Epiphany Catholic Church stands at 1000 East College Avenue on the east side of Normal, Illinois, a few blocks from the Illinois State University campus. Founded in 1966 and now serving more than 1,400 families across the Bloomington-Normal area, the parish has earned a reputation for the striking "Noble Simplicity" of its renovated worship space, the depth of its Catholic art and music, and a calendar that balances traditional devotion with energetic outreach to the wider community.
From Farmland to a Parish of 1,400 Families
Before 1966, Normal did not have a Catholic parish. On June 8 of that year, Bishop John Franz of the Diocese of Peoria announced the establishment of Epiphany Catholic Church. A building fund campaign two years earlier had already financed the construction of an eight-classroom school, rectory, and convent on what had been farm property purchased by the diocese. Father John King, then assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Bloomington, was named the founding pastor. Four Franciscan Sisters from Peoria and two lay teachers were engaged to staff the school, and Masses were initially celebrated in the school cafeteria until the original church was dedicated on March 27, 1973.
Father King retired in 1995 and Reverend Thomas Maloney, a former Epiphany assistant pastor, was named pastor by Bishop John Myers. Monsignor Maloney retired in 2002, and Monsignor Eric Powell became the parish's third pastor. In 1997 the school gained an addition with four new classrooms, a library and computer lab, and a parish multi-purpose room. The Lyceum, which added a gymnasium and six junior high classrooms, was completed in 2000. After a capital campaign and a Long Range Planning Committee study, the original church was extensively renovated beginning after Easter 2009, with Masses moving temporarily back to the school cafeteria and Lyceum. Doors to the renewed church opened on July 10, 2010. The parish has grown from 400 founding families to more than 1,400 today, and that growth is described by the parish as the fruit of a spirit of cooperation and generosity from a faith-filled community.
The "Noble Simplicity" Building and Its Art
The overall design theme of the renovated church is "Noble Simplicity," using forms and primary materials intended to be practical, durable, and timeless. Architects Larson and Darby drew on Roman antiquity, with the central facade recalling Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio in Rome. Many of the elements tie into Catholic tradition: groups of three recall the Most Holy Trinity and appear in the central focal archways and the three detail niches at the main entrance. The entry piazza serves as a transitional space from the concerns of the world to the heavenly, much as the courtyard of Solomon's Temple or Herod's Temple once did. The central piazza and flanking wings of the parish hall and early learning center, together with the stone wing-walls on each side of the main entrance, are humble references to Bernini's Piazza San Pietro at St. Peter's, with the "maternal arms of Mother Church" reaching out to bring souls to Christ. Arched windows echo ancient loggias and colonnades, an interweaving carving on the altar corbels represents the True Vine, and stars in the project refer directly to the Epiphany, with the eight-pointed star and octagon symbolizing the Eighth Day of Creation. The marble floor patterns draw on those found in the basilica of St. Francis and Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, and the Adoration Chapel was conceptually envisioned as a grotto in the spirit of Lourdes, with rough-hewn perimeter walls giving way to polished stone at the focal reredos where the Blessed Sacrament is enshrined.
Mazzolini Artcraft Company of Cleveland designed and supplied the finished marble liturgical furnishings, including the main altar of sacrifice, ambo, baptismal font, monstrance shelf in the Adoration Chapel, and bases for the church tabernacle, paschal candle, and three statues. These were executed in "Epiphany Red" marble using raw blocks quarried in Central Asia, then cut, carved, and fabricated by craftsmen in Pietrasanta in the Carrara region of Tuscany, Italy. Twin City Tile and Marble Company of St. Paul, Minnesota supplied the marble for the floors and walls, which was cut and polished by ItalMarble Pocai in Massa, Italy, then shipped by ocean to Montreal and onward by rail to Chicago before being installed by craftsmen from Minneapolis-St. Paul, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Central Illinois.
The Life of Christ is depicted in art throughout the building. To the left of the altar stands "Virgin with Child," a bronze of Mary with her right hand raised in blessing and her left resting on her womb, created by Jerry McKenna, an Irish-American sculptor based in Texas. In the apse behind the tabernacle is a custom reproduction of Bartolome Esteban Murillo's "The Adoration of the Magi" (1655-1660), painted by Neilson Carlin of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The 2010 sculpture "Saint Joseph and the Young Christ" shows the foster father at a moment's rest in the workshop, hammer in hand. In the summer of 2021 the parish commissioned Demetz Art Studio of Ortisei, Italy, to sculpt a life-size linden-wood depiction of "The Baptism of Christ," installed in 2022, with John the Baptist in camel skin pouring water while holding a cross, an intentional visual link between the Baptism and the Crucifixion. In the Parish Hall hangs Chamizo's version of "The Communion of the Apostles" after James Tissot, and in the Sacristy is Chamizo's copy of Titian's "Ecce Homo." The corpus of the original Oberammergau Crucifix, dating from around 1968, was reworked by Heritage Restoration of Peoria and placed on a new cross, now hanging in the Parish Hall. On the ceiling of the Adoration Chapel, Neilson Carlin painted a fresco of the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven.
