St. Patrick Catholic Church of Merna
Our parish has a long history in this area. We have compiled some interesting facts about this topic, which we hope you enjoy!  

October 15, 2006

In 1883 Fr. Edward Ryan was appointed our parish’s first resident pastor. He roomed and boarded with the Kerwin family. Mr. Kerwin owned a fine, black horse, and Fr. Ryan loved to ride. It was Fr. Ryan’s delight to borrow the horse and visit his parishioners who lived further away.

 In 1885, Fr. M.L. O’Connor succeeded Fr. Ryan. At that time the congregation sang hymns, with Mrs. Will Merna as organist. Since Mrs. Merna’s home duties took much of her time, Fr. O’Connor re-organized the choir and attended all rehearsals. The choir members at the time were M/M Michael Gould; Mary & Maggie Crane; Ellen & Rebecca Kinsella; Thomas Hanley, Mary Kerwin and Maggie Larkin.

June 18, 2006

In 1879, Fr. Schrieber requested that Statins of the Cross be erected in the worship area for the Merna parish. A few young ladies rode on horseback around the countryside collecting what they could from the women of the parish. They received $1.50. Those were the days when chickens averaged 4-5 cents a pound; eggs were 6-7 cents a dozen; butter was 10-12 cents a pound! Due to the generosity of the people, the Stations of the Cross were erected. To celebrate, a picnic of baked chicken & ham, bread, pies & cakes was held on the church grounds on August 15, 1879. The young people had driven in lumber wagons to gather the food, which was prepared by the "willing women of the parish".

January 1, 2006

In 1876 the Illinois Central Railroad had not been constructed. The school and the small-frame church were built one mile south of what his now Merna. Since Ed Hanley owned the quarter section directly east of the school, the area was called Hanley's Corner. Priests referred to the out mission as Hanley's Corner. In 1877 Mr. Hanley sold his farm to Richard and Anna Kerwin. Mr. and Mrs. Kerwin continued to look after the church and take care of the priest on Sundays as the Hanleys had previously done. The Kerwins are the maternal great grandparents of Dan Gould of Towanda, Angie Bergin of Merna, and Father Michael Gould MM, serving in Bolivia, South America.  

November 2005
As far back as 1860, Catholics around the Towanda Township would drive lumber wagons to Bloomington for Mass when the weather conditions allowed. Around 1870, the priests from Holy Trinity would celebrate Mass bi-monthly at the homes of James Merna & Edward Hanley. In 1873 the site for Mass changed to the schoolhouse located one mile south of Merna. In 1875 the pastor of Holy Trinity, Fr. McDermott, proposed that the Catholics of Merna build a church. Patrick Kinsella donated an acre of land directly across from the school. The original frame church was built at a cost of $1,625.