1854, the very same year that the town of Flora had its beginning, also saw the beginning of St. Stephen Catholic Church. The Reverend Fr. Joseph F. Fischer of St. Marie, Piequet's settlement in Jasper County, Illinois, said the first Mass in the home of Louis Valbert. The other early Catholic families were the Jeremiah Hagertys, Whelans, Riders, Ruchtis, Quinns, Dermodys, Cassidys, and A. Thompson. They came from France, Ireland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Other early pastors from St. Marie were Fathers Vahey, Walsh, and Harty. Later Masses were said in the J. Hagerty home once a month. When Mr. Sylvester Rider moved to Flora in 1865, Mass was celebrated in his home.

A year later in 1866, a small church seating 125 was built on East Maple Street. Father Sandrach of St. Marie offered the first Mass in this new church. He was succeeded by Fathers Dee, David, Kearney, Wegmann, Meckle, Moliter, O'Reilly, Newhauser, and Hegemann, who in reglar succession offered the Holy Sacrifice once a month. During that same year, Mr. Louis Valbert donated to St. Stephen's congregation a two acre tract for burial purposes. Prior to this time, burial was made in local cemeteries.

The first resident pastor of St. Stephen's was the Rev. J.W. Crowe, who took charge of the parish on January 5, 1878, and remained until February 16, 1878. He was succeeded by Father Augustine Schlegel who also remained only a short time from February 16, 1878 until September 1878. His successor, Father Lubertus Riesen was the first pastor to reside at St. Stephen for any length of time; November 27, 1878 to August 19, 1886.

On February 24, 1878, Lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Block 4 in Samuel White's addition to the City of Flora was deeded to St. Stephen's Catholic Church by Sylvester and Ann Rider. Therefore, in May of 1880, the small frame church was moved from East Maple Street to the new location on 9th and Main Streets. Along with the church, a two story frame building was used as the rectory was also moved. The church and rectory were moved at the suggestion of Father Riesen and through the instrumentality of Mr. Sylvester Rider.

On August 19, 1886, Fr. Riesenwas transferred from Flora and was succeeded by Father JOhn B. Schnelten who remained as pastor until June 17, 1888. During his stay, the Stations of the Cross were erected in 1887.

Father Aloys Wegmann assumed duties as pastor of St. Stephen on June 17, 1888. During his stay, he saw the need for a parochial school and immediately set to work in establishing the first school of St. Stephen's Parish. It was a small, modest frame building built in 1888 at the cost of $300.00. Student attendance ranged from 31 to 64 and the students were taught by lay teachers. One of the teachers was Louise Willien, who taught for seven years. On September 8, 1895, she entered the convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she became Sister Aloysius.

On Christmas Day 1892, the church was destroyed by fire. Father Wegmann, with the cooperation of the Most Reverend Bishop and the people of Flora, made plans to build a new church. The school was used for church until the dedication of the new church on October 18, 1893, the Feast of St. Luke. The church was built of red brick with stone trimming and was located at the corner of 8th and Main Streets, facing Main Street on the west. The cost of building the church was $8,720.00 and seated 200 people.

When the church was built, many furnishings were still missing. Fr. James M. Mamer, who succeeded Fr. Aloys. Wegmann, proceeded to add the necessary furnishings. In 1895, the first side altar was installed. In 1896, the bells were bought. In 1897, an organ was obtained and electric lights illuminated the church for the first time in 1903. The second altar and new statues were installed in 1905, and Fr. Ferdiard Mumbour was assigned to continue the work of his predecessors.

In keeping with the new church, Fr. Mumbour, with the aid of the parishioners, built a new two story brick veneer rectory in 1907 at the cost of $3,400.00. Permission was obtained form the city of Flora close the alley between 8th and 9th Streets running from North Main to Locust Street. The new rectory was built behind the church and just to the north of it.

On September 23, 1908, Father Mumbour was transferred and was succeeded by Father Peter Goelzhauser. In October of the same year, the first school building was sold for $115.00 and removed from the premises. The old rectory was then transformed into a school.

Fr. Goelzhauser remained with St. Stephen's until April 7, 1914. On June 14, 1914, Fr. Jacobus Ziegenfuss O.S.B. served as interim priest for one month, until Fr. Hy. Alberg arrived on July 20, 1914.

In 1917 Fr. Eckert assumed charge of St. Stephen's and with energy and enthusiasm erected a new school that opened in September of 1919. The new school cost $7,000.00 to build and was located at the corner of 8th and Locust streets facing 8th Street on the south. It was built of tile blocks and finished with a stucco facing. Enrollment started with 49 students and within a few months had grown to 62 students. The school was dedicated by Most. Rev. Henry Althoff on May 24, 1920. At the time of the dedication, Fr. Eckert had been transferred and Fr. Lohmann had become the new pastor.

