About Visitation of the B.V.M. · Alexander, Illinois
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Visitation BVM) is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the village of Alexander in Morgan County, Illinois. Established in 1909 as an outgrowth of the older New Berlin parish, it is one of four faith communities — together with St. Mary's of New Berlin, Sacred Heart of Franklin, and St. Sebastian of Waverly — that make up the Quad Pastoral Unit of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Today the parish continues to worship at a brick church built in 1909-1910 on ground donated by local farmer Joseph Kumle, on what was then Route 10 (now East Old Route 36), and shares priests, staff, and ministry with its three sister parishes.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated in her Visitation to Elizabeth)
- Rector
- Rev. Adam Zawadzki (current pastor of the Quad Parishes; also listed on older Quad Pastoral Unit pages as 'Father Ron Lorilla, Parochial Administrator' and on joinmychurch.com as 'Rev. Kevin M. Laughery' — see confidence note).
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Visitation BVM is a small, century-old Catholic community rooted in rural central Illinois, where neighbors still know each other by name and families have worshipped for generations. Through the Quad Pastoral Unit it shares weekday Masses, confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation, social-justice outreach (including the St. Vincent de Paul Society), and a long list of liturgical and parish-life ministries — choir, lector, altar server, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar. It is the kind of parish where a visitor is quickly folded into the family and invited to use their gifts in service to Christ and to Alexander.
Mass times at Visitation of the B.V.M.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00-4:00 PM (3:00-3:45 PM per Quad Parishes site) at Visitation BVM, Alexander
- Tuesday 6:00-6:30 PM at St. Mary's, New Berlin
- During Thursday Eucharistic Adoration (6-8 PM) with Father Ron (the priest hears confessions during that hour)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered each Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM, rotating through the four Quad Parishes — Visitation BVM hosts on the 1st Thursday of the month (check the current bulletin for any changes).
History of Visitation of the BVM
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in 1909 when the Catholics of Alexander — previously served from New Berlin and then Franklin — petitioned Bishop James Ryan of the Alton Diocese for their own church. Reverend William Weigand was appointed on July 2, 1908 to organize the parish and build the church; the brick building (seating about 250) was completed in early 1910, with Father Weigand saying the first Mass there on January 16, 1910. After Sunday Masses were supplied from New Berlin by Fathers Wernet and Lucius, Father Francis A. Lucius was named Alexander's first resident pastor on January 1, 1911. Bishop Ryan came on June 30, 1912 to dedicate the church and confirm the faithful, preaching a sermon still recalled decades later.
- Founded 1909; named 'Visitation' to mark July 2, 1908, the day Father Weigand received Bishop Ryan's appointment letter.
- First Mass in the new church: January 16, 1910.
- First resident pastor: Rev. Francis A. Lucius, appointed January 1, 1911.
- Church dedicated by Bishop Ryan on June 30, 1912, with the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- Construction site: ground donated by Joseph Kumle, on what was then Route 10 (now East Old Route 36).
Quad Pastoral Unit (Quad Parishes)
Visitation BVM is one of four parishes — along with St. Mary's of New Berlin, Sacred Heart of Franklin, and St. Sebastian of Waverly — that together form the Quad Pastoral Unit of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. They share a common mission statement, common clergy, and a unified sacramental schedule that lets each parish specialize on a different day of the week while still serving the whole region.
- St. Mary's, New Berlin — host church; parish office at 306 East Birch Street, P.O. Box 20, New Berlin, IL 62670.
- Sacred Heart, Franklin — Sunday 8:00 AM Mass; Wednesday 8:00 AM weekday Mass.
- St. Sebastian, Waverly — Saturday Vigil 5:45 PM; Friday 8:00 AM weekday Mass; 265 E. Elm St., Waverly, IL 62692.
- Visitation BVM, Alexander — Monday 8:00 AM weekday Mass; Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM (4:15 PM on the older Quad Pastoral Unit schedule).
Parish Life & Ministries
The Quad Parishes describe parish life as the 'body that makes the Eucharist a unique and vibrant community.' In addition to sacramental life, members are invited into liturgical ministries (choir, lector, altar server, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist), social-justice and outreach ministries (visiting the homebound, food-pantry volunteering, St. Vincent de Paul Society), youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar. New ministries are welcomed — anyone with an idea is encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Liturgical: Choir, Lector, Altar Server, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.
- Social Justice: visiting the homebound, food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Formation & Community: youth ministry, men's and women's groups.
- Annual parish bazaar.
Faith Formation
The Quad Parishes describe faith formation as 'a vital element of the Catholic life' — not just for children, but for adults growing deeper in knowledge of Christ and the Church. The unit publishes opportunities for ongoing formation through its parish bulletin, calendar, and website.
- Faith formation for children and adults.
- Weekly bulletin and parish calendar for current programs.
- Contact the parish office for current offerings.
Parish Staff & Office
The Quad Parishes share a single office and staff team. The current pastor (per quadparishes1.org) is Fr. Adam Zawadzki; the older Quad Pastoral Unit site lists Fr. Ron Lorilla as Parochial Administrator. The Office Manager is Stacey Belcher. The office is staffed on Monday and Thursday mornings and on Tuesday and Wednesday, and serves all four parishes.
- Pastor: Fr. Adam Zawadzki (per quadparishes1.org).
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Ron Lorilla (per quadpastoralunit.com).
- Office Manager: Stacey Belcher.
- Office: 306 East Birch Street, P.O. Box 20, New Berlin, IL 62670-0020.
- Phone & Fax: 217-488-3545.
- Office hours: Mon & Thu 8:30 AM-12:00 PM; Tue & Wed 8:30 AM-3:00 PM.
- Emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
Sacraments
Information about celebrating the sacraments at Visitation BVM or anywhere in the Quad Parishes can be obtained by contacting the parish office. Confession is regularly offered on Saturday afternoons at Visitation and Tuesday evenings at St. Mary's, as well as during Thursday Adoration and by appointment.
- Baptism — contact the parish office.
- Confirmation — celebrated by the Bishop on his pastoral visit (as at the 1912 dedication).
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass (see schedule).
- Penance — Saturday at Visitation, Tuesday at St. Mary's, during Thursday Adoration, or by appointment.
- Matrimony — contact the parish office.
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office.
Visiting Visitation BVM
The church is located at 506 East Old Route 36 in the northeastern part of the village of Alexander, on the same road that links Alexander with Springfield (about 24 miles east) and Jacksonville. Parking is on the parish grounds. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any scheduled Mass or devotion and may contact the office at 217-488-3545 with questions.
- Address: 506 East Old Route 36, Alexander, IL 62601.
- Phone: 217-488-3545.
- Historic setting: Alexander is a small farming community in Morgan County on the historic Wabash railroad line.
- Visitors welcome at any scheduled Mass, confession, or Thursday Adoration hour.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Weigand1908-1910
Appointed July 2, 1908 by Bishop James Ryan to organize the new parish and supervise construction; said the first Mass in the new brick church on January 16, 1910.
- Rev. Oscar J. Wernet1910
Assistant from New Berlin who celebrated Sunday Masses while the parish awaited a resident priest.
- Rev. Francis A. Lucius1911-
Named first resident pastor on January 1, 1911; moved into the newly built priest's house and led the parish through its early growth.
- Rev. Kevin M. Laughery1994-2004
Per the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Pastoral Directory, served as Pastor of St. Mary, New Berlin, and Visitation of B.V.M., Alexander, 1994-2004, with additional responsibilities as Parochial Administrator (1995-2001) then Pastor (2001-2004) of Sacred Heart, Franklin, and Chaplain of Jacksonville Correctional Center.