In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of Peoria, Bishop Louis Tylka has launched a special Pilgrimage Passport inviting the faithful to visit six churches across central Illinois. Pilgrims will receive a unique stamp at each site, have the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence granted by the Holy Father at each site, and can participate in prayer and reflection.

The 150th Anniversary Pilgrimage Passport is more than a souvenir — it’s an invitation to walk in faith, to encounter history, to serve others, and to deepen communion with Christ. May all who journey be richly blessed, walking in the footsteps of those who came before — and trusting in the power of God’s grace for what lies ahead.

Passports are available at all 6 Pilgrimage Sites.

Pilgrimage Sites & Stamping Stations
Passports are located at the pilgrimage sites, commemorating key eras and figures — from Marquette’s first Mass to Sheen’s legacy — as windows into 150 years of grace.

1.  Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria
    As the mother church of the Diocese, location for the opening anniversary Mass, final resting place of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, and home to diocesan relics, the Cathedral is the natural cornerstone of the pilgrimage.
2. Corpus Christi Church, Galesburg
    Rooted in the early decades of the diocese, Corpus Christi offers a rich Catholic heritage and parish devotion nurtured by waves of immigrants.
3. St. Mary Church, Moline
    Founded in the 19th century, this long‑standing parish has been central to diocesan life in the Quad Cities.
4. St. John Chapel at the University of Illinois Newman Center, Champaign
    Established in the early 20th century and now the largest Newman Center in the United States, this chapel serves hundreds of students and welcomes adults drawn to campus ministry.
5. St. Mary Church, Utica
    Site near which Fr. Jacques Marquette celebrated the first Mass recorded in the future diocese’s territory on April 11, 1675. A monument marks his mission of the Immaculate Conception.
6. Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Nauvoo
    Founded in 1848 by Fr. James Griffith and guided by Fr. John George Alleman, this parish ministered amid relations with early Latter‑Day Saint settlers.

Pastoral Message from Bishop Tylka
 At the opening Mass on February 12, 2025, Bishop Tylka exhorted the faithful to renew their discipleship through this spiritual initiative:

“We are not here simply . . . looking to the past, but rather in this present moment to renew our commitment to live as disciples of Jesus”.

He also urged a deepened prayer life: praying the anniversary prayer, rosaries, and holy hours.

Looking Ahead: A Two‑Year Celebration
 The Diocese will carry this pilgrimage and celebration until May 22, 2027, concluding with a closing Mass. In the meantime, regional anniversary Masses are scheduled across the diocese in 2025 and 2026.

More information is available at cdop150.org

Each pilgrim site has a prayer card and passport for visitors.

Anniversary Prayer

(encouraged at each pilgrimage stop)

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the gift
of faith in Your Son, Jesus.
We thank you for the gift of the Church
in the Diocese of Peoria.

As we celebrate 150 years as this local Church,
we are grateful for all who have come before us
laying the foundations and building up
the community of faith. 

In this moment, we pray that the grace
of the Holy Spirit renews our own witnessing
to Jesus, so that in all our words and deeds
we will move forward together on the way
to God’s kingdom.

May Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for us.
May St. Joseph, protector of the Church, watch over us.
May Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, inspire us to
Proclaim Christ, yesterday, today, forever!

Bishop Louis Tylka
Diocese of Peoria