About St. Patrick Catholic Church · Wapella, Illinois
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small Catholic parish in Wapella, Illinois (DeWitt County), in the Diocese of Peoria. It was founded in 1853, with the parish's first Mass celebrated by Rev. Bernard O'Hara in the Philip Donnigan home, and the first church building dedicated in 1857. The current brick church was rededicated on December 14, 1909 and its interior was redecorated in the mid-20th century with Christian symbolism drawn from early church tradition. As of July 1, 2024, St. Patrick has been merged with St. John the Baptist in Clinton and Sacred Heart in Farmer City into one new parish under Bishop Lou Tylka's 'Growing Disciples' pastoral plan, with the Clinton church designated as the primary worship site and St. Patrick continuing as a secondary church served by the same pastor.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas R. Szydlik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
St. Patrick Wapella is a small, multi-generational country parish where a single pastor (Fr. Thomas Szydlik) and three deacons — Pat Comfort, Todd Weber and Scott Whitehouse — now serve three linked worship sites under Bishop Tylka's 2024 'Growing Disciples' plan, giving parishioners the personal attention of a village church while remaining connected to the wider diocesan family. Weekly Sunday Mass (8:30 a.m.) and Tuesday morning Mass (8:30 a.m.) are celebrated in the historic 1909 brick church, with confessions before Sunday Mass and Eucharistic Adoration on the fourth Thursday of each month. The parish hall next door hosts parish life, and outreach is coordinated through a Tuesday–Wednesday office staffed by parish secretaries Debbie Askins, Pam Elliott and Kathie Summers.
Mass times at St. Patrick Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Weekdays — 15 minutes before Mass
- Wapella — Sunday 7:45–8:15 a.m.
- Wapella — Tuesday 8:15 a.m. (15 minutes before 8:30 Mass)
- Clinton — Saturday 3:15–3:45 p.m.; Wednesday & Friday 8:15 a.m.
- Farmer City — Sunday following 10:30 a.m. Mass; Thursday 8:15 a.m.
Adoration times
- Wapella — Fourth Thursday, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
- Clinton — Last Friday, 9:00 a.m. (following 8:30 a.m. Mass)
- Farmer City — First Friday, 11:00 a.m. (followed by Mass at 12:00 p.m.)
About St. Patrick Catholic Church, Wapella
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small village parish at 320 S Locust St in Wapella, Illinois (DeWitt County), served by the Diocese of Peoria. Founded in 1853 and now part of a three-church merged parish with St. John the Baptist in Clinton and Sacred Heart in Farmer City, it continues to host Sunday Mass (8:30 a.m.) and Tuesday Mass (8:30 a.m.) in its historic brick church, with confessions before Sunday Mass and Eucharistic Adoration on the fourth Thursday evening of each month.
- Founded 1853
- Diocese of Peoria
- Merged parish status as of July 1, 2024
History of the Parish
St. Patrick's story begins in 1853 when Rev. Bernard O'Hara celebrated the first Mass in the Philip Donnigan home. The first church building and parish house were erected in 1857 at a cost of $2,300, and the cornerstone of the second church was laid on September 28, 1882 under Rev. Henry Polydore Delbaere — the same pastor who established the churches in Deland and Weldon. The present brick edifice was enlarged, given its steeple tower and rededicated on December 14, 1909 by Rev. T. F. Monahan, who also built the two-story rectory the following year (1911). The parish marks the 1600s as a touchstone of its interior design heritage.
- 1853 — first Mass celebrated by Rev. Bernard O'Hara in the Donnigan home
- 1857 — first church and parish house erected (cost: $2,300)
- 1882 — cornerstone of the second church laid (Rev. Henry P. Delbaere)
- Dec. 14, 1909 — brick church rededicated with new steeple tower (Rev. T. F. Monahan)
- 1911 — two-story rectory built on present site
- 1953 — Centennial Jubilee celebrated with Bishop William E. Cousins and 80+ priests
- May 15, 1968 — tornado struck the church
Merger into One New Parish (Growing Disciples)
On May 18, 2024, Bishop Lou Tylka of Peoria announced the final phase of the 'Growing Disciples' pastoral plan: St. John the Baptist in Clinton, St. Patrick in Wapella and Sacred Heart in Farmer City are being merged into one new parish, with St. John the Baptist in Clinton as the primary worship site and St. Patrick and Sacred Heart as secondary churches. St. John the Evangelist in Bellflower has been taken out of use. Bishop Tylka promoted Fr. Thomas Szydlik from administrator to pastor of the new parish effective July 1, 2024.
