About St. Patrick · Ruma, Illinois
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a historic rural parish in Ruma, Illinois, in Randolph County, founded in 1818 and recognized as the oldest English-speaking Catholic parish in the State of Illinois. The parish is part of the Diocese of Belleville and currently shares its pastor with two partner parishes, St. John the Baptist in Red Bud and St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher. Sunday Mass is offered at 8:00 a.m. and weekday Mass on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and the community is closely tied to the Adorers of the Blood of Christ convent just across the front lawn of the parish complex.
- Established
- 1818
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, C.M. (Administrator; Fidei Donum Vincentian missionary priest from Nigeria, ordained July 3, 2009)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Patrick's offers a small, deeply rooted rural Catholic community with more than two centuries of continuous faith life. Members worship at a parish recognized as the oldest English-speaking parish in Illinois, share Mass with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ convent just across the front lawn, and serve the wider community through monthly financial and physical commitments to food banks, local families in emergency need, international charities, and educational projects. The parish partners with St. John the Baptist in Red Bud and St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher, giving the community access to additional weekend Masses and shared pastoral care.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Patrick's Parish
St. Patrick Catholic Church sits at #1 Pioneer Lane in Ruma, Illinois, in the heart of Randolph County's rural Catholic country. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Belleville and is currently administered by Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, C.M., who also serves St. John the Baptist in Red Bud and St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher. Sandy Liefer serves as parish secretary; office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Liz Mudd is Parish Council President, Ruth Menard is the hall contact, and Tom Lucash is the cemetery representative.
- Administrator: Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, C.M.
- Parish Secretary: Sandy Liefer
- Parish Council President: Liz Mudd
- Hall Contact: Ruth Menard
- Cemetery Representative: Tom Lucash
- Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Phone/Fax: (618) 282-3176
- Email: [email protected]
Mission Statement
St. Patrick's Parish mission is to share the Eucharist and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to develop and encourage a community of faith, compassion, reconciliation and prayer where All are Welcome. The parish notes that the founding settlers' mission, if asked, would be the same as today's.
- Share the Eucharist and the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Develop and encourage a community of faith, compassion, reconciliation and prayer
- All are Welcome
History of St. Patrick, Ruma
St. Patrick's was founded in 1818 when Father Desmoulin, pastor at Kaskaskia, celebrated the first Mass in the home of Henry T. O'Hara at the O'Hara Settlement. Nine or ten families of Irish, Anglo-Irish, and Scots origin attended that first Mass; many of those surnames are still found on the parish roster. In 1827 the first St. Patrick Church — a log structure — was built on 100 acres bequeathed by Henry O'Hara for church purposes. Bishop Rosati commissioned Father Donatien Olivier to bless the new church and, in May 1831, confirmed a first class of 48 children and adults, including some from the English Settlement (now St. Augustine's in Hecker). St. Patrick's holds the singular honor of being the oldest English-speaking parish in the State of Illinois.
- Founded 1818 in the home of Henry T. O'Hara
- First Mass celebrated by Father Desmoulin, pastor at Kaskaskia
- Log church built in 1827 on 100 acres willed by O'Hara
- Bishop Rosati confirmed the first class of 48 in May 1831
- Originally part of the St. Louis Diocese, later the Alton Diocese, now the Diocese of Belleville
The Adorers of the Blood of Christ at Ruma
Just across the front lawn from the parish complex sits the Ruma Center of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, formerly the Sister Adorers of the Most Precious Blood. The Sisters established their motherhouse in 1876 in an abandoned academy originally built by St. Patrick's, later sold to the Alton Diocese and then to the Sisters. This community of religious women has been an integral part of St. Patrick Parish since their arrival, and Ruma pastors have served as convent chaplain for many of those years.
- Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) motherhouse established in Ruma in 1876
- Convents sits across the front lawn from the parish complex
- Ruma pastors have historically served as convent chaplain
Mass & Service Schedule
St. Patrick's offers Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and a weekday Mass on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Holy Day Masses are announced in the bulletin. Because the parish is partnered with St. John the Baptist in Red Bud and St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher, parishioners can also attend additional weekend Masses at the partner parishes, including Saturday 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist in Red Bud.
- Sunday: 8:00 a.m. (St. Patrick's, Ruma)
- Thursday: 10:00 a.m. (St. Patrick's, Ruma)
- Holy Day: as announced
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. (St. John the Baptist, Red Bud — partner parish)
Parish Partnerships
St. Patrick's is one of three partnered parishes served by Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, C.M. The partner parishes are St. John the Baptist in Red Bud and St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher, allowing the small Ruma community to share pastoral care, staff resources, and additional weekend Mass opportunities.
- St. John the Baptist, Red Bud
- St. Joseph, Prairie du Rocher
Parish Outreach & Charity
St. Patrick's makes a monthly financial — and sometimes physical — commitment to those in need, supporting food banks, international charities, local families facing emergency need, educational projects, and the parish relief fund. The parish also maintains a parish hall (contact Ruth Menard) and a parish cemetery (contact Tom Lucash).
- Monthly financial support to local food banks
- Support for international charities and educational projects
- Direct aid to local families with emergency needs
- Parish relief fund
- Parish hall available for community use
Annual Parish Events
The parish hosts two signature fundraisers each year that bring the Ruma Catholic community together: the Strawberry Festival and the Quilt Auction. Both events are highlighted on the parish website and are longtime parish traditions.
- Strawberry Festival (annual parish fundraiser)
- Quilt Auction (annual parish fundraiser)
Faith Formation & Children's Resources
The parish website links to Children's Resources and Vocations to the Priesthood Resources, supporting families raising their children in the Catholic faith and encouraging awareness of religious vocations. The parish notes it has been blessed with many vocations to the religious life over its long history, and Ruma pastors have served as convent chaplain to the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
- Children's Resources page on parish website
- Vocations to the Priesthood Resources page on parish website
- Long history of religious vocations from the parish
Bulletin, Calendar & Live Masses
The parish maintains an online bulletin and a Schedules/Calendar page on its website, with current bulletins posted regularly. The parish Facebook page streams Live Masses, allowing homebound parishioners and those in the wider community to participate when they cannot attend in person.
- Online bulletin posted on the parish website
- Schedules/Calendar page on the parish website
- Live Masses streamed via the parish Facebook page
Photos & Parish Memories
A Photos page on the parish website preserves images of parish life, the historic church complex, and the surrounding Ruma Catholic community, including the partnership with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ convent across the front lawn.
- Photos page on the parish website
- Images of parish life, church complex, and the ASC convent