About St. Wendelin · Shannon, Illinois
St. Wendelin Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in the small community of Shannon, in Carroll County, Illinois. A member of the Diocese of Rockford, the parish serves the wider communities of Shannon, Lanark, Lake Carroll, and Forreston. Worship is led by Rev. Michael J. (Mike) Bolger, pastor, with weekend and daily Masses offered in the parish's third church building, completed in 1906. The parish offers traditional devotions including Eucharistic Adoration and Stations of the Cross alongside year-round opportunities for service and fellowship.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Wendelin of Trier
- Rector
- Rev. Michael J. "Mike" Bolger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockford
Why belong here
St. Wendelin offers a small, intimate worship experience rooted in 150+ years of faith in Carroll County. Parishioners enjoy time-honored devotions like Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, Stations of the Cross, and a traditional Mass schedule with weekday 8 AM Masses and three weekend Masses (Saturday vigil, Sunday morning, and an extra Sunday Mass in summer). Service is a strong part of parish identity — the Ladies' Altar and Rosary Society and Knights of Columbus lead parish life, with outreach to the Shannon-Lanark Food Pantry, Pitter Patter (WIC) Pantry in Mount Carroll, and the Madonna Renewal Center in Freeport.
Mass times at St. Wendelin
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (before 4:30 PM Mass)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Fridays, beginning after 8:00 AM Mass (typical; please call to confirm)
Parish History
St. Wendelin Parish was founded in 1870 when area Catholics purchased a former Presbyterian church for worship. The first church grew too small, and the second was destroyed by fire in 1905. The present church, completed in 1906, is the parish's third home, and it was expanded and renovated in the 1970s and again in the 2010s. St. Wendelin of Trier — patron saint of country people and herdsmen — is honored in a commissioned painting in the vestibule. The parish also treasures a Divine Mercy painting by artist Neilson Carlin above the confessional, intimate Stations of the Cross in the nave, wooden sculptures of the Holy Family and the Risen Christ, and a member-built nativity scene.
- Founded 1870
- Current church completed 1906
- Renovated 1970s and 2010s
- Commissioned artwork: St. Wendelin painting; Divine Mercy by Neilson Carlin
Worship & Liturgy
The parish offers a full schedule of weekend, weekday, and holy day Masses at the church on South Linn Street. Weekend Masses are Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 8:00 AM, with an additional 10:00 AM Sunday Mass in the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Weekday Masses are offered Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 AM (Tuesday Mass runs Labor Day to Memorial Day). Holy Days include Masses at 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM, plus 7:00 PM on Holy Thursday, 3:00 PM on Good Friday, and 7:30 PM on Holy Saturday. The parish encourages attendees to call ahead for weekday and holy day Mass times as schedules occasionally vary.
Stations of the Cross
Small but intimate Stations of the Cross line the nave of the church, providing a quiet devotional presence throughout the liturgical year.
Parish Life & Groups
The heart of parish life at St. Wendelin is found in its long-standing lay organizations, which run spiritual and social activities throughout the year.
- Ladies' Altar and Rosary Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Eastland Council of Churches (community cooperation)
- Parish Library in the recently expanded parish hall
Outreach & Community Service
St. Wendelin partners with local ecumenical and charitable organizations to serve neighbors in need across Carroll County and the wider area.
- Shannon-Lanark Food Pantry (Shannon)
- Pitter Patter (WIC) Pantry, Mount Carroll
- Madonna Renewal Center, Freeport
- Eastland Council of Churches
Annual Ham Dinner & Country Kitchen
A signature parish fundraiser, the Annual Ham Dinner & Country Kitchen features a homemade bake sale, quilt raffle, and carryout service. The event is handicap accessible and serves as an important community gathering each fall.
- Handicap accessible
- Bake sale and quilt raffle
- Carryouts available
Clergy & Staff
St. Wendelin is led by its pastor and supported by parish staff and volunteers listed through the parish office.
- Rev. Michael J. "Mike" Bolger — Pastor
- Diane Rogers — parish office / registration contact
Visit & Contact
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. To register, the parish asks that you call (815) 864-2548 and leave a message for Fr. Mike or Diane Rogers requesting information. The weekly bulletin lists most parish events and is also available digitally through the myParish App.
- Address: 18 S Linn St, Shannon, IL 61078
- Mailing: PO Box 23, Shannon, IL 61078
- Phone: (815) 864-2548
- Fax: (815) 864-2729
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: saintwen.org
- Facebook: saintwen
Diocese & Wider Church
St. Wendelin is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford, which serves northern Illinois. The parish primarily serves the communities of Shannon, Lanark, Lake Carroll, and Forreston.
- Diocese of Rockford
- Communities served: Shannon, Lanark, Lake Carroll, Forreston