About St. Patrick · Dixon, Illinois
St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Dixon, Illinois, the county seat of Lee County. The parish was organized in 1854 to serve the small handful of Catholic families then living in and around Dixon and has grown into the largest Catholic congregation in the county. Today it belongs to the Diocese of Rockford, celebrates Mass in English seven days a week (with an extra First Saturday morning Mass), runs the adjacent St. Mary Elementary & Junior High School, and operates the Holloway Center on its Highland Avenue campus for parish life and outreach.
- Established
- 1854
- Patron
- St. Patrick (5th-century missionary bishop and primary patron of Ireland)
- Rector
- Rev. John Evans
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford (erected September 23, 1908 by Pope Pius X, placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception)
Why belong here
Parishioners at St. Patrick worship in the same brick church that has anchored Dixon's Catholic community since 1873, gather daily for an 8:00 AM Mass in addition to two Sunday Masses, and can bring their children to the parish's own St. Mary Elementary & Junior High School on the same Highland Avenue campus. The parish runs a year-round community outreach meal program (curbside pickup) and an active Respect Life group, supports St. Mary School directly, and offers practical helps like electronic giving, scheduled Saturday confession (3:00–4:00 PM in the rear confessional) and a year of vocations discernment for young men interested in the priesthood. If you are new to Dixon, considering becoming Catholic, or looking for a parish with both a daily Mass schedule and a working school attached, St. Patrick's is set up to welcome you.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in the confessional located in the back of the church
- Other times available by appointment
Adoration times
- Listed by third-party aggregator as a perpetual or scheduled adoration slot; the parish's own schedule page does not list a specific adoration time
Parish History
St. Patrick's was organized in 1854 when Bishop Anthony O'Regan of Chicago sent the Rev. James Fitzgerald to Dixon to gather the area's roughly twenty-five Catholic families. The first Masses were held in the Lee County courthouse until a frame church was built on Highland Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets. The foundation of the present brick church was laid in the summer of 1869 during the pastorate of the Rev. Louis Lightner, D.D., Bishop Foley laid the cornerstone on June 23, 1872, and the building was completed and dedicated in 1873 at a cost of more than $30,000, with a 2,500-pound bell that cost $900. The church suffered a serious fire under Father Eugene Gray (pastor from May 1882) but was immediately rebuilt, and in 1925 the interior and an oil painting were restored and a new organ installed. St. Mary's School was opened in September 1897 in the remodeled Schuler estate home and was originally taught by the Dominican Sisters from Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
Parish Life & Outreach
Parish life revolves around the church, the parish hall (the Holloway Center, 612 Highland Ave.), and the rectory/office at Door G. Every week the parish hosts a community outreach meal with 4:30 PM curbside pickup, the Respect Life group meets in the parish office, and a Sunday breakfast is served in the Holloway Center after Masses. The parish also runs a vocations-discernment gathering aimed at 'identifying and supporting faithful young men who may have a call to the priesthood.' Electronic giving is offered as an alternative to traditional offering envelopes, and the parish supports the annual Diocesan Appeal.
- Community Outreach Meal — 4:30 PM curbside pickup
- Respect Life group — meets in parish office
- Holloway Center — Sunday breakfasts, retreats, funeral luncheons
- Vocations discernment — for young men considering the priesthood
- Electronic giving option for weekly offertory
- Annual Diocesan Appeal participation
Devotions & Retreats
The parish promotes and supports several traditional Catholic devotions, including a Rosary Novena to the Sacred Heart ahead of the consecration of the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and an annual Light of the World Retreat held over four evenings/days at the Holloway Center on Highland Avenue. The Pope's monthly Prayer Intention is also featured on the parish website.
- Rosary Novena to the Sacred Heart (9 days, e.g. beginning April 20)
- Light of the World Retreat at the Holloway Center
- The Pope's Monthly Prayer Intention
Sacraments
St. Patrick's provides the seven sacraments in the usual parish format. The pastor (currently Father John Evans) normally celebrates the Funeral Mass, while a deacon may preside at the vigil service or at any funeral liturgy outside of Mass (Liturgy of the Word). For families arranging a funeral, the parish Music Ministry provides an organist/pianist and (when available) an adult or children's choir, with published stipend rates. The St. Patrick Catholic Women's Club offers funeral luncheons in the parish hall for up to 200 persons, with at least two days' notice.
- Baptism — parish preparation
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM (rear confessional) and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish
- Funeral Liturgy — pastor presides at Mass; deacon may preside at vigil/Liturgy of the Word
- Holy Orders / Vocations support — by inquiry through the parish
St. Mary Elementary & Junior High School
St. Mary School is the parish's own Pre-K through Junior High school, sharing the parish campus and mission. The school states that 'in Jesus' name we pray, teach, learn, and serve,' with the vision that students 'grow in virtue, develop self-discipline, and become who God created them to be.' The philosophy emphasizes integrating God's truth into all learning, academic excellence with knowledge over grades, service in the home, school, parish and community, and physical development through PE and extracurriculars in a faith-centered atmosphere. The school staff page lists Father Evans (St. Patrick pastor), principal Luke Phillips, a Business Manager, an Office Manager & Assistant Principal (Jan Fattizzi), the Music coordinator, a Technology coordinator (Jeff Gould), Pre-K teacher (Heidi Palmer) and a Cook (Cassie Burgess) among named faculty, with a separate online presence at stmarysschool.online / stmarysdixon.org.
