St. Patrick Parish (Diocese of Rockford)
St. Patrick Parish is in Illinois (United States) and is part of the Diocese of Rockford.
It is dedicated to Saint Patrick.
| St. Patrick Parish | |
| [[File:|150px|center]] | |
| Dedication: | Saint Patrick |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Rockford |
| Deanery: | Rockford |
| Address: | 2505 School Street, Rockford, IL 61101 |
| Coordinates: | 42.2768, -89.1088 |
| City: | Rockford, IL |
| Subdivision: | Illinois |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Winnebago County |
| Website: | https://stpatrickrockford.org |
| Founded: | 1919 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | stpatrickrockford@gmail.com |
History
St. Patrick Parish in Rockford, Illinois, was established in 1919 by Bishop Peter J. Muldoon to address the spiritual needs of the growing Catholic population on the city’s west side. Initially, it served a predominantly Irish immigrant community, with its first Mass celebrated in a temporary space before a wooden church was built later that year. In 1927, under Rev. John J. Holland, a permanent brick church was constructed at the current site on School Street, reflecting the parish’s growth. The parish weathered the Great Depression and expanded its outreach during the mid-20th century, becoming a hub for the west-end community. By the 1990s, the demographic shifted, and the parish embraced a significant Hispanic population, introducing Spanish-language Masses. Today, led by Rev. Ariel A. Valencia since 2022, it serves about 400 registered families, maintaining its tradition of cultural inclusivity with events like the annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, a fundraiser begun in 1935 that once served over 1,000 people and still draws 600 attendees each March.
Special features
- Bilingual Masses in English and Spanish, reflecting the parish’s diverse congregation.
- Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, a 90-year tradition since 1935, honoring its Irish roots and supporting parish funds.
- Designated as a pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope” by Bishop David Malloy, offering catechesis and reconciliation.
- A parish chapel hosting weekday Masses and Eucharistic Adoration from Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Historical significance as one of Rockford’s oldest west-side parishes, founded in 1919.
Related parishes
St. Patrick Parish in Rockford collaborates with St. James Parish, located 2.2 miles away, for shared diocesan events like the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of St. Peter. It also maintains ties with St. Patrick Parish in Rochelle, 25 miles south, for regional ministry initiatives within the Diocese of Rockford.