Carlin's newest paintings, lining both sides of the sanctuary, depict saints from the time of Christ to the modern era across six continents. The left side, reading from right to left, shows Peter, Rita, Lorenzo Ruiz, Martin de Porres, Therese, Kateri, Alphonsa Muttathupadathu, Maria Goretti, and John Paul II; the right side shows Paul, Peter Faber, Holy Innocents, Maximilian Kolbe, Augustine Zhao Rong, Charles Lwanga, Mary MacKillop, Marianne Cope, Josephine Bakhita, Gianna Molla, and a Holy Innocent. As Monsignor Eric Powell explained when the paintings were unveiled, the parish deliberately reached beyond European saints to reflect Epiphany's parishioners from India, Africa, and Latin America. Carlin designed the figures to look as if they are standing on a little porch, so that as the faithful come up for Communion they participate in the feast of the Lamb with two thousand years of saints.
The Adoration Chapel holds two tabernacles of identical design, one in silver plate and the other in enamel panels inspired by twelfth-century altar fronts, accented by Celtic filigree ornamentation and depicting the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Visit of the Magi, the Flight into Egypt, and Christ enthroned in glory with the Greek letters alpha and omega. The tabernacle in the main church is a large Mozarabic-style tabernacle inspired by the eleventh-century agate box from San Isidoro de Leon, with translucent veils in the Church's liturgical colors used to highlight the season or saint being celebrated. Stained glass throughout the building was cleaned and protected, while the windows in the Pope John Paul II Adoration Chapel and the Cenacle were made by Conrad Schmitt Studios of New Berlin, Wisconsin, with the chapel's main outer window depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego, and its main inner window displaying Pope John Paul II's coat of arms. The Cenacle window bears the coat of arms of Bishop Jenky.
Embedded in the altar itself are relics of the True Cross, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Josemaria Escriva, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Maria Goretti, St. Pudentiana, and Sts. Charles Lwanga and Matthew Molumba. The parish notes that these relics, preserved since the fourth century's widespread practice, remind the faithful of the holiness of each saint and inspire the asking of their prayers.
Mass Schedule and Reconciliation
Epiphany's Mass schedule centers on the Eucharist. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 7:00 am and 5:30 pm, with a Saturday morning Mass at 7:30 am. The Sunday Vigil is celebrated on Saturday at 4:00 pm. On Sunday, Mass is offered at 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 5:30 pm; the 7:30 am Mass is also livestreamed on YouTube. Reconciliation is heard Monday through Friday at 7:30 am, on Saturday at 7:00 am and 3:00 pm, and on Sunday at 7:00 am, 8:30 am, and 10:30 am. In the St. John Paul II Chapel, Eucharistic Adoration is continuous, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.
Worship relies on the generous involvement of many parishioners and their families. Liturgical roles are coordinated through Ministry Scheduler Pro, which schedules altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and greeters. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist priests and deacons during both weekday and Sunday Masses, and a separate team brings Communion to the homebound, to nursing homes, and to hospitals each week. Greeters welcome everyone at the door and help them find a comfortable seat, while lectors proclaim the Word of God at weekday, Holy Day, and Lord's Day Masses. The Epiphany Music Ministry leads the music for all Sunday, Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter liturgies, drawing on Spirit & Song from OCP and Worship from GIA Publications, with every hymn and Mass setting coming from one of those two hymnals to encourage congregational singing.
The Seven Sacraments
The parish prepares members for each of the seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are usually celebrated on Sundays after the 9:30 am Mass, and parents are asked to meet with Deacon Mark Cleary. First Holy Communion is typically received in the second grade after two years of preparation through the Religious Education Program or through the parish school. First Reconciliation is also received in the second grade following two years of preparation. Confirmation is prepared for at the eighth-grade level, and adults in need of Confirmation typically join those in OCIA at the Easter Vigil.
