Rep. Niemerg: Bishop Paprocki Speaks at St. Joseph Church 150th Kick-off Ceremony

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki is standing in front of the memorial of Fr. George Nell. Photo Credit: Sandy Meinhart.

This past Sunday, the Church of St. Jospeh in the Parish of St. Isidore the Farmer in Island Grove, Illinois was honored to welcome Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield for the opening ceremony of their Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2024. State Rep. Adam Niemerg provided the Illinois State flags placed at the 15 gravesites of the founding members of the Church of St. Joseph.

"I am very honored to have Bishop Paprocki visit my home parish for this milestone in the history of the Church of St. Joseph in Island Grove," commented Rep. Adam Niemerg. "It is good that we were able to provide Illinois State flags for the opening ceremony at the cemetery."

The headstones marked with flags here are those of Matthias Meinhart, Joseph Meyer, Francis Dannan, three of the original 12 families who initiated the construction of a church and formation of a parish in 1874.

The initial celebration of the Sesquicentennial celebration event was a Mass of Thanksgiving beginning at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Paprocki was the main celebrant for the mass at St. Joseph Church with a luncheon reception following in the Church Hall. The celebration ceremony was held in the St. Joseph cemetery in front of the memorial for Father George Nell, the first resident pastor beginning in 1922.

Additional events for the Sesquicentennial will be held in September. For more information, please contact one of the members of the planning committee.