Msgr. Charles Beebe, who carried highest rank of monsignor, dies at age 80

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Peoria for Msgr. Charles Beebe, who served diocesan schools, parishes, and the permanent diaconate for 55 years.
Most Rev. Louis Tylka, Bishop of Peoria, and Abbot Michael Calhoun will officiate.
Msgr. Beebe passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Carle Methodist Hospital in Peoria. He was born on June 23, 1944, the son of Joseph and Marion (Ellert) Beebe in Passaic, NJ.
BENEDICTINE CHARISM INFLUENTIAL
He studied for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Conception, Missouri. In a Catholic Post article celebrating his 50th year as a priest in 2020, he said the Benedictine charism for education and formation played a role in devoting his priestly ministry to education at all levels.
“I sat and read to preschool children in Creve Coeur all the way through ministry formation for the (transitional) diaconate,” he remembered.
AOL/SPALDING YEARS
Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1970, he served as an assistant at St. Bernard in Peoria, and then at St. Joseph in Pekin.
I still remember kneeling and having all the priests come by and placing their hands on your head . . . . as vividly today as when it was happening . . . .” – Msgr. Charles Beebe, describing his 1970 ordination
Moving to Creve Coeur as pastor of Sacre Coeur Parish in 1991, he also assumed the roles of principal at Sacre Coeur School, as vicar of the Pekin Vicariate.
Other assignments along his priestly path were as pastor at St. Jude in Dunlap (1993), and while remaining episcopal vicar for permanent diaconate, as pastor at St. Philomena, Peoria (1999), and then at St. Joseph, Roanoke and St. John Benson starting in 2003.
PROTONOTARY APOSTOLIC
Having previously been named a prelate of honor with the title of monsignor in 1993, Msgr. Beebe was graced with the further distinction of being named a protonotary apostolic, the highest rank of monsignor, in 2011. “It was so kind . . . of the bishop to give me that honor,” he said of Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC.
Msgr. Beebe was granted senior status in 2016.
As he told the Catholic Post in 2020, in retirement Msgr. Beebe was blessed to be able to celebrate Mass for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Heading Avenue Franciscans, in West Peoria.
LONG ASSOCIATION W. HEADING AVENUE FRANCISCANS
“They’ve been a very important part of my life and ministry,” he said. “In fact, I’ve known and worked with the Heading Avenue Franciscans all 50 years of my ministry.”
Throughout his priestly ministry, he never lost the freshness of the Spirit bestowed on him in the beginning.
Of his ordination, he said, “I still remember kneeling and having all the priests come by and placing their hands on your head . . . . I remember that as vividly today as when it was happening . . . .”
Visitation will be held an hour prior to Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Peoria from 10-11 a.m. Monday. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Mausoleum.
Memorials may be made to St. Bede Abbey, 24 W Us Highway 6, Peru, IL 61354.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.