Couples planning to marry are encouraged to contact the pastor at least six months prior to the wedding date, with diocesan formation classes required for all couples. The parish also offers Natural Family Planning in two formats: the Couple to Couple League's Sympto-Thermal Method, which meets once a month for three consecutive months on Sunday afternoons in the Cenacle Room, and the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, available through Erica Miller, OTR/L, MS, FCPI, at OSF Medical Group in Normal. Anointing of the Sick is available upon request, and priests should be seen after any Mass; communal Anointing is offered annually on the World Day of the Sick (February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) and on the Feast of the Assumption at all Masses. Catholic funerals are arranged through the Parish Office, and a funeral luncheon can be requested and is served by the funeral committee in the Parish Hall. Young men discerning a vocation to the priesthood are invited to speak with the pastor; the Diocese of Peoria holds an annual retreat called Emmaus Days, in two sessions for different age groups, and the Sacrament of Holy Orders is celebrated in Peoria by Bishop Daniel Jenky.
Faith Formation for Adults
Epiphany's adult faith formation reaches people at many stages of the spiritual journey. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) is open to non-Catholics, Catholics who are not confirmed, and Catholics interested in learning the foundations of Catholic belief. Classes offer time in Scripture, study, prayer, and fellowship, and follow the ancient practice restored by the Second Vatican Council as the normal way adults prepare for baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Walking with Purpose is a Catholic women's Bible study that links everyday challenges and struggles with the teachings of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church through personal study and small-group discussion. The parish's first men's ACTS retreat was offered in the fall of 2013, followed by a women's retreat the following spring, and now a retreat is offered each year for men and for women. ACTS stands for Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service, inspired by Acts 2:42-47, and is a three-day, three-night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow parishioners, beginning Thursday evening and ending the following Sunday at a Mass celebrated with the parish community.
The Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group meets on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:15 pm in the parish library, with phone or Zoom participation available, and gathers in an atmosphere of love and support, praising God, sharing Scripture, and offering prayer for healing and other needs. Millions of Monica's is a prayer group of mothers who, like St. Monica, pray for their children to return to or remain close to the Catholic faith, meeting weekly on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. The Servants of the Shepherd Prayer Group meets on Wednesday mornings by Zoom at 10:30, praying the Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours.
Many small groups meet in parishioners' homes rather than in the church building. Bibles and Beers is a men's group meeting from 8:00 to 9:00 pm on alternating Wednesday nights in Bloomington. A Bible Study on the Acts of the Apostles is led by David Demboski. The St. Ignatius Men's Small Group meets from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Wednesday nights to go over the daily Mass readings and keep each other spiritually accountable. A Women's Small Group meets from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday nights, choosing its own studies and reflections. The Adult Faith Coordinator helps newcomers find a group that fits.
Young Catholics
Children who do not attend Epiphany Catholic School are served by the parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) Religious Education Program, which runs from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on Wednesdays each week during the school year for first through eighth graders. CCD typically begins in first grade, when students are enrolled in the Year 1 First Communion class, and ends in eighth grade, when students are enrolled in the Year 2 Confirmation class. After Confirmation, all are encouraged to attend High School Youth Group on Sunday evenings to continue their formation.
Ignite Youth Ministry is a multi-parish high school youth group that meets most Sundays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The Junior High Youth Group gathers once a month for sixth through eighth graders to build community through games, service, learning, and discussion of living out the faith. American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered character development program for girls ages five through eighteen, with troop programming shaped by Catholic teaching and tradition, focusing on life skill enhancement, girl leadership, teamwork, character development, social development, and spiritual development. Epiphany Cub Scout Pack 3925 welcomes boys in grades K through five for hiking, camping, praying, building, serving, and competing under the leadership of fathers and men of the parish. Totus Tuus is offered each summer as a vibrant Catholic parish mission for grade-school and teen programs, blending catechesis, prayer, and fun.
Serving Bloomington-Normal
The parish's service ministry is rooted in the words of John 15: "Love one another as I have loved you." The Faith and Works Ministry was established to facilitate service opportunities, partnering both with internal parish ministries and with local nonprofits whose goals align with Catholic faith, and communicates new opportunities through a Flocknote group. The Knights of Columbus, Normal Council 6498, meets on the first and third Tuesdays at 6:00 pm in the Epiphany Parish Hall, working to support the parish through charitable works, the annual Lenten Fish Fries, Pancake Breakfasts following the 7:30 and 9:00 am Masses in January and February, a fall Coat Drive, summer blood drives with the Red Cross, and many other efforts. Membership is open to practical Catholic men in union with the Holy See who are at least eighteen years old.
Faith in Action is a non-profit coalition of area churches, including Epiphany, that provides free transportation, friendly visiting, and minor home maintenance to seniors age sixty and older. Volunteers use an internet-based program called Ride Scheduler to choose their clients, with no minimum hours and the ability to serve seasonally. Seniors may request service by calling (309) 827-7780.
