Immaculate Conception in Union welcomes pilgrims seeking indulgence
This Jubilee Year, Father Peter Blake is spending a lot of time in the confessional.
“Sometimes I feel like the Curé of Ars,” Father Blake, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Union, said. “I go in early and come out late. It’s great.”
Immaculate Conception offers weekly reconciliation on Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass; some weeks, Father Blake heads back into the confessional after Mass to hear even more confessions. As the pastor of a church that is a Jubilee Pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, he’s happy to help as many people as possible receive the special plenary indulgence.
During the Jubilee Year, the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence — remission of the temporal punishment due to sins — by visiting any of the nine designated sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis for a pilgrimage or pious visit, in addition to the usual conditions for an indulgence.
Immaculate Conception has seen an increase in visitors throughout the year from other archdiocesan parishes and as far as Arkansas and the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Father Blake said. The parish has hosted tours and refreshments for large groups, as well as welcoming pilgrims to the usual Sunday Masses.
“We’ve seen from our neighboring parishes quite a few people come for a weekend Mass for that specific purpose (of indulgence),” Father Blake said.
Immaculate Conception Parish traces its roots back to 1866, when the Catholics of Union purchased a building at High and Church streets for $200 that previously was a Presbyterian church. It was originally named St. Mary’s Church, and priests from neighboring St. John the Baptist Gildehaus in Villa Ridge visited the parish once a month to celebrate Mass.
In 1870, the Jesuits in Washington took charge of the parish; in 1894, Franciscans from Clover Bottom assumed responsibility. The cornerstone for a new church was laid on June 30, 1901, and the stone church was rededicated to Mary under the title Immaculate Conception. By 1905, Mass was celebrated weekly at the church.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis assumed responsibility for the parish in 1948. Another new church — the one that stands today — was completed in 1953.
Pilgrims can find prayer cards and other materials in the back of the church by the green Jubilee banner, Father Blake noted. He encourages visitors to spend some time praying with the stained glass windows in the church.
“Each of the windows has a symbol of Mary from the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so that’s what we highlight,” he said.
This is the eighth in a monthly series featuring each of the nine designated pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis during the Jubilee Year 2025. To read other stories in the series, visit stlreview.com/Jubilee-2025-sites.
Visit Immaculate Conception Church
100 N. Washington in Union
(636) 583-5144
Mass Times: 8 a.m. Tuesday through Friday
8 a.m. First Saturday
4:15 p.m. Saturday Vigil
7 and 10 a.m. Sunday
Confession: 3:15-4 p.m. Saturday
Eucharistic adoration: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday
Jubilee Indulgences
Options to receive a Jubilee indulgence:
Pilgrimage to a sacred Jubilee site, where the faithful participate in Mass, another liturgical service such as Morning or Evening Prayer, or acts of piety such as Stations of the Cross, praying the Rosary or a penitential celebration.
Pious visit: Individually or in a group, devoutly visit a Jubilee site and engage in eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the profession of faith from Mass, and a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Those who are unable to take part in pilgrimages or pious visits for serious reasons, such as cloistered religious, the elderly, the sick and those who care for them, or the imprisoned, may obtain the indulgence by uniting themselves in spirit with those making pilgrimages or pious visits, reciting an Our Father, a profession of faith, and other prayers in harmony with the purpose of the Jubilee Year, and offering up their sufferings and hardships to the Lord.
Works of Mercy and Penance: This includes participation in formational activities on the documents of Vatican II or the Catechism, initiatives that put into practice the spirit of penance, and performance of corporal or spiritual works of mercy. For the full details on Jubilee Indulgences, read the papal bull: stlreview.com/3POKFln
Help the souls in purgatory
The faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in purgatory, if they receive holy Communion a second time that day within Mass, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day, applicable only to the deceased.
Usual conditions for a plenary indulgence:
• Be in a state of grace and have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin
• Sacramental confession (can be received several days before or after)
• Reception of holy Communion
• Prayer for the pope’s intentions
Designated Pilgrimage Sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis | St. Louis
Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France | St. Louis
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters | St. Louis
The Carmel of Saint Joseph | Ladue
Saint Mary’s of the Barrens – National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal | Perryville
Monastery of St. Clare | Oakville
Passionist Nuns of St. Louis | Ellisville
Immaculate Heart of Mary | New Melle
Immaculate Conception | Union
