About St. Nicholas · Aurora, Illinois
St. Nicholas Church is a multicultural Catholic parish in Aurora, Illinois, belonging to the Diocese of Rockford. Founded by Luxembourg immigrants in 1862, with the present church built in 1887, it sits at 308 High Street on Aurora's near east side. Today it is primarily a Spanish-speaking parish — most of its weekend Masses and all of its weekday Masses are celebrated in Español — while still offering a Sunday Mass in English. The parish identifies itself as a community centered on 'Prayer, Word, and Sacrament,' committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Justice, Peace, and Compassion.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Nicholas of Myra (4th-century Greek bishop; patron saint of sailors, merchants, and children)
- Rector
- Fr. Josue Lara (ordained 1994)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Nicholas is a bilingual, multicultural Catholic community with deep roots in Aurora's history — founded by Luxembourg immigrants in 1862 and housed in the 1887 church on High Street. Today it serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking congregation, with most Masses and devotions offered in Spanish while one Sunday Mass remains in English. The parish offers daily Mass (Monday through Friday), multiple Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturdays, marriage preparation, baptism formation for infants and children, and parish religious education — making it a full pastoral home for Spanish-speaking Catholic families in the Aurora area.
Mass times at St. Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Church (Sacramento de Reconciliación)
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Church
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 p.m. – 6:25 p.m. at the Church (Adoración al Santísimo Sacramento)
- Saturdays: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Church
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (extended adoration)
Parish Identity and History
St. Nicholas Church is one of Aurora's oldest Catholic parishes, founded in 1862 by German-speaking immigrants from Luxembourg during the great 19th-century wave of Luxembourg migration to the Fox River valley. The original frame church was built in 1863 on the corner of Liberty and High streets with contributions from city Luxembourgers and rural farmers from the 'Big Woods.' The current church building was constructed in 1887 and remains the parish's home. Bishop Johannes Joseph Koppes of Luxembourg visited and celebrated Mass at St. Nicholas in 1902, underscoring the parish's heritage.
A Multicultural, Spanish-Speaking Community Today
Although founded by Luxembourg-German immigrants, today's St. Nicholas is a multicultural Catholic Christian community that is now predominantly Spanish-speaking. The parish describes itself as a community that 'strives to put God at the center of our lives through Prayer, Word, and Sacrament' and is 'dedicated to proclaiming Jesus' message of Justice, Peace, and Compassion for all.' Bilingual welcome is offered in both English and Spanish.
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Josue Lara, Pastor (ordained 1994), with assistance from Fr. Juan Beltran, Parochial Vicar. Religious Education is directed by Sister Irma Luna. Day-to-day operations are handled by a bilingual administrative team that includes the Parish Secretary, Bookkeeper, RE Secretary, and Business Manager.
- Fr. Josue Lara — Pastor (ordained 1994)
- Fr. Juan Beltran — Parochial Vicar
- Sister Irma Luna — RE Director
- Keyly Gonzalez — Parish Secretary
- Margarita Arevalo — Bookkeeper
- Diana Arciga — RE Secretary
- Virginia Flores — Business Manager
Sacraments
St. Nicholas prepares and celebrates the chief sacraments — Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation (through the RE program), Marriage, and Reconciliation — with formation tailored to its Spanish-speaking families.
Baptism (Bautismo)
Children before their 7th birthday may be baptized after parents and godparents complete Baptismal Classes (Platicas Pre-bautismales). Required paperwork includes the child's birth certificate, a Catholic Church marriage certificate for godparent couples (court certificates are not accepted), and an $80 donation. Single godparents must be 16 or older, have received the sacraments of initiation, and take an Oath of Singlehood at the office.
- Platicas Pre-bautismales by appointment — call (630) 898-8707
- Donation: $80 per child
- Maximum of two godparents (one male, one female)
Marriage (Matrimonio)
Marriage preparation at St. Nicholas requires updated Baptism and Confirmation certificates, can take up to six months, and concludes with a Marriage Mass (donation $250). Couples must arrange their own church choir for the wedding; mariachi groups are not permitted.
- Appointments with the priest in charge of Marriages — call (630) 898-8707
- Donation: $250 for the Marriage Mass
- Catholic/Protestant or Catholic/non-religious marriages allowed with conditions
Religious Education and Formation
The parish runs a Religious Education (RE) program directed by Sister Irma Luna, with administrative support from RE Secretary Diana Arciga. The program prepares children for the sacraments of initiation — Baptism (for catechetical-age children), First Communion, and Confirmation — and accompanies families through parish-based formation. A separate Pre-Baptismal class is offered for parents and godparents of infants and young children.
- Religious Education (RE) — year-round parish faith formation program
- Pre-Baptismal Classes (Platicas Pre-bautismales) for parents and godparents
Parish Bookstore (Librería)
The parish operates a religious-goods bookstore (Librería) accessible to parishioners and visitors before and after Masses and on a weekly schedule at Daleiden and the parish offices.
- Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. at Daleiden
- Monday – Friday at 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday at 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Office Hours and Contact
The bilingual parish office is open Monday through Friday, both in the morning and in the afternoon/evening, to serve parishioners in English and Spanish.
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Monday – Friday: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Phone: (630) 898-8707
- Email: [email protected]
Diocese and Wider Church
St. Nicholas is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford, which serves the eleven counties of the Rockford region in northern Illinois. The parish email ([email protected]) reflects its affiliation with the diocese.