About Holy Spirit · Carterville, Illinois
The Church of the Holy Spirit is a small Catholic parish in Carterville, Illinois, situated in the southern part of the state near Marion and Herrin in Williamson County. Established in 1974 and part of the Diocese of Belleville, the parish is currently partnered with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin, with Very Reverend Mark Reyling, V.F., serving as Pastor of the Partnership. The community gathers weekly for Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m., preceded by the Rosary at 9:00 a.m., and is served by a pastoral team led by Parish Leader and Director of Religious Education Bill Harper. The parish describes itself as a family that hears the Word, is nourished by the Sacraments, and is sent forth guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Very Reverend Mark D. Reyling, V.F. (Pastor of the Partnership with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Herrin)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville, Illinois
Why belong here
Holy Spirit is a welcoming small parish that prides itself on close-knit community and a real mix of programs for every stage of faith life — from OCIA for adults exploring the Catholic Church, to weekly Scripture Study in the Bleyer Education Center, to a parish nurse ministry and a Community United Pantry that serves neighbors in need. With a single Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m., weekly Reconciliation opportunities, and a pastoral team led by Fr. Mark Reyling and Parish Leader Bill Harper, newcomers can quickly get to know the people and ministries here. Whether you have been Catholic for decades or are walking in the door for the first time, the parish frames itself as a family gathered by the Holy Spirit to hear the Word, share the Sacraments, and serve Carterville together.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:30 AM
- By appointment (call the Parish Office at 618-985-2900)
Welcome to the Church of the Holy Spirit
A message from Pastor Rev. Mark D. Reyling greets visitors on the homepage: 'On behalf of the Parish, I present to you our Holy Spirit Church Website. If you are new to the parish…welcome.' The pastor notes that the parish is celebrating 50+ years since its formation, while emphasizing that the Catholic roots of Carterville go back even further. The parish describes itself as a family that gathers to hear the Word of God proclaimed, is nourished by the Sacraments, and goes out into the community — guided by the Holy Spirit — to share all that has been received.
- Single weekend Mass: Sunday 9:30 AM
- Rosary prayed before Mass on Sundays at 9:00 AM
- Wednesday Communion Service at 11:45 AM
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 10:00 AM–2:00 PM; Sat–Sun by appointment
Mission Statement
The parish mission statement is published in full on the Our Mission and History page. It grounds the parish's identity in the divine life shared through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in the continuing presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The parish commits to four pillars: Proclaiming the Word of God, Celebrating the Liturgy, Serving the People, and Building Community. It further pledges itself to the transmission of the Faith through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, and to living it by word and example with the Grace of God, so that the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity may mark them as faithful witnesses.
- Proclaiming the Word of God
- Celebrating the Liturgy
- Serving the People
- Building Community
Our History
Catholic life in Carterville goes back well before the present parish. According to a parish history originally written in 1982 in preparation for the dedication of the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, and updated in August 1998 on the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Catholic Church in Carterville, the parish was re-established as a distinct worshipping community in the latter half of the 20th century. The Diocese of Belleville lists the canonical establishment of the parish as 1974. The parish's identity continues to be shaped by that longer Catholic heritage in the community, and the present site honors it in a dedicated 'Brief History of the Catholic Church in Carterville, Illinois' section.
- Established 1974 (Diocese of Belleville)
- History compiled 1982 for church dedication
- Updated August 1998 for 25th anniversary of re-establishment in Carterville
Pastoral and Parish Staff
Holy Spirit is served by a partnership-style leadership model. The Pastor of the Partnership, Very Rev. Mark D. Reyling, V.F., is shared with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin. Day-to-day parish life is coordinated by Parish Leader Bill Harper, M.A. in Pastoral Studies, who also serves as Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education. A Part-time Sacramental Minister, Father Joseph Brown, supports the sacramental life of the parish. Religious Education coordination is provided by Kim Booker, the parish office is run by Office Manager Mickey Edwards, and pastoral health ministry is offered by Parish Nurse Cindy Courtney, R.N.
