About St. Patrick (Tipton) · Waterloo, Illinois
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small, historic rural parish in the hamlet of Tipton, Monroe County, in southern Illinois (mailing address Waterloo, IL 62298). Founded in 1850 by Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine, the parish is served today by Father John Kizhakedan and is partnered with Our Lady of Good Counsel in nearby Renault. The current stone church — built by parishioners from native sandstone and still in use — seats 260, and the parish remains an intimate community of roughly 90 families.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. John Kizhakedan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville (Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Illinois)
Why belong here
St. Patrick is a small, family-sized rural parish where newcomers are quickly known by name. Worship takes place in a storied 19th-century sandstone church built by Irish famine-era immigrants, with a pastor (Fr. John Kizhakedan) who also tends the nearby partnered parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault. The community stays close through funeral luncheons, a quilting group, social outreach, a parish hall for rental and gatherings, and roughly 90 active families — an intimate setting for anyone seeking a connection to Monroe County's deep Catholic roots.
Mass times at St. Patrick (Tipton)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday 8:00 a.m.
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Patrick was founded in 1850 by Irish immigrants driven west by the Great Famine. Settling in a landscape of hills and rocks that reminded them of home, they called their community Tipperary Town after County Tipperary — later shortened through Tiptown to today's Tipton. The story of the parish is told in a written history by parishioner Erin Limestall, preserved on the parish website and on a local historical marker.
Founding and Early Years
Father Patrick McCabe celebrated the first Masses in the home of Edward Walsh and secured the parish's 40-acre site from the federal government in June 1849 for $1.00 an acre. He established Tipton as a Mission of Hecker. The first recorded marriage was Ed and Anna Walsh in 1850; the first baptism was Mary Brophy in 1852. A log church built in 1853 served the community until it burned in 1870.
Building the Stone Church
On April 7, 1864, the corner stone of the present stone church was laid by Father A. Pinckers, O.S.B., who recorded the historic context — Pope Pius IX in Rome, Lincoln and Davis leading opposing U.S. governments, and the country in civil war. The architect was Daniel Cavanough; native sandstone was quarried by Tipton parishioners. Bell tower, sanctuary, and two sacristies were added by Father John Van de Reit in 1873. The church still seats 260.
19th- and 20th-Century Developments
Father Mohr completed an eight-room rectory in 1868; Father Patrick J. Dee was the first resident pastor. A parish school opened in 1901 under Miss Kate McDermott, joined by Miss Nancy Clifford in 1902; it closed in 1909, reopened and closed again between 1913 and 1923. The 1950 centennial brought a full interior renovation of the church. Father James Jansen's 1967 rectory was blessed by Bishop Zuroweste on October 18, 1976, and Father Gary Gummersheimer built the new Parish Hall in 1996.
Milestones at the Turn of the Century
On January 26, 1999, parish C.Y.O. members attended the pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II. On May 21, 2000, Bishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated the 150th anniversary Mass. The parish has grown in recent years and today numbers about 90 families while retaining its close-knit character.
Worship and Sacraments
The parish provides weekend and weekday Masses in the historic stone church, with Reconciliation available before Masses and by appointment. Funeral Masses are complemented by a parish-coordinated luncheon. The pastor also serves the partnered parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault, which celebrates Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Other Services
- Funeral luncheons coordinated by Angie Heck (939-3528) and Eileen Curran (567-7988)
- Mass Intentions arranged through Julie Osborne (314-803-6956)
- Parish Hall rental through Mike & Carol Raeber (612-3241)
Parish Life and Ministries
St. Patrick runs on a tight network of lay volunteers who keep the parish running, from liturgical roles and altar-server scheduling to bulletins, bookkeeping, quilting, and social outreach. The historic C.Y.O. (Catholic Youth Organization) has been a recurring presence — including the delegation that met Pope John Paul II in 1999. Funeral luncheons and the rental-friendly Parish Hall (built 1996) anchor much of the community's social life.
- Liturgical roles — Teresa Fruth (458-6683)
- Altar server scheduling — Emily Schuchardt (967-1651)
- Bulletin and website — Mary Lou Polacek (719-4601)
- Bookkeeper — Janet Schmitz (340-2578)
- Social Outreach — Theresa Watters (458-7762)
- Quilting group — Angie Heck (939-3528)
Partnership with Our Lady of Good Counsel, Renault
St. Patrick shares its pastor with the partnered parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault. Our Lady of Good Counsel celebrates Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Contact and Staff Directory
Parish office contact details and a directory of ministry coordinators are published on the parish contact page. Mass intention requests, hall rentals, and funeral luncheon arrangements each have a designated coordinator.
- Pastor: Fr. John Kizhakedan — 618-458-6875 — [email protected] (cell 630-544-1825)
- Parish office: [email protected]
- Phone: 618-458-6875 / Fax: 618-458-6875 ext. 58
- Address: 5675 LL Road, Waterloo, IL 62298
Diocese of Belleville
St. Patrick is one of the established parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, listed in the diocesan parish directory with its 1850 founding date, partnered parish, clergy, and Mass schedule.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick McCabePre-1850 (mission priest)
Established Tipton as a Mission of Hecker; purchased the 40-acre site in June 1849 for $1.00/acre.
- Father Patrick J. Dee
First resident pastor of the church.
- Father Mohr1868
Built the old eight-room rectory (later torn down).
- Father John Van de Reit1873
Added the bell tower, sanctuary, and two sacristies.
- Father A. Pinckers, O.S.B.
Recorded the cornerstone-laying address on April 7, 1864.
- Father James Jansen1967
Oversaw construction of the present rectory, blessed by Bishop Zuroweste on October 18, 1976.
- Father Gary Gummersheimer1996
Built the new Parish Hall.
- Father John KizhakedanCurrent pastor
Current pastor; partnered with Our Lady of Good Counsel, Renault.