Why is the Immaculate Conception Church of Mary at Kaskaskia celebrating 350 years of service and devotion to congregations?
On Easter Sunday in 1675, Father Jacques Marquette, S.J. established the very first Immaculate Conception Church in the Illinois Country and in the World.
His devotion to Mary led him to North America eager to share Christianity with the indigenous peoples living there and share his message of peace and friendship also with the new immigrants of France.
Father Marquette spent some time in Quebec learning about the land, the natives, and life of his fellow Frenchmen that were already pioneers there. Finally in 1673, he received permission to make a missionary trip down the great rivers that were said to lead to ports on another ocean. The experienced explorer Louis Jolliet agreed to accompany the anxious missionary on this voyage.
For more on the church’s anniversary, please see this week’s print edition.