The history of the Amboy parish dates back to October 1853 when Father Mark Anthony, CM came north from the Vincentian parish in LaSalle and offered the first Mass in this area in the log cabin of Michael Egan; forty or fifty Catholics were present.  For the next few years priests would come intermittently to offer Mass for the people.  With the coming of the railroad in 1854 the town of Amboy was begun and with it came an influx of Irish Catholic laborers and farmers. 

     In 1856 Father Bray arrived and became the first resident pastor of Amboy.  The people gathered around him weekly to worship and the parish of St. Patrick was born. 

     Land was purchased at Mason Avenue and Center Street (now Kellen Drive) on the northeast corner.  The following year construction of a wooden church was begun.  It was hoped that it would be ready for Mass on Christmas Day but on December 3, 1857 it caught fire and burned to the ground. 

     After the fire, Mass was held regularly in the Exchange Building until Father John Vahey arrived in 1858 and encouraged the people to consider building again.  They seemed enthusiastic by the idea and plans were drawn up to build a frame building 70 feet long by 32 feet wide.  By the spring of 1859 the building was in use.  Feeling his mission was complete Father Vahey moved on. 

     Father M.J. Clarke then arrived and stayed for nine years.  During this time, with the Civil War raging, he baptized more than 400 people and performed over 100 marriages.   

     Spending $600 from the parish funds Father Clarke purchased 6 ¾ acres on Rocky Ford Road for a cemetery.  A new iron fence was placed in the front in 1892.