Parish History

1879: First church built with Father Paul Halbmaier as first Pastor of joint parishes,

Lodi (Maple Park) and Virgil.

1881:  A school was built which was used until 1913.

1883:  Father Otto Groenebaum becomes Pastor.

1884:  Father F. O. Sullivan becomes Pastor.

1885: Father J. A. Coughlin becomes Pastor, followed by Father W. J. Revis.

1886: Father James Hagan is named Pastor.

1890:  Father Hugh McQuire became Pastor.

1891: Father Anthony Royer is named Pastor.

1897: Father M. Orth becomes Pastor, followed by Father F. G. Hartman.

1900:  Rev. John Reuland was ordained in Rome.

1908: Shortly after the diocese of Rockford was separated from Chicago, a delegation left Virgil for Rockford to see Bishop Muldoon, first Bishop of Rockford.  They convinced the Bishop to form a Parish in Virgil.

1909:  Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles S. Nix (1909-1921) is the first Pastor of the new parish.  Four acres of land were donated by John Sauber for the new church.  The cornerstone for the new church was laid at the corner of Meredith Road and Winters Road on June 6.

1909: A rectory was built.  Bishop Muldoon dedicated the church on  November 4^th.

1910:  Barbara Keifer entered the convent as Sr. Mary Leutfreida, O.P.

1913:  A new school was built.

1921:  Father Edward Berthold became Pastor.

1924:  Bernice Keifer entered the convent as Sr. Eugenia Clare, O.P.  Father John C. Then was ordained on June 15.

1926:  Father Stephan Wolfgarten became Pastor.

1928:  Father William N. Deutsch was ordained on May 26.

1929:  Father Arthur Schmid became Pastor.  He died on March 18, 1934.

1934:  Parish Silver Jubilee was celebrated.   Father Ivan Esser became Pastor.

1935:  A house was purchased with 5/8 acres of land across from the church from the Reines Estate as a home for the Sisters.

1940: The church was redecorated.  Father Clement P. Petit was ordained on May 18.

1941:  Loretta Petit entered the convent as Sr. Mary Donna, O.S.F.

1942:  February 9 a fire destroyed the sacristy and the contents, a $10,000 loss.  The church was redecorated.  Marie Petit entered the convent as Sr. Clement Marie, O.S.F.

1946:  The rectory was remodeled.

1953:  The old school was torn down.  A new school was built and opened in September.  Cost $120,000.  The cornerstone was laid in July by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles S. Nix, first Pastor of the new church.

1954:  The new school was dedicated by Bishop Raymond P. Hillinger on May 24.  The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Milwaukee, staff the school.  Father John C. Then, Father Clement P. Petit, and Father Ivan A. Esser were participants of the dedication.

1956:  The convent was remodeled.  Mary Louise Schramer joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.

1959:  Father Ivan Esser celebrated 25 years as Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul.  March 15 was the 35^th anniversary of Father Esser’s ordination.  The church was redecorated.  Bishop Loras T. Lane was present for the celebration.

1964:  Kathryn Keifer joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.  Two classrooms and an office were added to the school. 

1967:  Father Ivan A. Esser died on April 9.  He was Pastor from 1934 to 1967.  Father Joseph Kaiser became Pastor in May.

1971:  Saints Peter and Paul School closed in June.

1972: Father Vaughn became Pastor.

1981:  Father Vaughn died March 4^th.  Father Albert Rennell was appointed Pastor.

1982:  The school was turned into the Diocese of Rockford Youth Center.  The heat system was overhauled and a bathroom was installed in the church.

1983:  The Renew Process Program was formed.  Judith Probst was appointed coordinator for the CCD Program.

1984:  Father Rennell celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination in June with a Mass of Thanksgiving and a potluck supper for all the members of the Parish.  Father Rennell was transferred to Elburn, and Father Michael Librandi was appointed Administrator of the Parish.  The Parish celebrated the Diamond (75^th) Jubilee on November 4^th with Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill as principal celebrant.  Concelebrating with the Bishop were former pastors and priests ordained from the Parish. 

