About St. Mary Catholic Church

The earliest records of Catholicism in Paxton date back to 1860 when Paxton was an adjunct of St. Mary Church in Champaign.  Seeing a need for a church in Paxton, Rev. Louis Heidemann, the parish priest of St. Joseph Church in Loda, built a church on the southeast side of town.  This church, known as Church of the Holy Ghost, was built in approximately 1883.  Holy Ghost became a mission church of St. Joseph in Loda.

In 1910, Reverend Patrick Harry Durkin of St. Malachy in Rantoul, led the efforts to build a new church in Paxton.  St. Mary Catholic Church was built on the west side of town on the corner of Pells and Maple Streets.  The church was constructed for $11,000 and used some materials from Church of the Holy Ghost.  Parishioners and donors from neighboring communities helped fund the project.  Once construction was complete, St. Mary Church became a mission of            St. Malachy Church in Rantoul and was part of the Peoria Diocese.  Father Durkin traveled to Paxton weekly to say Mass.

In January of 1911, St. Mary Curch was dedicated by Bishop Dunne with High Mass at 10:30 am with thirty-five priests in attendance.  Also in attendance were parishioners from the seventeen familes comprising the congregation and also many members from out-of-town churches.

In 1921, St. Mary Church became a canonical parish and Sacred Heart in Ludlow, IL became its mission church.  Msgr. Bernard J. Sheedy oversaw the construction of the rectory and became the first resident pastor.

In 1948, the Joliet Diocese was formed and St. Mary Church becamse the southernmost church.  At this time, St. Joseph Church in Loda became a mission of         St. Mary Church.

In 1960, St. Mary Church celebrated its Golden Jubilee with the purchase of the statue "Our Lady of Grace", which was imported from Italy.  The statue still remains in front of the church.  In 1962, the present parish center was built north of the church on Maple Street.

Our faith community has had a presence in Paxton for over a century.  We have continued to give witness toour faith in Jesus Christ and the Catholic Christian tradition for over 150 years.

About St. Joseph Catholic Church

As early as the late 1850s, Mass was being celebrated in the town of Loda, Illinois in the home of Mr. & Mrs. James Healy.  There was real Christian zeal in those pioneer days and people within a 25-mile radius came to Mass at Loda, some walking many miles, others coming in lumber wagons, and one woman, Mrs. Joseph Hindman, drove a team of oxen nine miles across the prairie and swamps.

In 1866 Rev. Dr. Wm. A. Fanning, who was pastor at Fairbury, was given charge of Loda as an out mission coming monthly when possible.  In 1870 when the parish was founded, Confirmation was administrered by Bishop Foley of Chicago.  In 1871 Fr. Fanning built St. Joseph Church in Loda which belonged to the Chicago Archdiocese since the Peoria and Joliet Dioceses were not yet created.  Fr. Engelbert Blume had the first Holy Communion class in 1877.  Fr. Cahill came in 1879 and was the first resident priest, boarding in the country for a time and later renting a house in town.  In 1880, Fr. Martin Kelly built a rectory in Loda.  In 1883, Fr. Louis Heideman became pastor and would stay for 17 years.  He built a convent and parochial school in 1884-85.  He also built a combination school and church in Paxton - Church of the Holy Ghost.  During this time Paxton, Rankin and Gibson City becamse mission churches of St. Joseph Church in Loda.  In 1900, Fr. Edward Jacob came and had the sanctuary arch built.  In 1904, Fr. Healy arrived.  He enlarged the sanctuary and sacristy, put in a new floor, pews, confessional, stations of the cross, statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, and a fine high altar.  In 1911, while he was at the death-bed of his mother, the rectory burned to the ground.  He later built and furnished a new rectory.  During his time, only Rankin remained as a mission church of Loda.  In 1914, Rev. Fr. Philip Markey came for 19 years.  He had new stained glass windows added to the church.  In 1920, a destructive fire happend in the church and repairs had to be made.  Many priests continued to come to Loda and they all worked to expand the congregation, spread the faith, and impove the church.

In 1948, the Diocese of Joliet was formed and at that time St. Joseph Church in Loda became a mission church of St. Mary Church in Paxton.  Today our parish remains strong both in spirit and in numbers with many volunteers helping to ensure the church is well maintained and that Masses continue to be a reverent celebration.

About the St. Mary & St. Joseph  Parish Center

The Parish Center is the heart of parish activity outside of our churches!  It is also the location for our Faith Formation classes, and the meeting spot of most of our combined church organizations.  It is located just north of St. Mary Catholic Church.