The parish was founded in 1859, and is named after Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus and patron of the Universal Church.
Chenoa, in McLean County, was laid out by Matthew T. Scott in 1854 at the intersection of two railroads. This region used to be tallgrass prairie, is very flat, and is noted for having some of the most fertile soils in the world. Underground are vast seams of coal. McLean County is the largest in Illinois at 1186 square miles.
My visit to this church was suggested by JB Powers of the Society of St. Barbara.
Mary and Saint Patrick.
The Divine Mercy in front of the altar.
Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony of Padua.
Sacred chrism.
The communion rail.
Altar of Mary; to the right is a statue of Saint Anne and the child Mary.
225 West Owsley Street
Chenoa, Illinois 61726
These are great photos! I've passed by Chenoa about 50 times over the last 5 years and driven by the exterior of this church several times without ever going in.
ReplyDeleteIf I might recommend a church to visit -- the chapel at DeSmet High. As a DeSmet grad, I went to many masses in the chapel. It has a great window above the altar of the Christ breaking bread on the road to Emmaus and a beautiful hand carved cherry wood statue of Mary with the crown of thorns in her lap. They used to (and I assume they still do) have mass every morning at 7:30a.m. in the chapel and its open to the public (the chapel is not connected to the school building). It is a wonderful chapel for a high school campus.
Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteThis web site about St. Joseph's Parish in Chenoa, Illinois is extremely well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is the church where I was Baptized, received my first Holy Communion and Confirmed. It is where my son John and daughter Laura were Baptized. It is from here that Holy Mass for the funerals of my parents and siblings were offered for their souls.
The church is a beautiful and you can feel the presence of God when you enter. I am joyful also at seeing the icon of Jesus as "Divine Mercy" being present, especially when this Sunday (which is also my beautiful wife's 29th birthday -she says) is the great Feast of Divine Mercy.
It is a small church, but it is a very holy oasis and remains an extremely dear place in my heart. The pastor is Father Carl Loprest. He is a wonderful shepherd.
Tom Kelleher Spokane, WA