St. Rose of Lima

About St. Rose of Lima Parish

St. Rose of Lima is a Roman Catholic parish in Montrose, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The parish is led by Rev. Dat Hoang, O.F.M., and is supported by a small lay staff: Lylah Flach (Secretary/Bookkeeper), Tonya Tegeler (Director of Religious Education), and Glenda Sehi (Liturgical Music Coordinator). The mailing address is P.O. Box 68, Montrose, Illinois 62445-0068, and the parish can be reached by phone at (217) 924-4337 (fax 217-924-4312).

History of St. Rose of Lima

Before 1879 the Catholics of Montrose, Woodbury, Jewett, and Toledo attended Mass at Teutopolis, the now-defunct Spring Point church, or other neighboring parishes. In the summer of 1878, three laymen — Phillip Wiwi, Nicholas Dockendorf, and Mr. Hirschfeld — traveled to St. Joseph College in Teutopolis to ask Very Reverend Mauritius Klostermann, O.F.M., for regular services in Montrose. The rector agreed on condition that the roughly twenty-five founding families assume all parish debts.

• Site purchased for the church: January 1879
• Architect: Brother Adrian Wewer, O.F.M.
• Construction superintendent: Nicholas Gehl of Sigel, Illinois
• Total cost of construction: $1,570
• Church blessed and dedicated: November 9, 1879, by Very Rev. Mauritius Klostermann, O.F.M.
• First pastor: Reverend Francis Haase, O.F.M. (1879–1884)

Franciscan Heritage

From its very beginning St. Rose of Lima has been served by Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.) sent from St. Joseph College in Teutopolis, Illinois. The founders explicitly approached the Franciscan Commissariat for priests, and the rector placed the new parish under the patronage of St. Rose of Lima — America's first canonized saint. After Bishop James A. Griffin's 1924 visit, the Franciscan Monastery at Teutopolis agreed to provide regular weekly Sunday Masses. Today the parish is still served by a Franciscan priest, Rev. Dat Hoang, O.F.M.

• Pastors have been members of the Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.)
• Mother community historically: St. Joseph College / Monastery, Teutopolis, Illinois
• Founding patron: St. Rose of Lima (first American saint)

Sacrament of Penance

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) is offered each Saturday afternoon before the Vigil Mass, providing parishioners the opportunity to prepare for Sunday's Eucharist.

• Saturday: 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Parish Staff & Ministries

Although a small rural parish, St. Rose of Lima is supported by a dedicated lay staff and active liturgical ministries. The Director of Religious Education (Tonya Tegeler) coordinates faith formation, while the Liturgical Music Coordinator (Glenda Sehi) leads music at Mass. The Secretary and Bookkeeper (Lylah Flach) handles parish administration and finances.

• Religious Education — DRE Tonya Tegeler
• Liturgical Music — Coordinator Glenda Sehi
• Parish Office / Bookkeeping — Lylah Flach

Contact & Location

St. Rose of Lima Parish is located at 301 N. Spring Creek Road in Montrose, Illinois 62445, in the unincorporated community of Montrose. The parish mailing address is P.O. Box 68, Montrose, IL 62445-0068. The parish office can be reached by telephone at (217) 924-4337 (fax 217-924-4312). A third-party listing notes the church can be reached via I-70 Exit 105, on the south side of the Shell station.

• Street address: 301 N. Spring Creek Rd., Montrose, IL 62445
• Mailing address: P.O. Box 68, Montrose, IL 62445-0068
• Phone: (217) 924-4337
• Fax: (217) 924-4312
• Diocesan website: dio.org/parishes/st-rose-of-lima-montrose.html