Once the new school was built and operating, the old rectory that had served as the school was changed into a sisters' convent to accommodate the sisters that had come to teach in the school. Sister M. Veronica, Sister Antonia, and Sister Leocadia belonged to the order of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of Ruma, Illinois.

For a little over thirty years, things had remained as they were with the exception of necessary improvements and maintenance. It was not until 1951 that another major change had occured within the St. Stephen's Parish. Under the direction of Fr. Loepker, the parish worked hard for ten years to raise the money necessary to build a new school. It was not uncommon to serve two to three dinners a week to as many as 300 people each time, besides having weekly bingos, bake sales, rummage sales, card parties, and an anniual picnic giving away 50 quilts. Other prizes at the annual picnic ranged anywhere from small items to TV's, air conditioners, automatic washers, and even a Ford Falcon. The profit from these annual events ranged from $2,900 to $5,000.

On July 4, 1954, St. Stephen's celebrated its 100th birthday along with the city of Flora. The celebration included an outdoor service on the church lawn with living rosary, sermon, and benediction.

The last mass held in the brick church was November 11, 1954. By order of Most Reverend Bishop Albert R. Zuroweste, the church was declared unsafe and abandoned after cracks were found in the south wall of the building and it was condemned by the safety board. Sunday masses, thereafter, were held in the Town Theatre, thanks to the generosity of Mrs. P. L. Spalding and Mr. and Mrs. Larry Spalding, owners. Private weekday masses were in the convent chapel. A confessional was set up in the school basement. The bells, organ, pews, and statues were taken from the church before it was torn down on December 5, 1954.

On December 6, 1954, bids were received for construction of a new school-convent-auditorium building. The construction was to begin at once. A week later on December 14, 1954, the plans were altered to add 15 feet to the auditorium to accomodate space for a sanctuary, thus using it as a church. Almost a year later on November 1, 1955, the new school-convent-auditorium church was complete. The building is a contemporary style of red brick which stands at the corner of North Main and 9th Streets and cost $126,060.00 to build.

The first Mass in the new church was held on November 13, 1955. Weekday masses began in January of 1956. On February 20, 1956, the old school was vacated, as well as the convent, which in turn was torn down on March 11, 1956. The old school was then transformed into a Parish Social Center in April 1957. An open house with potluck and entertainment took place at the new Parish Center on April 22, 1957. The dedication of the new school-convent-auditorium church was held on May 13, 1956, by Most Reverend Bishop Albert R. Zuroweste. At the start of the first full year of school in the new building ('57-'58), school tuition was $1.00 per month for each of the first two children in a family and 50 cents per child for each one thereafter. Students, except late bus students, were required to attend daily mass.

In 1961 an addition was made to the decor of the church. A picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help painted by Helen Foss of St. Stephen Parish was hung on the west wall of the church.

In the spring of 1965, the old school was torn down. It was also during this time that St. Stephen's received a letter from Mother Mary Catherine, Superior of the Precious Blood Sisters of Ruma, Illinois, stating that she would not be sending teaching sisters to staff the school after the close of the existing school year. Therefore, St. Stephen's Parish had no choice but to close the school.

Since the sisters would not be returning to teach, Father Loepker vacated the rectory and moved into the convent. In June of 1967, the two story red brick rectory was torn down.

Without a parochial school to provide religious instruction to the Catholic children of Flora, a parish school of religion was established in September of 1965. Catechetical instructions were taught on Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. by two Precious Blood sisters from the Catechetical Center in Olney. The sisters were transported here each Saturday by Kenny Myers and returned to Olney by volunteers. Choir practice for the children followed the instructions.

Other historical events of St. Stephen's include the first chicken barbecue that began on September 7, 1969. This event was started through the instigation of Father Grawe and became an annual event. Along with the first annual barbeque, the first parish council was established on September 28, 1969.

In 1991 work was begun by JoAnn King and Marilyn and Nancy Staples to renovate the old Stations of the Cross which had been in storage since the demolition of the old church. The stations were completed and hung in 1994, replacing the more modern small wooden and bronze crosses that had hung in the new church since 1958.

In the summer of 1993, the CYO attended World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado. They took a week long trip to attend the four day event where students and sponsors saw his excellency (now Saint) Pope John Paul II.

On September 18 and 19, 2004, St. Stephen's celebrated its sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary, whith a picnic on Saturday and a special Mass with Bishop Wilton Gregory on Sunday. The theme for the celebration was "I am the vine, you are the branches..." (John 15:5).