Parish History

The History of St. Patrick Church dates back to 1838 with the arrival of the Reverend John Francis Plunkett, from Dublin, Ireland, who came in answer to the call of the dying canal workers during the malaria epidemic of 1838. Father Plunkett was appointed the first pastor of the future St. Patrick Church by Bishop Simon Brute of Vincennes, Indiana.

With the building of the I & M Canal, many immigrant families had come to the area, most of whom were Catholic and many came from the Emerald Isle. As the community grew, Father Plunkett began construction of a new stone church on Broadway Street just west of the Canal and south of Jefferson Street. Thus was born St. Patrick Church, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Joliet and the second oldest in the whole Metropolitan Chicago area. It is now considered a landmark of Joliet.

During the next seven pastors and seventy-seven years, St. Patrick Church continued to grow and see many changes. Once its name was changed to St. George. However, after eight years it reverted back to the original name St. Patrick. From County Tipperary, Ireland, came Reverend Philip L. Kennedy in 1917. He was assigned to erect a new St. Patrick Church, School, and Rectory. The first mass was offered in the new church on Sunday, March 2, 1919. The site for this new church was 710 West Marion, the present site of St. Patrick Church.

St. Patrick is now fortunate to have Reverend Father Peter Jankowski as pastor. Through his spirituality, humor and grace, St. Patrick will continue to be a very close and loving community. Many priests have been assigned as pastor to St. Patrick Church. All of these men have given of their talents and spiritual leadership:

Rev. John Francis Plunkett 1838-1840

Rev. Hippolyte Du Pontavice 1840-1844

Rev. John Ingoldsby 1844-1850

Rev. George A. Hamilton 1850-1858

Rev. Patrick Farrelly 1858-1869

Rev. Walter H. Power 1869-1886

Rev. Patrick W. Dunne 1886-1911

Rev. Peter Paul O'Dwyer 1911-1917

Rev. Monsignor Philip L. Kennedy 1917-1961

Rev. Monsignor John W. Desmond 1961-1965

Rev. Monsignor Peter F. Seidl 1965-1970

Aux. Bishop Raymond J. Vonesh 1970-1974

Rev. Henry L. Wilkening 1974-1978

Rev. Vytas A. Memenas 1978-1990

Rev. George Klepec 1990-1995

Fr. James Lennon 1995-2006

Fr. Peter Jankowski 2006-Current

For Additional Information:
Please Phone the Rectory at 815-727-4746
or Send Email

Rev. John Francis Plunkett	1838-1840
Rev. Hippolyte Du Pontavice	1840-1844
Rev. John Ingoldsby	1844-1850
Rev. George A. Hamilton	1850-1858
Rev. Patrick Farrelly	1858-1869
Rev. Walter H. Power	1869-1886
Rev. Patrick W. Dunne	1886-1911
Rev. Peter Paul O'Dwyer	1911-1917
Rev. Monsignor Philip L. Kennedy	1917-1961
Rev. Monsignor John W. Desmond	1961-1965
Rev. Monsignor Peter F. Seidl	1965-1970
Aux. Bishop Raymond J. Vonesh	1970-1974
Rev. Henry L. Wilkening	1974-1978
Rev. Vytas A. Memenas	1978-1990
Rev. George Klepec	1990-1995
Fr. James Lennon	1995-2006
Fr. Peter Jankowski	2006-Current