Holy Cross (Wendelin)

Parish History & Heritage

Holy Cross Wendelin traces its roots to the German Catholic settlers who arrived in the 1830s–1860s and built the area's first church — a small log-cabin St. Ignatius (later St. John's) — in 1861, two miles south of the present site. In 1870 Bishop Baltes cast the deciding vote to relocate the parish north, and the first Holy Cross Church was dedicated in 1871. The parish grew with a rectory (1882), a convent and first schoolhouse (1887), and became part of the newly created Diocese of Belleville that same year. The current church — built in the shape of a cross and dedicated April 7, 1931 — replaced the original and was renovated in 1966, 1979, and 1993. The parish school closed in 1971 and the convent was demolished in 1983; a new parish hall was built in 2005, and the parish marked its sesquicentennial in 2021.

• First church: St. Ignatius log cabin, 1861 (renamed St. John's, 1863)
• First Holy Cross Church dedicated: 1871
• First permanent resident priest: Rev. Henry Ader, 1883
• Diocese of Belleville formed: 1887 (Holy Cross previously in Diocese of Alton)
• First Wendelin Picnic: 1894
• Community renamed 'Wendelin' (from St. Wendel): 1902
• Current church dedicated: April 7, 1931
• School closed: 1971 (100th anniversary of the parish)
• Current rectory built: 1981
• Major church interior renovation: 1993
• 125th anniversary: 1996
• New Parish Hall built: 2005
• 150th anniversary / sesquicentennial: 2021

Mission & Parish Identity

Holy Cross Parish describes itself as 'Under the protection of the Mother of God,' a faith community called by the Father, energized by the Son, and moved by the Spirit to unite in witnessing and proclaiming the Good News. Its formal Mission Statement commits the parish family to praise the Father and instruct the coming generation, to encounter the Son in the sacraments and walk in Faith, Hope and Love, and to live in the Spirit by welcoming each other, sharing faith and blessings, and being strengthened in the Father's service.

Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership

The parish is led by Very Rev. Steven L. Beatty, V.G., as Pastor, with Rev. Levi K. James serving as Parochial Vicar. Lay staff include Caroline Trimble (Pastoral Associate), Ashley Hinterscher (Administrative Assistant and Coordinator of Religious Education), Martha Buerster (Secretary), and Tyler Timm (Youth Minister for the parish partnership). Trustees are Carl Will and Kasey Iffert, and the Pastoral Council is chaired by Tony Kuenstler with Kevin Blank as Vice Chair.

• Pastor: Very Rev. Steven L. Beatty, V.G. — 618-697-2632 / [email protected]
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Levi K. James — 618-240-3638 / [email protected]
• Pastoral Associate: Caroline Trimble — 618-263-7106 / [email protected]
• Administrative Assistant & CRE: Ashley Hinterscher — 618-843-1892 / [email protected]
• Secretary: Martha Buerster
• Youth Minister: Tyler Timm — 507-530-2911 / [email protected]
• Trustees: Carl Will, Kasey Iffert
• Pastoral Council: Tony Kuenstler (Chair), Kevin Blank (Vice Chair), Cindy Blank, Sharon Edwards, Kelly Geier, Tammy Rudolphi, Holly Nettleton, Dusty Smithenry

Family Catechesis & Religious Education

Holy Cross runs a Family Catechesis program for all ages from birth through high school and adults, built around the 'domestic church' model of at-home faith formation using the Word of Life curriculum. Families gather on the 1st Wednesday of each month (September through May) from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center for adult presentations, youth activities, saint presentations, and 'Following in the Footsteps of the Saints' faith items. There are also grade-level milestones such as the Red Plate Blessing for 1st graders, Cup Blessing for 2nd graders, and Candle Blessing for 3rd graders, as well as special traditions like the All Saints Maze with bonfire and s'mores, a Three Kings dinner, a St. Joseph Table at Stringtown, and a Divine Mercy Book during Lent.