Elizabeth Ministry respects all life, cherishes children, encourages families, enriches marriages, and builds community. Current areas of ministry at Epiphany include pregnancy and the celebration of birth, infertility and adoption, miscarriage, stillbirth, and child death, special needs, and family crises such as hospitalization. Practical support is offered through meals and gifts to baptized children, social support through visits with those who share similar experiences, and spiritual support through prayer. The ministry gathers at 7:00 pm on the third Monday of each month (except July and December) in the Cenacle Room. A one-hour training is required before ministering.
The parish collects non-perishable food items on the third Sunday of each month and delivers them to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Bloomington, and parishioners regularly volunteer at SVdP service projects. The parish also partners with Habitat for Humanity of McLean County, with parishioners serving on build days for local families. Epiphany volunteers regularly serve at Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington-Normal. Through its annual Giving Tree, the parish supports Path Homeless Services, the Salvation Army Safe Harbor Shelter, Mid Central Community Action's Neville House for victims of domestic violence, Birthright of McLean County, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria, and the St. Vincent de Paul clothing pantry, with donations collected in the Narthex and entrances.
The Sanctity of Life Committee promotes respect for human life from conception until natural death through education, prayer, and service. Activities include Holy Hours for Life in January, July, and October; a monthly Mass offered for Respect for Human Life; legislative alerts; an annual observance of the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children at Holy Cross Cemetery Memorial; and an annual baby bottle fundraiser for Birthright of McLean County. St. Nicholas Charity on Wheels, a ministry of Catholic Charities serving those in need throughout the Diocese of Peoria, distributes items such as blankets, towels, book bags, school supplies, socks, gloves, canes, gift cards, and non-perishable food, along with religious items like bibles, rosaries, and holy cards. Epiphany supports the ministry by filling bags that Sister Michelle Fernandez hands out from the van.
The Prayer Chain is a group of parishioners who love their neighbor in time of need through prayer, with members notified by Flocknote when a prayer request is received. The Prayer Quilt Ministry ties knots into quilts while offering silent prayers for the recipient; each quilt is blessed during Mass and displayed in the Narthex and Adoration Chapel before being given to the person it is made for. A New Grief Group runs on Monday evenings during parts of the year using materials from Red Bird Ministries, a non-profit, pro-life, and pro-family Catholic grief support ministry serving individuals and couples who have experienced the loss of a child from pregnancy through adulthood.
Fellowship and Parish Life
Fellowship is woven through the parish week. The Hospitality Ministry serves treats and drinks after Masses and at other parish social events, with new volunteers always welcome. The annual Karibu (Swahili for "Welcome") Celebration brings the parish together for an evening of music, art, and food from many cultures. The Knights of Columbus host Pancake Breakfasts following the 7:30 and 9:00 am Masses in January and February, with pancakes, sausage, applesauce, and juice or coffee. Lenten Fish Fries, served with fried pollock or baked tilapia, cole slaw, a dinner roll, a baked potato, applesauce, mac and cheese, and cake, are offered in partnership with the Knights. The Father-Daughter Princess Ball is an annual evening of music, dancing, dinner, and a free photo booth for girls of all ages with their fathers, grandfathers, or uncles. Mother-Son Game Night brings families to the Epiphany Lyceum Gym for pizza, open gym, board games, and family games.
The Moms Group meets weekly on Thursday mornings during the school year for fellowship, faith formation, and a hot cup of coffee, with free babysitting provided. The Back 2 School Party at the start of each school year gathers parishioners and school families to pray for students and to enjoy food served by the Knights. New members entering the Church at the Easter Vigil are welcomed by the parish community.
Epiphany Catholic School
Epiphany Catholic School offers classes from three-year-old preschool through eighth grade and shares the parish campus. CCD children and school children together participate in the parish's sacramental preparation. The school continues the parish's long commitment to forming young people in faith, character, and academic excellence, and serves as a vital point of connection between the parish and the wider Normal community.
Parish Leadership
Epiphany is shepherded by a leadership team that includes Pastor Fr. David Richardson, Parochial Vicar Fr. Nick Conner, Permanent Deacons Mark Cleary and Michael Winger, and Pastoral Assistant Sharon Sweeney, who also coordinates the ministry schedule and the ministry to the homebound. Stephanie Demboski serves as Adult Faith Formation and Evangelization Coordinator, Aggie Hatch as CCD Coordinator, Theresa Quarton as Communications Director working on the parish bulletin, Flocknote, and monthly newsletter, and Angie O'Connor as Parish and School Business Manager. Joyce Tellman is the Office Assistant, helping with parish-related questions. The parish also has Trustees and a Finance Council.
The parish vision is simply stated: "to offer everyone in our community a life-changing encounter with Jesus." That vision animates the daily Mass schedule, the perpetual Adoration in the St. John Paul II Chapel, the wide circle of faith formation opportunities, the school, the arts that fill the church, and the dozens of service projects that reach across Bloomington-Normal every month of the year.