About St. Peter · Rockford, Illinois
The Cathedral of St. Peter is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford in northern Illinois, serving as the seat (cathedra) of the diocesan bishop. Located on Church Street near downtown Rockford on what was once known as Council Hill (or Piety Hill), it is the second church to serve as the cathedral of the diocese, replacing the older St. James Pro-Cathedral in 1970. The parish runs an OCIA (formerly RCIA) initiation program, a PreK-8 parish school, and a robust liturgical life with multiple Sunday Masses, daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a 1978 Wicks pipe organ.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kenneth J. Anderson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Peter's is the spiritual home of the Diocese of Rockford — the seat of the diocesan bishop and a parish with more than a century of Catholic life on Rockford's Council Hill. It offers a rich sacramental schedule (four Sunday Masses, a daily 8:00 a.m. Mass, weekly Tuesday evening Eucharistic Adoration, and frequent confession times), an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for those entering or returning to the Church, a PreK-8 parish school, a full music program built around a 1978 Wicks pipe organ, and ministries of religious education and outreach. Visitors and parishioners alike encounter a parish committed to preaching the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, and evangelizing the wider Rockford community.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
History of the Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Peter's roots go back to 1915, when a small framed chapel dedicated to St. William was built in the Auburndale subdivision of Rockford as a mission of St. Mary's Parish. In 1920 the parish acquired land on the summit of Council Hill (Piety Hill), and in 1921 construction began on a combination church and school on Court Street. St. Peter Parish was formally dedicated in February 1922, with a grade school opening that fall with 63 pupils taught by the Sisters of Loretto. As the parish grew the church was eventually moved into the auditorium and the second floor became classrooms. By the 1950s the parish required a larger church: the cornerstone of the present Italianate-style church was blessed by Bishop Loras Lane in August 1958 and dedicated on May 15, 1960. On October 11, 1970 Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill designated St. Peter as the diocesan cathedral, replacing St. James, and the church was formally consecrated on October 11, 1978. A parish activities center was dedicated in 1984; the sanctuary was remodeled and a new altar was consecrated by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago on September 29, 1998.
- 1915: St. William mission chapel built in Auburndale
- 1920: Council Hill / Piety Hill purchased
- 1921: Construction begins on Court Street church-school
- 1922: St. Peter Parish formally dedicated
- 1958: Cornerstone of present church blessed by Bishop Lane
- 1960: Present church dedicated May 15
- 1970: Designated diocesan cathedral by Bishop O'Neill
- 1978: Cathedral formally consecrated October 11
- 1984: Parish activities center dedicated
- 1998: New altar and sanctuary consecrated by Cardinal George
Cathedral Staff
The cathedral is served by a rector, a priest in residence, two deacons, and lay staff responsible for parish administration, music, and religious education.
- Very Rev. Kenneth J. Anderson — Rector
- Rev. Joseph F. Jaskierny, JCL — in residence
- Deacon James Easton
- Deacon Robert Mitchison
- Mrs. Mary Cox — Business Manager
- Mrs. Rene Flores — Cathedral Secretary
- Ms. Larissa Hernandez — Receptionist (Ext. 102)
- Mr. Adam G. Singleton — Cathedral Organist and Director of Music
- Ms. Kathleen Baylis — Coordinator of Religious Education (Ext. 104)
Music and the Wicks Pipe Organ
Music at the cathedral is built around a 1978 Wicks Organ Company pipe organ, Opus 5706, installed in the rear gallery of the church. Some of its pipes are exposed in the large case that frames the rose window. The organ has five divisions, 45 stops, 47 ranks, and 2,707 pipes, with a manual compass of 61 notes and a pedal compass of 32 notes. The diocese began a project to renovate the pipe organ in 2026. The Director of Music and Cathedral Organist is Mr. Adam G. Singleton.
- 1978 Wicks Organ Company, Opus 5706
- 5 divisions, 45 stops, 47 ranks, 2,707 pipes
- Rear-gallery installation with exposed pipe case framing the rose window
- Director of Music / Organist: Adam G. Singleton
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The parish runs an OCIA program — formerly known as RCIA — for adults interested in becoming Catholic, as well as for baptized Catholics who have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The OCIA is a process of carefully planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the presence of the whole community, drawing on the model of the ancient catechumenate. Inquiries can be directed to the parish office at 815-965-2765 or [email protected].
- Adults unbaptized seeking initiation
- Baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation
- Series of stages marked by liturgical rites
- Contact: 815-965-2765 / [email protected]
St. Peter Cathedral School
St. Peter Cathedral School is the parish's PreK-8 elementary school, located at 1231 North Court Street, Rockford. The school opened in the fall of 1922 with 63 pupils in two classrooms, staffed by the Sisters of Loretto. It continues today as a parish elementary school serving the cathedral parish community.
- Address: 1231 N. Court Street, Rockford, IL 61103
- Grades: PreK-8
- Opened 1922 with the Sisters of Loretto
Religious Education
Religious education for parish children is coordinated through the parish office by the Coordinator of Religious Education, supporting faith formation in addition to the cathedral school and OCIA.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Ms. Kathleen Baylis (Ext. 104)
Sacraments and Devotions
The cathedral celebrates the full sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church. Mass Intentions can be requested for a $10 donation per Mass through the parish office. The parish publishes weekly bulletins with the latest liturgical and devotional schedule, including Holy Day and special Advent/Christmas liturgies.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
- Penance / Reconciliation (see schedule; or by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony (Diocese of Rockford marriage preparation required)
- Mass Intentions: $10 per Mass
- Holy Days: see bulletin or website
Online Resources
The cathedral maintains an official website with a posted Mass schedule, current bulletins, online giving, a parish registration form, and an email sign-up for parish communications. The parish is also active on Facebook.
- Official site: cathedralofstpeter.org
- Online Giving via website
- Weekly Bulletins published on website
- Parish Registration form online
- Email newsletter sign-up
- Facebook: Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John FlanaganDecember 1915 – January 1921
First priest; served the St. William mission before the parish was formally established.
- Rev. Frederick CooperOctober 1922 – January 1932
Early pastor after the parish was dedicated in February 1922.
- Rev. Leo BinzFebruary 1932 – July 1933
Future Archbishop of Indianapolis.
- Rev. Msgr. William McMillanJuly 1933 – January 1967
Long-tenured pastor who guided the parish into the new church era.
- Most Rev. Arthur J. O'NeillJanuary 1967 – October 1968
Later became Bishop of Rockford; as bishop designated St. Peter as the diocesan cathedral on October 11, 1970.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas GreenJanuary 1969 – July 1979
Rector during and after the 1970 cathedral designation; formal dedication was October 11, 1978.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas BradyJuly 1979 – July 1984
- Most Rev. Thomas G. DoranJuly 1984 – July 1986
Later Bishop of Rockford.
- Rev. Msgr. William ClausenJuly 1986 – July 1990
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas DzielakJuly 1990 – September 1995
- Rev. Msgr. William SchwartzSeptember 1995 – May 2007
- Rev. Kenneth WasilewskiJune 3, 2007 – June 30, 2010
- Rev. Joseph NaillJuly 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011
- Rev. Carl BeekmanJuly 1, 2011 – June 30, 2014
- Very Rev. J. Stephen St. JulesJuly 1, 2014 – June 15, 2021
- Very Rev. Kenneth J. AndersonJune 16, 2021 – present
Current Rector/Pastor.