How did a little parish in Coal Valley Illinois become dedicated to an Italian Saint?
St. Maria Goretti Parish was first founded as a mission of St. Ambrose Church, Milan, in 1965 during the pastorate of Father John Callahan. During WWII Fr. Callahan had served in the Army in Italy. While there he developed a personal devotion to the highly popular Italian, Maria Goretti. Once, when he was in a tight spot Father promised “if I get the chance I’m going to name a church after St. Maria Goretti. We were granted parish status in 1972, and our present church building was dedicated on September 9, 1984. In 2003 we number roughly 400 families in membership. In 1879 the first Catholic church in Coal Valley was built. However that church was struck by lighting and destroyed during a severe thunderstorm. It wasn’t until 1967 when the mission reorganized that Catholics again had worship in Coal Valley. The original church building was purchased from Trinity Lutheran Church in 1967, and became a mission under Father Callahan. The Lutheran parsonage, built in 1945, became the rector
