About Immaculate Conception · Columbia, Illinois
Immaculate Conception Parish is a vibrant, full-stewardship Catholic community founded in 1846 in Columbia, Illinois, a growing suburb across the Mississippi from St. Louis. The current church on Palmer Road was dedicated on January 27, 2013, replacing the historic 19th-century worship space, and the parish shares its campus with Immaculate Conception School, which serves more than 400 children in parish school and PSR religious education. The parish is partnered with Sacred Heart of Jesus in Dupo, IL, and is led today by Father Brian Barker with parochial vicar Father Eric Wagner, C.R., and Deacon Tom Helfrich. Its mission — rooted in the Gospel and under the patronage of Mary Immaculate — is to be a welcoming community of faith that worships with generations of believers and serves God in all people.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- Mary Immaculate (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Barker
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville, Illinois
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a full-stewardship parish — meaning every member is invited into a life of prayer, formation, and service as a response to their Baptism. With more than 400 children in its parish school and Parish School of Religion, four Sunday Masses (plus Saturday vigil and weekday Masses), and a campus that includes a Catholic Education and Activity Center, prayer walk, and athletic fields, the parish offers a deep well of ways to grow in faith and community. The parish welcomes all — if you would like to join, you are invited to call the parish office at 618-281-5105.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 p.m. (or by appointment)
About Our Parish
Immaculate Conception Parish describes itself as a vibrant, full-stewardship parish founded in 1846, located in a growing community in the St. Louis suburbs. The beautiful new church on Palmer Road was dedicated on January 27, 2013, and the parish is an active community with more than 400 youth in its school and PSR. All are welcome.
- Founded 1846
- Current church dedicated January 27, 2013
- 400+ youth in school & PSR
- Full Stewardship parish
- Partner Parish: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dupo, IL
Parish Mission & Vision
Rooted in the Gospel of Christ and in the tradition of Catholicism and under the patronage of Mary Immaculate, the parish commits itself to be a welcoming community of faith, worshipping with generations of believers and serving God in all people. The parish frames stewardship not as a 'spectator sport' but as a call to full, conscious, and active participation in the mission and work of Christ through the Church — putting faith into action as disciples.
- Patronage of Mary Immaculate
- Stewardship of time, talent, and treasure
- Welcoming all who come
Our History
The parish traces its roots to German Catholic immigrants who settled Monroe County beginning in 1783, and to Masses said in homes and at St. Thomas in Millstadt in the 1830s and 1840s. Founded in 1846 under the patronage of Mary Immaculate, the parish built its first church by 1867, opened a school under the Ursuline Sisters in 1874, and came under the Diocese of Belleville in 1888. Major additions followed in 1921 (new brick school) and 1927–28 (church nearly doubled in length), with interior redecoration completed for the 1944 centennial.
- 1846 — Parish founded
- 1850 — Cemetery land acquired; Fr. Arnold Pinkers becomes first resident pastor
- 1867 — New church completed; original church becomes school
- 1874 — Ursuline Sisters of Kentucky take charge of school
- 1888 — Joins newly formed Diocese of Belleville
- 1921 — Modern brick school building constructed
- 1927–28 — Church nearly doubled in length; re-dedicated Labor Day 1928
- 1944 — Centennial interior redecoration
- 2013 — Current church dedicated (Jan 27)
- 2019 — Catholic Education and Activity Center opens (Jan 3)
- 2025 — Phase three groundbreaking: prayer walk, turf fields, pavilion
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish offers a robust daily and weekly Mass schedule. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:05 a.m.; Saturday's vigil Mass is at 5:00 p.m. in church and livestreamed online; and three Sunday Masses are offered at 7:00, 9:00, and 11:00 a.m. Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment.
- Weekday Mass Mon–Fri: 8:05 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. (in church & online)
- Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: Sat 4:00–4:30 p.m. or by appointment
- Holy Day Vigil: As announced
- Holy Day: Check website or call
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor, a parochial vicar, a deacon, and a team of lay staff responsible for faith formation, music, school leadership, business, and pastoral care.
