During the late 1840s, famine in Ireland forced many families to immigrate to other countries. Many of these immigrants came to what is now Rankin, Illinois. In those days, Father Vanderpool or Father Pernin, traveling missionaries, celebrated Mass. Catholics from the neighborhood gathered in a local home where Mass was said. Father Cahill came to Loda in 1879 and became the first resident pastor.
Eventually, the Rankin settlers, the Abbott, the Carlon, the Newman, the Auth, the Foley, the Mulchey, the O’Malley families, as well as many others, petitioned Bishop Spalding in Peoria to purchase land from William Rankin so they might have a church of their own. It was then that Holy Trinity Church was built in 1880.
Rankin remained a mission of Loda until 1949 when, on the formation of a new diocese which incorporated Loda, it was transferred to the Diocese of Peoria, and became a mission of Penfield. Father Herbach was their first pastor. Holy Trinity remained a mission of Penfield until February 2, 2000, when it became a mission of St. Anthony Church. Due to declining population, Holy Trinity Mission united with St. Anthony to become one congregation in July 2001.
Renovations for the rectory occurred in 1998.
Previous Pastors:
1877-Fr. Lang 1929-Fr. Hunnold Pro-Tem
1878-Fr. Hanley 1938-Fr.Emmett Flynn
1879-Fr. Michaud 1959-Fr. William Isermann
1882-Fr. McGear 1960-Fr. John Kozel
1883-Fr. Dunn 1967-Fr. Raymond J. Bolye
1884-Fr. Edward 1975-Fr. John J. Podlashes
McCartney 1976-Fr. George May
1885-Fr. John Quinn 1982-Fr. Ted Pracz
Fr. O’Reilly
1892-Fr. E. J. Kniery 1992-Fr. Jerry Pilon
1895-Fr. Anthony Mainville 1998-Fr. Terrance O’Brien
1897-Fr. William Selk 1999-Fr. R. Anthony Lee
1902-Fr. M.A. Welter 2004-Fr. Bailey Clemens
1902-Fr. F. Gahlman 2005-Fr. Bowan Schmitt
1929-Fr. Walsh 2010- Fr. Geoffrey Horton
2014-Fr. Patrick O’Neill 2018- Fr. Tom Gibson
2022-Fr. Ignatius Mulenda
Parish History
Roman Catholics, mostly Irish and German, have been arriving since the 1860s to the little prairie community of Hoopston, Illinois. St. Anthony Catholic Church was founded in 1877, and Father D. J. Hogan became the builder of Hoopston’s first Catholic Church in 1883. Michael Baragree, Tade Ladyen, and James Tyrell were among those who solicited funds for the building of this church.
Father Frederick Gahlman served St. Anthony from 1903-1929 - longer than any other priest. Father Gahlman’s first great accomplishment was establishing the Ladies’ Altar Society in 1903. Another accomplishment was the founding of Hoopston Council No. 1761, Knights of Columbus, in October 1914. On December 12, 1907, St. Anthony’s new church was formally dedicated and in 1922, a rectory was built.
In October, 1930, the parish was organized as a corporation with John Sloan and John Burdan as trustees. On May 20, 1953, Father Flynn purchased a house to use as a convent by future teachers. During Father Flynn’s tenure, he also established the Spanish-speaking ministry. The parish hall was constructed in 1885.
In 1990, the interior of the church was painted, carpeted, and new pews were installed. In 2010, a handicap railing was added to the front stairs. Most recently, the baptismal font was refinished, and the stained glass window restoration project was begun. The project required each window to be removed, repaired, and cleaned.
As early as 1946, migrant families from Texas and Mexico traveled to Illinois to find employment for the summer harvesting of asparagus, peas, and sweet corn. In the summer of 1947, Father Flynn obtained the services of three Mexican priests to minister to the needs of the Spanish-speaking families. In 1968, Father Boyle obtained the services of two Spanish Cordi-Marian sisters. During Father Boyle’s tenure, several Mexican priests and seminarians, as well as religious sisters served the churches Hispanic community. St. Anthony continues to provide for the needs of the Spanish-speaking parishioners.
The arrival of the Jubilee Year in 2000 brought with it a new and exciting relationship for St. Anthony Catholic Church, as Holy Trinity Mission became part of this ministry.