The first of 10 regional 150th anniversary celebration Masses to be held across the Diocese of Peoria took place at St. Matthew Church in Champaign on Tuesday, March 18.

CHAMPAIGN – Bishop Louis Tylka began his homily at St. Matthew Church in Champaign on March 18 by explaining why the Diocese of Peoria is celebrating its sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) over a two year period (2025-2027).

Bishop Louis Tylka (front row, second from right) gathers with priests of the Champaign-Danville Vicariate at the first regional 150th diocesan anniversary celebration Mass at St. Matthew Church in Champaign on Tuesday, March 18.

He outlined how, when the Diocese of Peoria was established by Pope Pius IX on Feb. 12, 1875, the priest who had been appointed as Bishop of Peoria, Father Michael Hurley, respectfully declined.

SHIP CARRYING LETTER SANK

“As his letter was going back to Rome, with his rejection of his appointment, the ship sank – and so Rome had no idea they had a new diocese with no bishop,” related Bishop Tylka.

Communications being what it was in 1875, it took two years to clear up the oversight before Bishop John L. Spalding was appointed and assumed the office of Bishop of Peoria on May 22, 1877.

The order of liturgy and a prayer card are photographed (foreground) prior to the regional 150th Anniversary Celebration Mass at St. Matthew Church in Champaign on March 18.

Bishop Tylka said that in reflecting on how to celebrate the diocese’s 150th anniversary, “I thought, well, we could mark when the diocese was founded, which is Feb. 12, 1875 . . . or when the first bishop finally showed up (May 22, 1877).”

“But you know, our church is known to celebrate things that are important . . . for more than just a day.” He cited the Christmas and Easter “seasons.”

“Why not celebrate for two years?”

10 REGIONAL MASSES

And so, he summed up, “We began our celebration a month ago on Feb. 12, the exact date of the founding of our diocese (Diocese of Peoria launches 150th Anniversary “Party on the Plains” Feb. 12), and we will continue to celebrate until May 22 (2027).”

As a benefit of the extended celebration, he said, the March 18 Mass in Champaign would be the first of 10 regional Masses that would be celebrated across the diocese:

2025

June 3, 2025 – St. Hyacinth (La Salle)

Aug. 12, 2025 – St. John Paul II (Kewanee)

Sept. 17, 2025 – St. Pius X (Rock Island)

Oct. 28, 2025 – St. Columba (Ottawa)

2026

March 3, 2026 – St. Patrick of Merna (Bloomington)

June 16, 2026 – St. Jude (Peoria)

Aug. 25, 2026 – St. Paul (Macomb)

Sept. 16, 2026 – St. Mary (Pontiac)

Oct. 27, 2026 – Blessed Sacrament (Pekin)

Father Nathan Hopper, parochial vicar, St. Matthew Parish, Champaign, greets 150th anniversary attendee after Mass on March 18.

AFTER THE MOUNTAINTOP

Bishop Tylka concluded by observed that, “Every time we gather for Mass is a mountaintop moment.”

“At the end of every one of those Masses that we celebrate, what happens?” he asked rhetorically.

“Jesus says, ‘Go into the world. Go live out your discipleship.’

“We will take up that mission that is always the same – to proclaim Christ, yesterday, today, and forever.”