Rock Island cluster.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Mary (the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conv.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Mary's welcomes newcomers with the warmth of a parish that has served the Rock Island community since 1851. It offers daily and weekend Masses in English, a vibrant African Catholic Community gathering each Sunday at 1:00 p.m., and weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Confession. Families with school-age children are served by Jordan Catholic School, a PreK–8 elementary in the parish cluster. Being small but rooted, St. Mary's is a place where parishioners are known by name and where the faith is lived across generations.
Mass times at St. Mary (the Immaculate Conception)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM (with Adoration)
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM (with Adoration, at Sacred Heart)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM (at Sacred Heart)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Confession & Adoration)
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Confession & Adoration, at Sacred Heart)
Parish History and Heritage
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1851 by the missionary priest Father John George Alleman, who laid the cornerstone of a limestone church on August 31 of that year. Originally called St. James and built with stone quarried from the site, the modest 61-by-30-foot church was completed in 1852 with the financial help of Antoine LeClaire, the Catholic philanthropist of Davenport. From this founding parish, Alleman organized churches across the Quad Cities — Sacred Heart, St. Paul's, and St. Joseph's in Rock Island; the first Catholic church in Moline (St. Anthony's, 1857); and parishes in Hampton, Coal Valley, Rapids City, and Edgington. Today, with more than 170 years of continuous Catholic presence, St. Mary's is preparing to mark its 175th anniversary in 2026.
- Founded 1851 by Father John George Alleman
- Originally dedicated as St. James
- Cornerstone laid August 31, 1851
- Oldest Catholic church in Rock Island County
- 175th anniversary celebration planned for 2026
Clergy and Pastoral Team
Since August 2022, St. Mary's has been served by Conventual Franciscan friars (OFM Conv.) of the Krakow Province in Poland, brought to the Diocese of Peoria at the request of Bishop Louis Tylka. Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conv., is pastor of both Sacred Heart and St. Mary parishes, and resides at St. Pius X rectory, which now serves as the friary for the Polish Conventual Franciscan community in Rock Island.
- Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conv. — Pastor (Sacred Heart & St. Mary)
- Father Peter Sarnicki, OFM Conv. — Pastor of St. Pius X; serves the Rock Island cluster
- Father Mieczyslaw Wit, OFM Conv. — Parochial Vicar; also serves Augustana College
Linked Parish Cluster
St. Mary's worships alongside two sister parishes in Rock Island — Sacred Heart and St. Pius X — sharing clergy and some sacramental opportunities (such as weekday confession and adoration). The parish office for the cluster is currently housed at Sacred Heart Parish.
- Sacred Heart (Rock Island) — shares Father Witold as pastor; hosts parish office
- St. Pius X (Rock Island) — pastored by Father Peter Sarnicki, OFM Conv.
- Mailing/office address: 2810 5th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
African Catholic Community
A distinctive ministry of St. Mary's is its African Catholic Community, which gathers every Sunday at 1:00 p.m. for Mass celebrated with song and dance. The community has welcomed immigrant and refugee families from across Africa and serves as a spiritual home for many who have resettled in the Quad Cities. Members also travel together to visit neighboring parishes for fellowship.
- Sunday Mass: 1:00 PM
- Liturgical style features song and dance from across African Catholic traditions
- Welcoming community for immigrant and refugee Catholic families
Jordan Catholic School
St. Mary's elementary-age students attend Jordan Catholic School, a PreK–8 Catholic school serving families from the Rock Island parish cluster. Located at 2901 24th Street in Rock Island, the school reported a 2024–2025 enrollment of 366 students under principal Kelly McLaughlin.
- Grades served: Preschool through 8th
- Address: 2901 24th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201
- Phone: (309) 793-7366
- Principal: Mrs. Kelly McLaughlin
- 2024–2025 enrollment: 366 students
Parish Office and Contact
Parish business is handled through the linked parish office at Sacred Heart Church. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and parishioners may also reach the parish by phone at 309-788-3322.
- Parish office: Sacred Heart Parish, 2810 5th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
- Phone: 309-788-3322
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Website: stmaryri.com
Getting Involved and Communications
The parish keeps in touch with parishioners through its website, Flocknote email/text updates, and an active Facebook page. Newcomers are invited to introduce themselves at Mass, and the parish welcomes inquiries about joining any of its ministries or the African Catholic Community.
- Official website: stmaryri.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaryscatholicri
- Parish YouTube channel
- Flocknote email and text updates
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John George Alleman1851–c. 1862
Missionary priest who founded the parish (originally as St. James) and lived in the first rectory for ten years.
- Father Luke Spannagel2019
Listed as pastor of St. Mary in the parish's online history note.
- Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conv.2022–present
Conventual Franciscan of the Krakow Province; installed as pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Mary parishes in August 2022.