About St. Rose of Lima · Quincy, Illinois
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church is a personal parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois located at 1009 North 8th Street in Quincy, Illinois. Founded in 1892 as the first church built for the Irish Catholic community of Quincy, the historic church was re-opened on November 9, 2008, when Bishop George Lucas appointed Fr. Arnaud Devillers of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) as chaplain to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass — making St. Rose the first church in the Springfield diocese to resume the extraordinary form after Pope Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum (2007). On January 1, 2014, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki formally established St. Rose as a personal parish in accord with Canon 518, and it is staffed exclusively by FSSP priests. It is widely noted as the most beautiful church in the Diocese of Springfield, with famous stained-glass windows by Emil Frei of St. Louis and a fully restored 1898 Wicks pipe organ.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Fr. Karl Pikus, FSSP (Pastor); Fr. John Rickert, FSSP, TOFP, also listed as Pastor on the parish website
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima is the only church in the Quincy region that exclusively offers the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missal) and the sacraments in the extraordinary form, served by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. As a personal parish under Canon 518, any Catholic may register here regardless of geography, joining a community that has celebrated the classical Roman liturgy continuously since November 2008. The parish offers daily Mass, a full Holy Week and Triduum, regular confession, exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, a Latin choir, altar servers, and a deeply traditional devotional life — all in what is regularly called the most beautiful church in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30–8:00 AM (before 8:00 AM Low Mass)
- Sunday 10:30–11:00 AM (before 11:00 AM Sung Mass)
- Approximately 30 minutes before all Masses
- Lenten Fridays: 5:30 PM (followed by 6:00 PM Mass)
- Good Friday 12:00 Noon–12:45 PM
- Holy Saturday 3:00 PM
- First Friday during Adoration (5:00–5:45 PM)
Adoration times
- First Friday: Adoration 5:00–5:45 PM, followed by Benediction
- Periodic Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament following the 12:10 PM Mass until 6:00 PM (with the Angelus and Rosary)
- Holy Thursday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows the Mass of the Lord's Supper until midnight
Parish History
St. Rose of Lima was founded in 1892 to serve the Irish Catholic community of Quincy's northwest side — the first church in Quincy built specifically for the Irish. The present church dates to 1912 (the parish marked its 100th anniversary in June 2012). Its longest-serving pastor, Msgr. Patrick J. Fox, led the parish from 1934 to 1967 and offered the last Traditional Latin Mass at St. Rose in April 1968. After years without regular use, the Latin Mass Society of Quincy restored the interior and welcomed the FSSP back to the altar on November 9, 2008. Bishop Paprocki formally erected St. Rose as a personal parish on January 1, 2014.
- Founded 1892 for the Irish of Quincy
- Present church building dedicated 1912; 100th anniversary in June 2012
- Msgr. Patrick J. Fox, pastor 1934–1967; last Traditional Mass April 1968
- Re-opened Nov. 9, 2008 by Bishop George Lucas with Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP
- Erected as a personal parish (Canon 518) on Jan. 1, 2014 by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki
The Building & Its Restorations
St. Rose is widely regarded as the most beautiful church in the Diocese of Springfield, prized for its style, interior, and famous stained-glass windows. Before 2008, only the original pews and the 1898 Wicks pipe organ remained inside. The Latin Mass Society of Quincy replaced and renovated the interior in time for the FSSP's arrival, installing marble altars and a Communion rail purchased from Chicago and fashioning a marble lectern from leftover rail pieces. The historic stained-glass windows have been painstakingly restored by Emil Frei Glass Works of St. Louis — the very firm that originally installed them. The Wicks pipe organ (opus #56), including its original 1898 blower, has been fully restored and is reportedly the only instrument of its kind still operating anywhere in the world.
- Stained-glass windows restored by Emil Frei Glass Works of St. Louis
- Wicks pipe organ opus #56 (1898) restored, original blower intact
- Marble altars and Communion rail from Chicago
- Marble lectern made from leftover rail parts
- Original Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph marble statues (in parish since 1951) recovered and returned
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
St. Rose is staffed by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP, was appointed chaplain by Bishop George Lucas in 2008 and became the parish's first personal pastor when it was erected in 2014. He was assisted by Fr. Robert Fromageot, FSSP, who became parochial vicar the same day. Subsequent pastors have included Fr. Joseph Portzer, FSSP (installed 2019 by Msgr. Heffler, vicar general) and the current pastor, Fr. Karl Pikus, FSSP. Fr. John Rickert, FSSP, TOFP, is also listed as pastor on the parish website.
- Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP — founding chaplain (2008), first personal pastor (2014)
- Fr. Robert Fromageot, FSSP — assistant chaplain; parochial vicar (2014)
- Fr. Joseph Portzer, FSSP — pastor (installed 2019)
- Fr. Zachary Edgars — priest in residence
- Fr. Karl Pikus, FSSP — pastor
- Fr. John Rickert, FSSP, TOFP — pastor
Holy Week & Sacred Triduum
St. Rose observes the full classical Holy Week liturgy. The Sacred Triduum includes the Mass of the Lord's Supper (with solemn Translation of the Blessed Sacrament, Stripping of the Altars, and Adoration until midnight on Holy Thursday), the afternoon Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord with Stations of the Cross on Good Friday (a day of fast and abstinence, with a collection for the Holy Land shrines), the Paschal Vigil beginning at 10:30 PM on Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday with Sung Mass and blessing of Easter baskets.
- Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Supper, Stripping of the Altars, Adoration until midnight
- Good Friday: 3:00 PM Stations; afternoon Liturgy of the Passion
- Holy Saturday: Confessions 3:00 PM; Paschal Vigil 10:30 PM
- Easter Sunday: Sung Mass; blessing of Easter baskets
- Second collection for diocesan seminarians at the Easter Vigil
Music, Choir & Liturgical Life
The parish sustains a robust musical tradition suited to the extraordinary form. The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is a Sung Mass, and special feasts (such as the Epiphany) feature the men's schola joined by the youth choir. A Latin choir sings regularly, including at funeral Masses for members of the parish. The 1898 Wicks pipe organ (opus #56) — the only one of its kind in the world still operating — accompanies liturgical celebrations.
- Sunday 11:00 AM Sung Mass
- Men's schola and youth choir on major feasts (Epiphany, etc.)
- Latin choir (e.g., Anna Kozlowski noted as choir member)
- Restored 1898 Wicks organ (opus #56)
Altar Servers & Parish Community
St. Rose relies on a strong corps of altar servers who assist at the Traditional Latin Mass, including families whose boys serve Mass together (the Deters brothers are a noted example). The community gathers socially around the liturgical year — most visibly at the annual parish dinner on the feast of St. Rose of Lima (August 23), and at funerals where the parish rosary is recited.
- Multi-year altar servers (Deters brothers, Cayson Peters, etc.)
- Annual parish dinner on the feast of St. Rose of Lima
- Parish rosary recited before funerals
Personal Parish Status & Registration
Because St. Rose is a personal parish under Canon 518, it has no territorial boundaries — any Catholic may register and belong here regardless of where they live. The personal-parish status was granted on January 1, 2014 by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki after the Presbyteral Council voted unanimously to recommend it in November 2013. Previously, members of the community belonged to their local territorial parishes while attending St. Rose; today they register directly with St. Rose.
- Personal parish under Canon 518 (no territorial boundaries)
- Established by decree of Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, Dec. 23, 2013
- Effective January 1, 2014
- Open registration for any Catholic, regardless of geography
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
St. Rose is located at 1009 North 8th Street, Quincy, Illinois 62301. The parish office can be reached at (217) 222-2511 or by email at [email protected]. Visitors are warmly invited to attend Mass, schedule a confession, or stop in to see the historic church — printed history books of the parish (dating to 1892) are available for purchase. Weekly bulletins are posted on the parish website in PDF format.
- Address: 1009 N. 8th Street, Quincy, IL 62301
- Phone: (217) 222-2511
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintrosequincy.org/ (also new.saintrosequincy.org)
- Printed parish history books (from 1892) available at the parish
- Weekly bulletins posted online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Patrick J. Fox1934–1967
Longtime pastor; offered the last Traditional Latin Mass at St. Rose in April 1968 before the post-Vatican II liturgical changes.
- Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP2008–
Appointed chaplain by Bishop George Lucas on Nov. 9, 2008; became the first pastor when St. Rose was erected as a personal parish on Jan. 1, 2014.
- Fr. Robert Fromageot, FSSPc. 2008–
Assistant chaplain; named parochial vicar on Jan. 1, 2014.
- Fr. Joseph Portzer, FSSPby 2019
Installed as pastor in 2019 by Msgr. Heffler, vicar general.
- Fr. Karl Pikus, FSSP
Listed as Pastor on the parish website, bulletins, and the FSSP apostolate page.
- Fr. John Rickert, FSSP, TOFP
Listed as Pastor on the parish website's header.