- Rev. Brian Barker — Pastor
- Rev. Eric Wagner, C.R. — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Thomas (Tom) Helfrich
- Kara Dell-Hunt — Business Manager (ext. 350)
- Sheryl Oglesby — Parish Bookkeeper (ext. 351)
- Michelle Muckensturm — Parish Secretary (ext. 300)
- Lizanne Young — Director of Faith Formation (ext. 354)
- Rebecca Husman — PSR Coordinator (ext. 353)
- Theresa Flores — Director of Music & Director of Liturgy (ext. 312) — per Diocese of Belleville directory
- Karen Lundy — Interim Director of Music — per parish staff page
- Shea Christensen — Spiritual & Mental Health Advocate
- Mike Crean — Principal of Immaculate Conception School
Immaculate Conception School
Immaculate Conception School (ICS), located at 409 Palmer Road, has been educating children since 1853. Its mission is to provide experiences that inspire, challenge, and nurture the mind, body, and spirit of students within the framework of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the tradition of the Catholic Church. The school offers preschool through grade 8, latchkey before- and after-school care, and a full athletics program through the Diocese of Belleville.
- Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs
- Full K–8 grade school
- Latchkey care: 6:45–7:45 a.m. and 3:00–5:45 p.m.
- School day 8:00 a.m.–2:50 p.m.
- Athletics: Cross Country, Baseball, Soccer, Softball, Cheer, Basketball, Volleyball, Golf, Track & Field
- Principal: Mike Crean
- School Administrator: Beverly Epplin
- School phone: 618-281-5353
Faith Formation & PSR
The Office of Faith Formation assists parishioners of all ages in living the call of Jesus through teaching and developing the tools to learn about the Catholic faith and to live it in real ways. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious formation for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade who attend public schools. PSR classes are held from August to May on Sunday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception School.
- PSR for K–8th grade public-school students
- Sunday morning classes 10:00–11:00 a.m., August–May
- Held at Immaculate Conception School
- Faith-enriching liturgies, prayer, service projects, sacramental preparation
- Volunteer catechists from the parish
- Director of Faith Formation: Lizanne Young
- PSR Coordinator: Rebecca Husman
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and continues to walk with them through marriage, anointing, and reconciliation. Reconciliation is offered every Saturday afternoon; parishioners are encouraged to call the parish office for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick preparation.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist / Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–4:30 p.m. or by appointment
Contact & Office Hours
Parish offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closed on major holidays and holy days. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed; those wishing to join the parish are invited to call 618-281-5105. The parish contact page invites visitors to 'Friend us on Facebook.'
- Parish address: 411 Palmer Rd, Columbia, IL 62236
- Parish phone: 618-281-5105
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Closed on major holidays & holy days
- Join the parish: call 618-281-5105
Campus & Building Phases
The Palmer Road campus has grown in clearly defined phases. Phase one was the construction of the new church (dedicated January 27, 2013). Phase two added the adjoining grade school. Phase three — with a groundbreaking in mid-2025 led by Father Steve Thoma alongside former pastor Msgr. Carl Scherrer — adds a prayer walk, two turf athletic fields, a parking lot, and a pavilion between the fields and the main building. The Catholic Education and Activity Center opened on January 3, 2019, in between the church and school phases.
- Phase 1 — New church (dedicated Jan 27, 2013)
- Phase 2 — Adjoining grade school
- Catholic Education and Activity Center (opened Jan 3, 2019)
- Phase 3 — Prayer walk, two turf athletic fields, parking lot, pavilion (groundbreaking 2025)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Arnold Pinkersfirst resident pastor (post-1850)
Belgian-born priest who became the first resident pastor after land was acquired in 1850 for a parish cemetery.
- Fr. Stephen Gira, C.R.former parochial vicar (d. 2010)
Passionist priest and former parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception; died of cancer at age 59 in 2010. The parish dedicated a parish library in his honor.
- Msgr. Carl Scherrerformer pastor
Led the parish during construction of the new church (dedicated 2013) and the Catholic Education and Activity Center (opened January 3, 2019); championed the parish's full-stewardship vision.
- Fr. Steve Thomarecent pastor (through c. 2024–2025)
Led the parish through the most recent campus expansion phases, including the 2025 phase-three groundbreaking for the prayer walk, turf fields, and pavilion.
- Rev. Brian Barkercurrent pastor
Current pastor listed on parish website and Diocese of Belleville directory.