1989:  Father Michael Librandi left in July, taking a medical leave of absence. Father Thomas Neville becomes Pastor.

1990:  Judith Probst resigned in July as coordinator for the CCD Program.  Mary Clare Zielinski was hired as the new CCD Coordinator.

1991:  Present Parish enrollment includes 150 families.

1992:  Clark Reynolds was ordained a Permanent Deacon on March 28^th.

1993:  Jaculin Torphy was appointed CCD Coordinator.

1997:  Judy Probst returns as coordinator for Religious Education.

1998:  Leila Rivers was appointed Youth Minister.

1998:  Father Thomas Neville retires.  Father Aloysius Neumann becomes Pastor.  Jim Newhouse was ordained a Permanent Deacon on May 2^nd.

1999:  Father Neumann is transferred.  Father Les Suberi Echevia becomes Administrator.  Leila Rivers was appointed Coordinator of Religious Education. Organist Fran Berens retires after over 30 years of service.

2001:  Father Les Suberi Echevia is installed as Pastor.  Parish enrollment is approximately 230 families.

2002:  Father Thomas Neville celebrates the Silver Jubilee of his ordination on March 19^th.   Dinner followed at the Parish Center.

2002:  Leila Rivers becomes Director of Religious Education

2008:  Fr. Les Suberi Echevia retires.  Fr. Perfecto Vasquez becomes Administrator.

2009: Fr. Perfecto is installed as Pastor.  Diocese initiates the Catholics Come Home Program.  Start fund raising for Church Roof.

2010: New Church Roof installed. 

2011: The Parish Center Kitchen, Halls and Bathrooms remodeled.  Mr. Charles Sauber donated A/C for Parish Center.   

2011: Rosary Garden, bequeathed by Lorraine Petit/Miller Memorial Fund, is completed and dedicated by Bishop Doran.  Sr. Donna Petit, OSF passes.

2012: Parish shed rebuilt.  Fr. Thomas Neville passes.  Fr. Michael Librandi passes.

2013: New roof installed on Rectory. Sr. Marie Petit, OSF passes.

2014: Leila Rivers resigns as DRE in April. Darlene Biggs is appointed DRE for SS Peter and Paul, Virgil and St. Mary of the Assumption in Maple Park. Fr. Les Suberi Echevia passes away on June 5th. Fr. Perfecto Vasquez is appointed pastor at SS Peter and Paul, Virgil and St. Mary of the Assumption, Maple Park as of July 1st. Hardwood flooring is put in the altar of the church installed by Kevin Miller.

2015: The church stain glass windows project begins in May and are renovated.

2015: Father Moises Apostol becomes the Parocial Administrator at SS Peter and Paul and St. Mary's, Maple Park as of June 15th. Mary Newhouse volunteers as Coordinator of Religious Education for SS Peter and Paul Parish. Fr. Moises is moved to Savanna, IL two months after being here. The renovated stain glass windows are installed in October.

2016: Msgr. Thomas Dzielak, priest in residence (retired), is residing at St. Mary in Maple Park starting July 1, 2016.
2017: A new garage for the rectory is being replaced. 

2018: Father Perfecto Vasquez retires effective June 18, 2018. Father Ariel Valencia becomes Parochial Administrator for SS Peter and Paul and St.Mary, Maple Park. Mrs.Sarah Poynton is hired on as the CRE for religious education. 

2019: Bishop Malloy installs Father Ariel Valencia as our pastor at SS Peter & Paul,Virgil and St. Mary of the Assumption, Maple Park on June 26th. Sarah Poynton resigns as DRE and Leila Rivers is assigned as the DRE for SS Peter & Paul and St. Mary, Maple Park. New flooring is placed in the parish offices. New doors are installed in the parish center and donated by Terry Petit.
2020:Father Perfecto Vasquez passed away October 5, 2020.
2020: Coronavirus pandemic strikes. Masses are livestreamed and limited number of persons are allowed in the churches. 
2021:Churches are allowing almost full capacity by June. Fr. Ariel is assigned to another parish. Father William Antillion is the new pastor of SS Peter and Paul, Virgil and St. Mary of the Assumption, Maple Park starting June 17th.