• Family Catechesis — 1st Wednesday, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Sept–May
• Children's Liturgy of the Word at 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass (launching soon)
• Sacrament of Reconciliation — first celebrated in Advent (December)
• Sacrament of First Communion — celebrated in spring (e.g. May 2–3)
• Confirmation — celebrated as a partnership at St. Joseph Olney
• Pastoral Associate: Caroline Trimble, 618-263-7106
• Coordinator of Religious Education: Ashley Hinterscher, 618-843-1892
• Family Catechesis Volunteer: Sandi Kessler, 618-676-5080

Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation

Holy Cross prepares children and adults for the sacraments through Family Catechesis and partnership-wide programs. Sacramental milestones are celebrated in the parish and across the cluster: First Reconciliation is celebrated in Advent, First Communion in the spring (often the first weekend of May), and Confirmation as a partnership celebration at St. Joseph Olney. The parish welcomes inquiries about Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick by contacting the parish office.

• Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
• First Reconciliation — celebrated in Advent
• First Communion — celebrated in spring (e.g. May 2–3)
• Confirmation — celebrated as a partnership at St. Joseph Olney
• Marriage — contact Fr. Steven Beatty; Parish Center available for receptions
• Anointing of the Sick — anytime by appointment

Church Tour, Sanctuary & Cemetery

A 'Church Tour' page on the parish website walks visitors through the current 1931 Holy Cross Church, focusing on its cross-shaped design, stained-glass windows, and focal sanctuary furnishings. In the center of the Holy Cross Cemetery stands a large crucifix flanked by statues of the Sorrowful Mother Mary and St. John the Apostle; the cemetery has served as the final resting place for parishioners since the first burial in 1870. The Altar Stone in the church contains ashes and relics of 1st- and 2nd-century martyrs St. Fulgens and St. Probus.

• Church built in the shape of a cross; dedicated April 7, 1931
• Interior renovations: 1966 (post-Vatican II), 1979, and 1993
• Altar Stone contains relics of St. Fulgens and St. Probus
• Holy Cross Cemetery — first burial 1870
• Cemetery centerpiece: crucifix with Mary and St. John

Parish Hall, Rentals & Facilities

The Parish Center (built in 2005) is available for rent by parishioners and non-parishioners for weddings, receptions, anniversaries, birthdays, and showers, with reduced or waived fees for parishioner funerals held at Holy Cross Wendelin, and for 50th (and every 5 years thereafter) wedding anniversaries and 75th (and every 5 years) birthday parties. A $375 parishioner / $525 non-parishioner deposit is required. An outdoor pavilion with restrooms is available for $75. Parishioners also have free access to a FORMED.org subscription by entering ZIP 62448.

• Parish Center built: 2005
• Reception/Dance — $750 parishioner
• Dinner/Reception only — $200
• Reception only — $100
• Pavilion with outdoor restrooms — $75
• Free funeral dinners for parishioner funerals at Holy Cross
• No fees for 50th wedding anniversary & every 5 years after; 75th birthday & every 5 years after (deposit still required)
• FORMED.org subscription — free with ZIP 62448

Annual Wendelin Picnic & Community Life

The Wendelin Picnic — first held in 1894 — is Holy Cross's signature annual community fundraiser and gathering, held on the parish grounds on Ingraham Lane the first Sunday of August. The day begins with a 10:00 a.m. Mass, followed by bingo, kids' games, inflatables, a pedal tractor pull, dunk tank, country store, cake stand, beer garden, live music, and a raffle with over 140 prizes. A traditional chicken dinner is served in the air-conditioned parish hall from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (dine-in or carry-out), with proceeds supporting the parish.

• Picnic hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Mass: 10:00 a.m.
• Chicken dinner: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — $12 adults, $6 ages 6–12, free under 5
• Lunch stand: pork burgers, hot dogs, brats, nachos, chips, soda
• Pedal tractor pull — ages 3–10, with prizes per age group
• Raffle — over 140 prizes, drawing at 6:30 p.m.
• Live music throughout the day and into the evening

Visit, Contact & Office Information

Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Cross at 5782 Ingraham Lane, Newton, IL 62448 (phone 618-752-5671, fax 618-752-6006, email [email protected]). Office hours are Monday and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The parish website is holycrosswendelin.com, and full staff contact details for Fr. Steven Beatty, Fr. Levi James, Caroline Trimble, Ashley Hinterscher, and Tyler Timm are published there.

• Address: 5782 Ingraham Lane, Newton, IL 62448
• Phone: 618-752-5671
• Fax: 618-752-6006
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: holycrosswendelin.com
• Office hours: Mon & Wed 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–1 p.m.