About St. Monica · East Peoria, Illinois
St. Monica Church is a Catholic parish in East Peoria, Illinois, founded in 1898 and named for St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. Located at 303 Campanile Drive on the east side of the Illinois River across from Peoria, it has served generations of Catholic families in the region for more than 125 years. Today St. Monica is one of two worship sites of Mary, Mother of God Parish, united with St. Patrick Church in Washington, Illinois, and sharing in the ministry of St. Patrick School. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Marian grotto, and a wide array of parish ministries rooted in the patroness's spirit of prayerful perseverance.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Monica
- Rector
- Rev. Matt Deptula
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Monica offers the rhythm of a small, well-rooted Catholic parish — daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, Saturday confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday — all in a quiet East Peoria neighborhood with its own Marian grotto. Parishioners of all ages find a place here through ministries such as the Knights of Columbus (Monsignor E.L. Grzybowski Council #7580), the Ladies Guild, the Funeral Luncheon Ministry, Hands of Christ outreach, Afrishare, St. Vincent de Paul, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and a Rosary Cell Group. United with St. Patrick Church in Washington as Mary, Mother of God Parish, St. Monica combines the warmth of a long-standing local congregation with the resources of a larger parish family and an attached Catholic school.
Mass times at St. Monica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- By appointment: call (309) 694-2061
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Our Story: St. Monica Church
St. Monica Church was born in 1898 out of the determination of East Peoria Catholic families who did not want to cross the river to Peoria for Mass and sacraments. With the help of Fr. Francis O'Reilly and the blessing of Bishop John Spalding, they built a modest white wooden church near the top of Spring Street, dedicated October 9, 1898, before more than 1,500 people. The current church was completed in 1966, and a Marian grotto was added on the parish grounds in 1998 to mark the parish's centennial.
- Founded 1898
- Original wooden church built on Spring Street, at the foot of the bluff
- First pastor: Fr. Francis O'Reilly
- Dedication by Bishop John Spalding, October 9, 1898
- Current church built in 1966
- Bells dedicated to St. Monica, St. Joseph, and the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Marian grotto added in 1998 for the parish centennial
Mary, Mother of God Parish
St. Monica Church is one of two worship sites of Mary, Mother of God Parish, formed through the unification of St. Patrick Church in Washington, Illinois, with St. Monica Church in East Peoria, alongside the continuing ministry of St. Patrick School. The unified parish represents more than 150 years of Catholic life in the Washington and East Peoria area and shares clergy, faith formation, and parish staff across both campuses.
- Parish includes St. Patrick Church (Washington) and St. Monica Church (East Peoria)
- St. Patrick School is part of the parish mission
- Pastor (as listed on the parish website): Fr. Matt Deptula
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Johnathan Steffen, JD, and Fr. John 'Bazi' Bazimenyera
- Deacon: Deacon Paul Neakrase
Parish Staff & Clergy
Mary, Mother of God Parish is served by a team of clergy and lay staff who collaborate to support both worship sites and the school.
- Fr. Matt Deptula — Pastor (309-444-3524, [email protected])
- Fr. Johnathan Steffen, JD — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Fr. John 'Bazi' Bazimenyera — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Paul Neakrase — (309) 444-7681
- Christine Serangeli — Parish Life Coordinator
- Linda Pratt — Director of Religious Education
- Tammy Barron — Secretary
- Jennifer Lindsey — Bulletin Editor
- Ruth Cody — Bookkeeper
- Clare Tschirn — Music Ministry
Devotions
The parish life at St. Monica is supported by traditional Catholic devotions woven into the daily Mass schedule.
- Rosary before daily Mass, Tuesday–Friday at 7:35 AM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet after daily Mass at 8:30 AM, Tuesday–Friday
- Divine Mercy Chaplet before the Saturday Vigil Mass at 3:45 PM
The Marian Grotto at St. Monica
In 1998, the parish's centennial year, St. Monica's Grotto Committee designed and built an outdoor grotto dedicated to the Blessed Mother. The grotto is intended as a permanent place for prayer and reflection; visitors are invited to stop by, light a candle, and lift their intentions to God through Mary's intercession. It is open 24 hours.
- Built 1998 for the parish's 100th anniversary
- Dedicated to the Blessed Mother
- Open 24 hours for prayer and candle intentions
Parish Ministries
St. Monica's offers a wide range of ministries for men, women, and families. Many groups meet at the St. Monica Church Hall, and the parish welcomes new members who wish to serve.
- Knights of Columbus — Monsignor E.L. Grzybowski Council #7580 (3rd Tuesday, 7–8 PM, St. Monica Church Hall)
- Ladies Guild (2nd Tuesday, Aug–Apr, 6:30 PM, St. Monica Church Hall) — Altar Linens, Altar Flowers, Vestments, Funeral Dinners, Prayer Chain, Prayer Shawl
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry
- Hands of Christ — direct assistance to parish families
- Afrishare — outreach to communities in Africa
- St. Vincent de Paul — meets at St. Monica Hall; runs the food pantry
- Rosary Cell Group
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Prayer Chain
- Benevolence and Bereavement Teams
- Hospitality / Newcomer Welcome
- Music Ministry
- Liturgical Ministries
Faith Formation
Faith formation for children, youth, and adults is offered across Mary, Mother of God Parish at both St. Monica and St. Patrick campuses. The Director of Religious Education (Linda Pratt) coordinates parish-wide programming, including youth formation and adult studies such as Bible study and OCIA (formerly RCIA).
- Youth Faith Formation
- Adult Faith Formation (Bible study, OCIA)
- Faith-centered PreK–8th-grade education at St. Patrick School
Saints & Patroness
St. Monica is named for the 4th-century mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most revered models of perseverance and patient prayer in the Catholic tradition. Born in Tagaste in North Africa, Monica is said to have prayed without ceasing for the conversion of her pagan husband and wayward son; her tears and intercession are credited with Augustine's dramatic return to the faith — a transformation that shaped the whole of Western Christianity. Her feast day is August 27.
- Patroness: St. Monica of Tagaste
- Patron of mothers, wives, and those who pray for the conversion of loved ones
- Feast day: August 27
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis O'Reilly1898 (founding pastor)
Led the establishment of St. Monica Parish and helped build the original wooden church on Spring Street, dedicated October 9, 1898.
- Rev. Joseph Fennenserved nearly 62 years (through the 1960s)
Shepherded the parish for more than six decades; oversaw a new rectory, the Creve Coeur mission, a 1952 altar installation, and construction of the current 1966 church.
- Rev. Kenneth Marchulonesretired 2010
Granted senior status by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, in 2010 after serving as pastor.
- Rev. James Kruse (later Monsignor, JCL)2010–2018
Returned from canon-law studies at Catholic University in 2010; simultaneously served as vice chancellor, adjutant judicial vicar, and later vicar general of the Diocese of Peoria.
- Rev. Johnathan Steffen, JD2018–2025
Previously parochial vicar at St. Patrick/St. Monica from 2012; named Pastor of St. Patrick (Washington) and St. Monica (East Peoria) in October 2018, and Pastor of the newly formed Mary, Mother of God Parish in March 2025.
- Rev. Matt Deptulacurrent (as listed on the parish website)
Currently listed as Pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish on the parish's official clergy and staff page.