Growing Disciples Implementation for our parishes
Galesburg, Wataga, Williamsfield
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Corpus Christi, and St. Patrick in Galesburg, St. James in Williamsfield, and St. Aloysius in Wataga will be merged to become one parish, with Immaculate Heart of Mary and Corpus Christi as worship sites. St. Patrick in Galesburg, St. James in Williamsfield, and St. Aloysius in Wataga will eventually not be used. Masses may continue during the process of implementing this change which is expected to be completed over the next three years. In the meantime, Fr. Deus-Dedit Byabato will remain pastor of St. Aloysius in Wataga and Fr. Deogratias Mpewo will serve as administrator of St. James in Williamsfield.
Fr. Jeffrey Stirniman will serve as pastor and Fr. Christopher Magesa as parochial vicar of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Corpus Christi, and St. Patrick in Galesburg, effective July 1.
The implementation phase will begin in all parishes on July 1, 2024. Fr. Stirniman will lead the implementation effort in cooperation with Fr. Deus-Dedit at St. Aloysius and Fr. Deogratias in Williamsfield.
Sacred Heart, Abingdon
St. Augustine in St. Augustine, St. Bernard in Bushnell, and Sacred Heart in Abingdon will be merged to become one new parish, with a primary worship site at St. Augustine. Sacred Heart in Abingdon will eventually not be in use. Masses may continue during the process of implementing this change which is expected to be completed over the next 12 months.
Fr. Eugene Radosevich will remain pastor in St. Augustine and Bushnell and will become pastor of Sacred Heart in Abingdon, effective July 1.
Regardless of what may happen to our parish, everyone will experience a change, whether it is a new structure for our parish, or the parish we grew up in, a new priest, or a renewed commitment and focus to evangelization and growing disciples. No matter what happens over these next few years, the real power we have is in growing in our relationship with Jesus and his Church. We have and will continue to do this together as a church family