- Pastor of Partnership: Very Rev. Mark D. Reyling, V.F. — 618-942-3114
- Part-time Sacramental Minister: Father Joseph Brown — 618-351-1198
- Parish Leader / Pastoral Associate / DRE: Bill Harper, M.A. — 618-985-2900
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Kim Booker — 618-534-5773
- Office Manager: Mickey Edwards — 618-967-5119
- Parish Nurse: Cindy Courtney, R.N. — 724-288-8376
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Holy Spirit runs an OCIA (formerly RCIA) pathway for adults curious about the Catholic faith. The parish invites inquirers who are unbaptized, as well as baptized Christians from Protestant or Evangelical backgrounds, to learn what the Church teaches and to be introduced to parish members. Sessions are also framed as opportunities to ask difficult questions about the Church. Inquiries are directed to Bill Harper at 618-201-2210 or [email protected], and a printable inquiry form can be completed and returned to the parish office.
- Welcomes unbaptized adults and baptized Christians from other traditions
- Pathway for those seeking Confirmation or First Communion
- Contact: Bill Harper, 618-201-2210 / [email protected]
Religious Education and the Bleyer Education Center
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated through the parish rather than a parish school. The Coordinator of Religious Education, Kim Booker, organizes catechetical programs. The parish's spiritual education facility is the Bleyer Education Center, which also hosts adult faith offerings such as weekly Scripture Study. The parish has no parish school associated with it on the Diocese of Belleville directory.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Kim Booker
- Bleyer Education Center — the parish's spiritual education facility
- No parish school; faith formation is parish-based
Scripture Study
Each Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m., Tary Harms leads a Scripture Study in the Bleyer Building. The sessions focus on preparing participants for the following Sunday's readings, unpacking the original cultural context of the texts so that their meaning becomes clearer at Sunday Mass. The parish Liturgy Committee encourages parishioners to attend, and to bring a friend.
- Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the Bleyer Building
- Led by Tary Harms
- Focused on the following Sunday's readings
- Encouraged by the parish Liturgy Committee
Outreach: Community United Pantry
Outreach to the wider Carterville community is part of the parish's identity, and the Community United Pantry is one of the named ministries listed on the parish site. It reflects the 'Serving the People' pillar of the parish mission statement and provides a concrete way for parishioners to extend the parish's care beyond its own membership.
- Community United Pantry
- Food and material assistance to neighbors in need
- Part of the parish's 'Serving the People' mission pillar
Parish Nurse Ministry
Distinct from typical parish staffing, Holy Spirit maintains a Parish Nurse ministry under Cindy Courtney, R.N. Parish nursing in the Catholic tradition bridges faith and health, supporting parishioners with health-related concerns, advocacy, and connection to community resources.
- Parish Nurse: Cindy Courtney, R.N.
- Contact: 724-288-8376
Partnership with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Herrin
The Diocese of Belleville directory lists Holy Spirit, Carterville as formally partnered with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin. Under this arrangement, Very Rev. Mark D. Reyling, V.F. serves as Pastor of the Partnership, and the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel phone line (618-942-3114) is listed as the contact line for the pastor. This shared-leadership model is common in smaller parishes of the diocese.
- Partnered Parish: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Herrin
- Pastor of Partnership: Very Rev. Mark D. Reyling, V.F.
- Pastor's listed line (618-942-3114) routes through Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office at 300 N. Pine Street, Carterville, IL 62918, by phone at 618-985-2900 (with a parish cell at 618-201-2210) and by email at [email protected]. The office is open Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, and by appointment on weekends.
- Address: 300 N. Pine Street, Carterville, IL 62918
- Parish Office: 618-985-2900
- Parish Cell: 618-201-2210
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 AM–2:00 PM; Sat–Sun by appointment