About St. Michael · Galena, Illinois
St. Michael Catholic Parish is the oldest parish in the Diocese of Rockford, serving the historic lead-mining town of Galena in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Founded in 1832 and seated at 227 South Bench Street on a hill overlooking the town, the parish is currently administered by Father Robert Chinnapan, MF (Parochial Administrator) with the assistance of Deacon Jay Achino. With 343 registered families, the parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly confession at neighboring St. Mary, and a rich Catholic tradition that dates back nearly two centuries.
- Established
- 1832
- Patron
- Saint Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Chinnapan, MF (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford (Freeport Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Michael offers a small, historic faith community with deep roots in the tri-state Mississippi River region — the oldest parish in the Diocese of Rockford, with a 343-family congregation worshiping in a Mazzuchelli-designed 1863 church seating 600. The parish welcomes English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics with a regular Sunday evening Spanish Mass, provides weekly confession at St. Mary, and serves both Galena and the surrounding Jo Daviess County area from its hilltop location on South Bench Street.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (at St. Mary, Galena)
- Or by appointment
Parish History
St. Michael Parish traces its roots to August 22, 1832, when Bishop Rosati of St. Louis appointed Father John McMahon as the first resident pastor in Galena, making it the oldest parish in the Diocese of Rockford. Pioneer missionary Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, OP, served as the third pastor (1835–1843) and directed the construction of the first church, completed in 1842. After the 1856 Galena fire destroyed the original building, the present Romanesque Revival church — Mazzuchelli's largest design — was completed in 1863 and remains in active use today.
- Founded 1832 (oldest parish in the Diocese of Rockford)
- First resident pastor: Father John McMahon (1832)
- Third pastor and architect: Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, OP (1835–1843)
- Original church completed 1842
- Destroyed in the 1856 Galena fire
- Present church completed 1863
- Square towers finished 1884
- Rectory built 1896
- 150th anniversary of church building celebrated December 2013 with Bishop David J. Malloy
Architecture & Building
The church is a Romanesque Revival building designed by Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, the largest church he ever designed. The structure uses a truss formation to support the roof, eliminating the need for interior pillars and giving worshipers an unobstructed view toward the altar. Subsequent additions include cathedral glass windows and painted Stations of the Cross (1871) and the finished square towers (1884). Interior renovations — pews, paint, lighting, kneelers — have continued over the decades.
- Style: Romanesque Revival
- Designer: Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, OP
- Completed: 1863
- Seating capacity: 600
- Truss roof — no interior pillars
- Square towers finished 1884
- Altars, Stations of the Cross, and cathedral glass windows installed 1871
St. Mary Parish, Vinegar Hill
An older mission community, St. Mary at Vinegar Hill north of Galena hosted Mass as early as 1824 in the home of John Furlong and was a regular stop for missionaries before St. Michael was formally established. Today the site serves as the location of the parish's weekly Saturday confession schedule.
- Mass celebrated in the John Furlong home as early as 1824
- Irish community north of Galena
- Site of the parish's Saturday confession schedule
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Father Robert Chinnapan, MF, as Parochial Administrator, with Deacon Jay Achino assisting in ministry. The parish is part of the Diocese of Rockford's Freeport Deanery.
- Rev. Robert Chinnapan, MF — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Jay Achino
Parish Identity
St. Michael Parish serves 343 registered families in the historic river town of Galena, with a church capacity of 600. The parish welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics and serves the surrounding Jo Daviess County area.
- Registered families: 343
- Church capacity: 600
- Deanery: Freeport Deanery, Diocese of Rockford
- Town: Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Michael at 227 S. Bench Street, Galena, IL 61036, or by phone at (815) 777-2053. The parish's online presence is at CatholicGalena.com, which links to Mass times, registration, the bulletin, and a Flocknote signup for parish communications.
- Address: 227 S. Bench Street, Galena, IL 61036
- Phone: (815) 777-2053
- Website: CatholicGalena.com
- Office: 231 S. Bench Street
- Online services: Online Giving, Bulletin, Flocknote signup, Parish registration
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John McMahon1832
First resident pastor in Galena, appointed by Bishop Rosati of St. Louis.
- Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, OP1835–1843
Third pastor; pioneer missionary priest, amateur architect, and builder. Directed the construction of the first church (1842) and began designing the replacement Romanesque Revival church after the 1856 fire.