- Primary Church — St. John the Baptist, Clinton (parish office, records, and priest residence)
- Secondary Church — St. Patrick, Wapella
- Secondary Church — Sacred Heart, Farmer City
- Not in Use — St. John the Evangelist, Bellflower
- Implementation expected to take roughly 12 months from May 2024
Clergy & Staff
The merged parish is led by one pastor, Rev. Thomas R. Szydlik, supported by three permanent deacons: Pat Comfort, Todd Weber and Scott Whitehouse. Parish secretarial and outreach work is carried out by Debbie Askins, Pam Elliott and Kathie Summers, with office hours on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sacramental emergencies are routed through (309) 397-3835.
- Rev. Thomas R. Szydlik — Pastor (since July 1, 2024); email: [email protected]; office (309) 935-3727
- Deacon Pat Comfort
- Deacon Todd Weber — (309) 473-3487
- Deacon Scott Whitehouse
- Secretaries: Debbie Askins, Pam Elliott, Kathie Summers
Pastor / Priest History
St. Patrick's lengthy roster of pastors — from the first resident, Rev. Wendelin J. Revis (1873), to the present pastor, Rev. Thomas R. Szydlik (2024) — is published on the parish website and includes brief biographical notes such as burial location, senior status assignments, and successor assignments after leaving Wapella. Many pastors also served neighboring missions (St. Mary, Downs; St. Michael, Weldon) or chaplaincies (Central Catholic High School, Bloomington).
- Rev. Wendelin J. Revis (Dec 1873–Mar 1877) — first resident priest
- Rev. Michael Angelo Dooling (Jan 1891–Nov 1906) — donated the round St. Patrick stained-glass window
- Rev. T. F. Monahan (Oct 1906–Jun 1915) — rededicated the church in 1909, built the rectory in 1911
- Rev. Francis J. Cahill (Jun 1946–1957) — interior redecoration with blue-gray/rose/gold
- Rev. Geoffrey Horton — Pastor 2021–2023 (and administrator 2020–2021)
- Rev. Thomas R. Szydlik (Jul 1, 2024–Present)
Architecture & Interior
The present brick edifice, rededicated on December 14, 1909 with its steeple tower added under Rev. T. F. Monahan, received a north entrance and a complete interior redecoration under Rev. Francis J. Cahill (mid-20th century). The interior palette of blue-gray, rose and gold is organized around a tapestry behind the altar bearing the IHS, Chi-Rho and cross motifs, with 55 small squares on the ceiling beams each containing a different early-church (1600s-era) symbol, and the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary emphasized as a decorative theme. The round St. Patrick stained-glass window was donated by Rev. Michael Angelo Dooling during his 1891–1906 pastorate.
- Brick edifice, rededicated Dec. 14, 1909 with steeple tower added
- North entrance added under Rev. Cahill
- Interior palette: blue-gray, rose and gold
- Altar tapestry designs: IHS, Chi-Rho, and the cross
- 55 ceiling-beam symbols dating to the 1600s
- Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary emphasized in decoration
- Round St. Patrick stained-glass window (gift of Rev. Dooling, 1891–1906)
Parish Life, Outreach & Facilities
The Wapella parish hall next to the church hosts Sunday hospitality after the 8:30 a.m. Mass and other mid-week gatherings; the August 2024 bulletin notes 'Wapella parish hall' and a Wednesday gathering at St. Patrick. An Outreach Ministry operates Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (10:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.), and the merged parish office is staffed Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. by Debbie Askins, Pam Elliott and Kathie Summers.
- Wapella parish hall — Sunday hospitality and Wednesday gatherings
- Outreach Ministry — Tue & Wed 10:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Parish office hours (Clinton) — Tue & Wed 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Sacramental emergency line — (309) 397-3835
Contact & Locations
St. Patrick's own address and phone line remain active even after the merger, while the merged parish office in Clinton handles records and is the parish's central point of contact.
- St. Patrick Catholic Church, Wapella — 320 S Locust St, Wapella, IL 61777 — (217) 935-8510 — [email protected]
- Merged Parish Office (St. John the Baptist, Clinton) — 502 N Monroe, Clinton, IL 61727 — (309) 935-3727
- Sacred Heart, Farmer City — 612 N Plum, Farmer City, IL 61842 — (309) 935-3727
- Pastor email — [email protected]
- Sacramental Emergency — (309) 397-3835
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard O'Hara1853
Celebrated the first Mass in Wapella in the Philip Donnigan home.
