St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lewistown

"Rev. Howard of Galesburg organized St. Mary's Parish, Lewistown, IL in 1864.  A church building was begun at once and finished the following year.  Immediately, Lewistown was made the out-mission of Canton.  The pastor was the saintly, Father Ryan who had a large territory with many labors.  Fr. O'Neil succeeded in 1870.  He ministered to both Canton and Lewistown until 1877, when he retired.  Father Lyons was assigned to assume his duties.  St.Mary's was served by priests from Pekin and Peoria until 1880.

In 1880, Lewistown was given a resident priest, and Bushnell and Rushville parishes were added, while Canton's duties were assigned elsewhere.  The next year, a new parsonage was erected with Father Galley being the priest in charge.  He was followed by Fathers O'Callahan, O'Brien, Theibes, Jansen, Libert, Finn, Flynn, Madden, Fitzgerald, Blaske, Sheedy, Walters and Father O'Brien.

In 1900, the church was remodeled with new stained glass windows.  Splendid altars were added.  In 1920, the resident pastor was removed to Havana, with Lewistown and Manito as out-missions.             The first couple married in the church was Mary Cook and Patrick Hinchey.   JJ McNally was the first child baptized there.  St. Mary's Church was one of the strong factors in the many temperance fights in the city.  Father O'Neil, during 1864, organized a temperance league among his members, which resulted in much good for the town."  This excerpt was taken from The Fulton Democrat 1922.

Predecessors to St. Mary's are:  Fr. Thomas Howard 1897 - 1902;  Fr. James McGreevey 1902 - 1910;  Fr. Theodore Wolters 1911 - 1916;  Fr. Thomas O'Brien 1917 - 1935;  Fr. Patrick Martin O.S.B. - 6 mos. in 1935;  Fr. Keith Roche 1935 - 1940.  Fr. Roche also had charge of St. Patrick's in Havana with the out-mission in Manito, IL.  Fr. John Crowley became pastor in 1940.  From1943 - '46, was an Army chaplain at New Guinea.
 
In July 1943, Edward Blough succeeded Fr. Crowley. He served all 3 parishes.
 
On May 9, 1944, Fr. Blough, reported to the Army School of Chaplains at Ft Devens, MA and was awarded the commission of first Lieutenant. Nine of the eleven members of his immediate family were in the services.
 
During the war years, St. Mary's Altar & Rosary was an extremely active group.  They met in homes provided socials, worked with the USO, coordinated potlucks, provided Mass studies, purchased and sewed linens, provided hospitality whenever it was needed, sold baked goods, created lace for the altar linens, sent clothing to the Koreans, sponsored dances, presented books to the public library, bought new furniture and music, helped with the Junior/Senior prom, held annual picnics at Dickson Mounds and cleaned and decorated the church for holiday functions.  In 1943 the Altar & Rosary Society hosted Card and Bingo Party nights in the High School gym.  Tickets were 35 cents for the ticket and included pie and coffee.  It was a complete success.  Prizes included war stamps, pies and cakes.  In 1955, the Altar & Rosary Society of Lewistown, became affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women.
 
In 1950, Havana was the home of three Nauvoo Benedictine Sisters.  Sr. Mary Adele, Sr. Mary Kathleen and Sr. Mary Bernadette came to Havana to conduct a kindergarten and give religious instruction in all three parishes.  These sisters also ministered to out-mission parishes, St. Mary's in Lewistown and Immaculate Conception in Manito.
 
Father James Griffin served Lewistown at St. Mary's from 1945 - 1960, until Fr. William Gray was sent.  Fr. Gray was sent from St. Patrick's in Peoria and served from Feb - June 1960 where he continued to serve Havana and Manito.
 
In June 1960, Father Robert O'Connor was appointed from Canton to pastor St. Mary's and St. Michael's in St. David, IL.  With this assignment, St. Mary's was given its first pastor in many years.
 
St. Mary’s Church, in Lewistown, Illinois, was an out mission of St. Patrick’s from 1920 - 1960.