About Christ the King · Greenup, Illinois
Christ the King Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in Greenup, Illinois, part of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Founded in 1937 through the generosity of Nicholas Ettelbrick, Sr., the parish grew from 14 families into a community serving the eastern half of Cumberland County, including Greenup, Toledo, and Jewett. Today the parish has roughly 123 families and is pastored by Fr. Augustine Koomson as Parochial Administrator, with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a Tuesday–Friday Communion service, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the first Saturday.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Augustine (Agustine) Koomson (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Christ the King offers the faithful of eastern Cumberland County a close-knit Catholic community where they can worship in the Roman Rite, receive the sacraments, and serve together. The parish gathers for weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a weekly Monday Mass, and weekday Communion services, and it offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the first Saturday. With active lay leadership — a liturgist, Director of Religious Education, collections coordinator, and parish hall for fellowship — Christ the King is the kind of smaller parish where members know one another and contribute directly to parish life.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
History of Christ the King Parish
Christ the King began in 1937 through the generosity of Nicholas Ettelbrick, Sr., who asked Bishop James Griffin for a Catholic parish in Greenup and offered to donate the land and a church building. Ground was broken on May 26, 1937; Fr. George Powell arrived October 20 and offered Mass in the Ettelbrick home until the church was dedicated on December 19, 1937 with 14 founding families.
- Founder: Nicholas Ettelbrick, Sr. (Ettelbrick Shoe Company)
- Approving Bishop: James Griffin, Diocese of Springfield
- First pastor: Fr. George Powell (arrived Oct. 20, 1937)
- Dedication date: December 19, 1937
- Name chosen by Mr. Ettelbrick with Bishop Griffin's permission
Early Vocations from the Ettelbrick Family
Within just a few years of founding, the parish produced two priestly vocations from the Ettelbrick family. Rene Ettelbrick was ordained a Franciscan priest on June 19, 1939, just eleven days after his mother's death, and celebrated his first Mass at Greenup in August 1939; he later served for many years as a missionary in South America. His brother Albert was ordained for the diocese in 1942 and also offered his first Mass at Greenup; Fr. Albert died suddenly in a car accident in 1953.
- Fr. Rene Ettelbrick, OFM — ordained 1939, South American missionary
- Fr. Albert Ettelbrick — ordained 1942, died 1953
Building the Parish Campus
Christ the King expanded its physical campus as the parish grew. In October 1962 ground was broken for a new rectory, completed the following spring. In 1973 a parish hall with classrooms and space for parish gatherings was begun under the guidance of Fr. Joe Schmertmann; he died of a sudden heart attack before its completion, and Bishop William O'Connor blessed the finished hall in June 1974.
- 1962–63: new rectory built
- 1973–74: parish hall built under Fr. Joseph Schmertmann
- June 1974: parish hall blessed by Bishop William O'Connor
Parish Staff
Christ the King is staffed by a small but committed team. Fr. Augustine Koomson serves as Parochial Administrator and is shared with the cluster parishes of St. Mary's in Marshall and St. Charles Borromeo in Martinsville. A Director of Religious Education, an Administrative Assistant, a Business Manager, a liturgist, and a collections coordinator round out the parish's lay leadership.
- Pastor / Parochial Administrator: Fr. Augustine Koomson
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Karla Huddlestun (parish site) / Jenny Lewis (diocese listing)
- Administrative Assistant: Stacey Boyer
- Business Manager: Hannah Scales
- Liturgist: Teresa Hoecherl
- Collections: Jerry Willenborg
Community Served
Christ the King is the parish church for the eastern half of Cumberland County, Illinois, including the towns of Greenup, Toledo, and Jewett. The parish currently numbers approximately 123 families, with a membership that has aged steadily over the decades since its founding.
- Served towns: Greenup, Toledo, Jewett
- County: Cumberland County, Illinois
- Approximate registered families: 123
Clustered Parishes
Christ the King shares pastoral and staff resources with neighboring Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Fr. Augustine Koomson, the parish's Director of Religious Education, liturgist, and other staff serve all three clustered communities.
- St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marshall, IL
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Martinsville, IL
- Shared pastor: Fr. Augustine Koomson
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Christ the King is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, which covers the southern and central portions of the state of Illinois. The parish appears in the diocesan parish directory at dio.org, and the diocese confirms the parish's mailing address, phone number, pastor, and lay staff.
- Diocese: Springfield in Illinois
- Parish directory entry: dio.org/view/parish-directory/entry/313/
Religious Sisters and Visiting Clergy
In addition to diocesan priests, Christ the King has been served by religious sisters and by Franciscan friars who filled in between diocesan pastors. The parish's own history page remembers these women and men by name as part of the parish's story.
- Sr. Therese McKinnon — religious sister who served the parish
- Sr. Barbara Jean Potthast — religious sister who served the parish
- Various Franciscan priests — served between diocesan pastors
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Powell1937–
First pastor; arrived Oct. 20, 1937 and offered Mass in the Ettelbrick home until the church was dedicated on Dec. 19, 1937.
- Fr. Frank Lawler
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Msgr. Lawrence Mattingly
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Michael O'Reilly
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. George Juzaitis
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. George Nelis
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Joseph Schmertmann1973–1974
Oversaw building of the parish hall (1973); died suddenly of a heart attack before its completion; the hall was blessed by Bishop William O'Connor in June 1974.
- Fr. Lawrence Auda
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Gilbert Burns
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Jeffery Grant
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Christopher Brey
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Michael Haag
Successor pastor listed in parish history.
- Fr. Augustine (Agustine) Koomsonpresent
Current Parochial Administrator; also serves St. Mary's in Marshall and St. Charles Borromeo in Martinsville as a clustered parish team.