- Mission: 'In Jesus' name we pray, teach, learn, and serve.'
- Vision: students grow in virtue, develop self-discipline, and become who God created them to be
- Phone: (815) 284-6986
- Principal: Luke Phillips
- Office Manager & Assistant Principal: Jan Fattizzi
- Pastor (canonical head): Rev. John Evans
- Pre-K through Junior High; shared campus with the parish
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
The parish website carries an 'Interested in becoming Catholic?' link, signaling a standard parish-based RCIA inquiry pathway for adults and older children seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Those inquiring are directed to contact the parish office at (815) 284-7719 or [email protected].
- RCIA inquiry pathway via the parish website
- Contact: (815) 284-7719 — [email protected]
Music Ministry
St. Patrick's Music Ministry extends to funerals as well as Sunday Masses, with a parish organist/pianist and (when available) an adult choir and a children's choir of roughly fifty singers — a tradition visible in the parish at least since the early 1950s. The funeral page lists standard stipend rates of $100 for the organist/pianist and an additional fee for any requested cantor or soloist, with servers receiving $10 cash each (up to three servers at a Funeral Mass when available).
- Parish organist/pianist for Sunday and funeral Masses
- Adult choir
- Children's choir (~50 members historically)
- Music Director coordinates cantors/soloists as requested
Parish Funerals
Pastoral planning for funerals at St. Patrick's is coordinated through the parish office and the funeral home. Published stipends (subject to waiver in cases of financial hardship) include $120 for the church, $100 for the organist/pianist, $75 for a deacon at a visitation, an additional fee for any cantor or soloist, and $10 cash per server (up to three servers at a Funeral Mass when available). Family members may serve in liturgical roles with the priest's prior approval. The Saint Patrick Catholic Women's Club offers luncheons in the parish hall after the funeral liturgy, limited to 200 persons with two days' notice.
- Church stipend: $120
- Organist/pianist: $100
- Deacon (visitation/scripture service or rosary): $75
- Servers: $10 each (up to 3) at Funeral Mass
- Cantor/soloist: separately arranged fee
- Visitation in Holloway Center: $200 (when requested and available)
Visit, Park & Contact
Visitors are welcomed at 612 Highland Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021. The parish office is reached through Door G under the awning, and visitors are asked to park in the lot behind the church. The parish office can be reached by phone at (815) 284-7719 or by email at [email protected]; the parish belongs to the Diocese of Rockford (rockforddiocese.org).
- Address: 612 Highland Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021
- Phone: (815) 284-7719
- Email: [email protected]
- Office entrance: Door G (under the awning)
- Parking: lot behind the church
- Diocese: rockforddiocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark Anthony (Mark Antony)pre-1854
Came occasionally from LaSalle to say Mass for the few Catholics in and around Dixon before the parish was organized.
- Rev. James Fitzgerald1854 – July 1856
Sent to Dixon by Bishop Anthony O'Regan of Chicago to organize the parish; first Masses were held in the Lee County courthouse until the first frame church was built.
- Rev. T. KennedyJuly 1856 – April 1859
Built the first frame church on Highland Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets; arrived April 1859.
- Rev. John Tierney1859 – 1860
Probably came as assistant to Father Ford; died in 1860.
- Rev. Michael Ford1859 – 1862
Came as pastor in April 1859; died in 1862.
- Rev. James Powers
Served between Father Ford's death and Father Lightner.
- Rev. Louis Lightner, D.D.1869
Pastor in the summer of 1869 when the foundation of the present brick church was laid.
- Rev. J.W. Kennedy
Served approximately one year.
- Rev. Michael McDermottMay 1870 –
Arrived May 1870; was pastor when Bishop Foley laid the cornerstone June 23, 1872 and when the church was completed.
- Rev. Thomas P. Hodnett1875 – May 1882
Followed Father McDermott; ushered in the period of the fire-damage rebuilding.
- Rev. Eugene GrayMay 1882 –
During his pastorate the church was badly damaged by fire but was immediately rebuilt.
- Rev. Michael FoleyJune 1892 – September 1929
Sent by Archbishop Feehan to take charge of St. Patrick's and its missions at Harmon and Ashton; during his tenure the school site was acquired and St. Mary School opened in September 1897, the church interior and oil painting were restored, a new organ was purchased in 1925, and a new rectory was begun; he died in September 1929.
- Rev. Thomas GreenMay 1950 –
Had first been assigned to St. Patrick's as an assistant in July 1933; served at Dundee from March 1936 until returning as pastor of St. Patrick's in May 1950.
- Rev. James Clancy
Succeeded Father Green; a former assistant who died about nine months later.
- Rev. Thomas L. Walsh20-year pastorate ending by 1951
Came from Harmon; redecorated and added to the church, expanded the school, and replaced the old Farrell-home convent that had burned in the winter of 1935–36.
- Rev. Bernard J. Sehras of 2016 directory
Listed as pastor in a 2016 public parish directory.
- Rev. John Evanscurrent
Current pastor; serves the parish together with St. Mary School and is also listed on the St. Mary School staff page.