St Mary 2

The history of Elizabeth’s Catholic community spans three centuries, beginning with the 19th century pioneers of northwestern Illinois, continuing with the faithful of the 20th century, and moving forward with today’s parishioners who stand at the beginning of a new millennium.
In 1843, only four years after the town itself was laid out, the mission of Elizabeth was established, served by priests from neighboring towns. In the ensuing years, five churches -starting with a log structure - were built to keep pace with the growing numbers of communicants.

Where two or more are gathered together
The progression of church buildings helps tell the story of the town’s Catholic community:

** In the 1840’s, priests from Galena and New Dublin tended to the needs of the Elizabeth mission, saying Mass in private homes.

** in 1849, a log building on the south side of town became Elizabeth’s first Catholic church. Called St. Elizabeth, the structure was the town’s third church building, following a Methodist church (1834) and a Presbyterian church (1847).

** In approximately 1854, a second log church was built at what is now 209 Madison Street.

** In 1866, when the congregation outgrew this site, a brick building on the north side of Elizabeth was remodeled as a church and called St. Thomas.

** In 1882, a new wooden frame church was built on the northwest corner of Washington and Catlin Streets to replace the old brick building. Dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, the mission parish was called St. Mary’s and was under the care of priests from Savanna. Church members longed for a resident priest in Elizabeth and wrote to the Archbishop:

The congregation decided to build a new church. We went to work with a cheerful heart and a good will, all nationalities doing their best, Germans and Irish working together in perfect harmony and peace, and now we have a nice little church completed by the grace of God, of which we are all proud, and what is best we have all paid, no debts or encumbrance on the church whatever.. .As for a parsonage we could rent of buy a house for the present, and if we should get a priest we guarantee, that before spring comes again, there will be a parsonage built...

What we now pray for, most venerable Archbishop, is, that you send a priest to live with us, and take charge of our church and our souls. We live twenty miles from our priest in Savanna. The road is a rough country road, almost impossible sometimes and it is hard for a priest to travel in all kinds of weather good or bad.. .There is also a stream of water between Savanna and Elizabeth which after heavy rains is so high that it is impossible to cross. A person being sick and dying at such a time would die without holy sacraments, however strong the desire of the person or zeal of the priest may be...”

** At long last, in 1887 - the same year the railroad came to Elizabeth - St. Mary’s was appointed its first resident pastor, Fr. Joseph Ruetershoff.

Places to gather, places to rest
Other parish buildings and grounds reveal still more dimensions of St. Mary’s developing history:

** In 1884, a school/convent building was constructed on Catlin Street, with forty students, taught by a lay teacher, enrolled the first term. By the 1888-89 school year, classes were taught by the Sisters of St. Francis. (The school/convent was closed in 1912 and torn down in 1930.)

** In 1887, Fr. Reutershoff built the rectory, used to this day, despite fires in 1920 and 1934.

** In 1880, the land for St. Mary’s Cemetery was acquired, a beautiful site north of the church with a breathtaking hilltop view overlooking the surrounding countryside. 18-year-old Catherine Wand was the first person to be buried there, in 1888. The cemetery’s gates were erected in 1955, and a new section of the cemetery was developed with markers and fencing in 1977.

** In 1927, the Parish Hall, complete with a small stage and fully-equipped kitchen, was formally opened in the basement of the church. A major remodeling of the hall was done in 1978.

** Inside the church, the confessional was removed in 1991 to allow for construction of a handicap-access entrance and funeral ramp on the north side of the church. Central air conditioning was installed in 1992.

** Across from the church and rectory, a much-needed church parking lot was built in 1994.

** In 1913, the old church was torn down and the cornerstone of the new church was put in place. The present Church of St. Mary was dedicated in May 1914, with the Rt. Rev. Peter Muldoon, Bishop of Rockford, presiding. Construction costs totaled $25,000, with $21,500 contributed by parishioners and other townspeople. The handsome brick church crowning Elizabeth’s north hill continues to minister to the community today.

** In 1988, the 75th Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Mary’s Church was celebrated, with the main altar decorated as it would have been in 1914 and with Fr. Ronald Conro wearing vintage vestments to celebrate the Mass.