- Rev. Francis A. Keenan1864–1870
Pastor of El Paso; attended Wapella from Holy Trinity, Bloomington, since 1853.
- Rev. Wendelin J. RevisDec 1873–Mar 1877
First resident priest of St. Patrick parish.
- Rev. Francis Xavier Schreiber1877–Oct 1878
Resided at St. Mary's, Bloomington and attended Wapella; helped start a movement to found Saint Joseph Hospital, Bloomington, in 1880.
- Rev. Francis RecouvreurNov 1878–Jun 1881
Also built the first church in Farmer City in 1880.
- Rev. Patrick McGrathJul 1881–Apr 1882
Died July 21, 1882.
- Rev. Henry Polydore DelbaereJul 1882–Aug 1884
Cornerstone of the second church laid September 28, 1882; also established churches in Deland and Weldon.
- Rev. Thomas J. O'CallaghanAug 1884–1887
First parish house burned; he replaced it with a two-story structure.
- Rev. B. J. CorleySep 1887–Apr 1889
- Rev. Patrick A. ConertyApr 1889–1891
- Rev. Michael Angelo DoolingJan 1891–Nov 1906
Briefly built a house in Clinton in 1893 while continuing to serve Wapella; donated the round St. Patrick stained-glass window.
- Rev. Timothy F. MonahanOct 1906–Jun 1915
Built an addition, added the steeple tower and rededicated the church December 14, 1909; built the present two-story rectory in 1911.
- Rev. Edmund M. HaydenJun 1915–Apr 1924
- Very Rev. Edward S. DunneJul 1924–Mar 1929
- Rev. Leo L. HenkelJul 1929–Sep 1930
- Rev. Emmett W. FlynnFall 1930–Jul 11, 1935
- Rev. Francis B. DickmanJul 11, 1935–Jun 1946
Also served St. Mary, Downs and St. Michael, Weldon.
- Rev. Francis J. CahillJun 1946–1957
Returned from Navy chaplain service; led the interior redecoration with blue-gray/rose/gold, IHS–Chi-Rho–cross tapestry, 55 ceiling symbols and the Rosary Mysteries.
- Rev. Maurus Charles Bernabei1957–1968
Tornado struck the church on Wednesday, May 15, 1968.
- Rev. Richard E. Fitzsimmons1968–1970
- Rev. Robert H. Hoffmann1970–1975
Granted Senior Status and Pastor Emeritus in 2000.
- Msgr. Paul E. Showalter1975–1980
In residence only — chaplain of Central Catholic High School, Bloomington.
- Rev. Robert J. CreagerJun 1975–Jun 1983
- Rev. Michael R. Van AckerJun 1982–Jun 1986
In residence only — chaplain of Central Catholic High School, Bloomington.
- Rev. Richard W. Brunskill1986–1989
In residence only — chaplain of Central Catholic High School, Bloomington.
- Fr. M. Duane LeClercqJun 1983–Jun 1989
- Rev. Robert H. Hoffmann (second term)Jun 1989–Jun 2000
- Fr. Gordon John PillonJun 2000–Jun 2003
- Rev. Donald RoszkowskiJun 2003–Jun 2007
- Rev. Patrick T. HenehanJun 2004–Jun 2010
- Rev. Peter A. PilonJun 2010–Jun 2016
- Rev. Dustin P. SchultzJun 2016–Jun 2017
- Rev. Matthew D. DeptulaJun 2017–Aug 2017
- Rev. Jeffrey D. StirnimanAug 2017–Jul 8, 2020
Pastor.
- Rev. Geoffrey HortonAug 2017–Jul 8, 2020
Parochial Vicar during Stirniman's pastorate.
- Rev. Geoffrey Horton (administrator)Jul 8, 2020–Jun 9, 2021
- Rev. Geoffrey Horton (pastor)Jun 9, 2021–Jun 14, 2023
- Rev. Derick T. MwesigaJun 14, 2023–Jun 30, 2024
Administrator.
- Rev. Thomas R. SzydlikJul 1, 2024–Present
Current pastor; promoted from administrator by Bishop Lou Tylka as part of the merger of St. John the Baptist (Clinton), Sacred Heart (Farmer City) and St. Patrick (Wapella) into one new parish.