About Sacred Heart · Dupo, Illinois
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is a small, welcoming parish in Dupo, Illinois (St. Clair County), rooted in a Catholic community that stretches back more than a century. The parish was established in 1914 when chronic flooding of the Mississippi forced the relocation of the former St. Joseph congregation from East Carondelet up to safer ground in what became Sacred Heart. Today the parish is administered by Father Andrew J. Knopik and is partnered with neighboring Catholic communities in the Diocese of Belleville. With Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m., live-streamed liturgies, and a tight-knit calendar of parish groups (Knights of Columbus, Women's Club, choir, quilting circle, youth scripture group, and St. Vincent de Paul), Sacred Heart continues to live out a simple, generational Catholic life along the Mississippi's western bluffs.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew J. Knopik (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus offers what many larger parishes no longer can: a small, multigenerational congregation where the people greeting you at the door are the same ones quilting on Tuesday mornings, singing in the loft on the third Wednesday, and gathering for faith formation. The parish is Roman-Rite, English-language, and offers Sunday Mass plus two weekday Masses (Tuesday and Thursday) with reconciliation beforehand, weekly faith-formation for children (in partnership with Immaculate Conception, Columbia), an RCIA process running October through Easter, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Knights of Columbus council, a Women's Club, a youth scripture group (Y.E.S.), and live-streamed Masses on Facebook and YouTube — a particular comfort for elderly or homebound parishioners.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m. (before Mass) or by appointment
- Sundays before Mass and any time by appointment (parish bulletin)
Parish Statement
The parish's published mission reads: 'Loving God, You have blessed Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish with generations of parishioners seeking to walk in the footsteps of Your Son. We treasure our sacred heritage and ask that You continue to bless us in His Ways as we welcome, serve, and care for all. Grant us the guidance of the Holy Spirit: lead us in Your peace as we seek to witness Christ in all that we do. We ask this in Your Son's name, Jesus Christ the Lord, Amen.'
History of Sacred Heart
Founded in 1914, when frequent Mississippi River flooding forced the St. Joseph congregation out of East Carondelet and up into Dupo, where it was re-established under the name Sacred Heart. The parish was a mission of Holy Family, Cahokia; built a second church in 1989; and from 1999 has been ministered by the priest residing at Holy Family in Cahokia Heights. The original parish school ran from 1923 to 1971.
- Origins: 1914 relocation from St. Joseph, East Carondelet
- First pastor: Rev. John Wiemar (1914)
- Second church built on site: 1989
- Centennial celebrated: 2014 (100 Years of Sacred Heart)
- Parish school years: 1923–1971
- Bishop Michael McGovern pastoral visit: 2022
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is administered by Father Andrew J. Knopik and supported by a small staff of lay ministers. Administration lines include the parish office, religious education, community life, music, and the bulletin, while a Parish Pastoral Council and Finance & Administration Commission provide lay governance.
- Administrator: Rev. Andrew J. Knopik
- Secretary / Bulletin Editor: Joan Scharf
- Religious Education Coordinator: Kathy Koebbe
- Parish Community Life Coordinator: I.D. Cleveland
- Organist: Kris Morice
- Trustees: Rose Jordan, Dennis Martin
- Webmaster: David Vernon
- Pastoral Council Chair: I.D. Cleveland; Vice-Chair: Kathy Koebbe; Secretary: Sherri LaCroix; Members: Barb Mallory, David Uhrhan, David Vernon
Sacraments
In addition to the Eucharist and Reconciliation (see Mass Schedule), Sacred Heart prepares parishioners for the three other sacraments of initiation and vocation. Baptism is normally celebrated on Sundays after Mass; marriage requires at least four months of preparation; adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church enter the parish's RCIA process running October through Easter.
- Reconciliation — Sundays before Mass, or by appointment
- Baptism — Sundays after Mass (call to schedule)
- Holy Matrimony — contact at least four months in advance
- RCIA — Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., October through Easter
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children of the parish attend the Parish School of Religion (PSR), held Sundays at 9:00 a.m. from September through May at Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia (Pre-K through 8th grade). Older students may attend St. James School in Millstadt or Immaculate Conception School in Columbia at a reduced parishioner rate; 'good standing' requires a census form on file and regular spiritual and financial contribution to Sacred Heart. Adult initiation is through RCIA.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Sundays 9:00 a.m., September–May, Pre-K–8th, at Immaculate Conception, Columbia
- Coordinator: Kathy Koebbe
- Catholic schools: St. James (Millstadt) and ICS (Columbia) at reduced rate for parishioners
- RCIA for adults — Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., October–Easter
Ministries & Organizations
Sacred Heart's lay organizations include a men's council, women's club, youth scripture group, choir, quilting circle, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Conference. The parish's website groups these under 'Connect' (relationships), 'Grow in Your Faith' (formation), and 'Serve' (outreach).
- Knights of Columbus (men)
- Women's Club — 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Parish Hall (President: Karen Pratt)
- Youth Engaging Scripture (Y.E.S.) — Sundays after Mass, YES Club House Parish Center
- Parish Choir — 3rd Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., choir loft (Organist: Kris Morice)
- Quilting Ministry — every Tuesday after Mass, Parish Hall
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — 1st Monday, 6:30 p.m., Immaculate Conception, Palmer Road
- Liturgy Committee — Peggy Hoffman, Karen Pratt
Outreach & Service
Service at Sacred Heart begins at home — liturgical roles (offertory, lector, Eucharistic minister, acolyte) and pastoral council work — and extends outward through the St. Vincent de Paul Conference, which meets in coordination with Immaculate Conception and serves neighbors in need across the Columbia–Cahokia–Dupo area.
- Liturgical ministries: Offertory, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Acolyte
- St. Vincent de Paul outreach conference
- Partnered outreach with Holy Family and Immaculate Conception parishes
Parish Partnerships
Sacred Heart is officially partnered with Holy Family in Cahokia Heights (its historic sister parish, sharing clergy) and with Immaculate Conception in Columbia (for faith-formation and shared ministry). The parish office phone (618-286-4373) is the main point of contact, while Father Andrew Knopik's priest line at Holy Family is published as 618-337-4548 in the diocesan directory.
- Partner parish: Holy Family, Cahokia Heights
- Partner parish: Immaculate Conception, Columbia
- Clergy: shared with Holy Family under the Diocese of Belleville
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open at 130 South Third Street, Dupo, IL 62239. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and are encouraged to contact the parish at (618) 286-4373. Masses are live-streamed on the parish's Facebook and YouTube pages for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 130 South Third Street, Dupo, IL 62239
- Mailing: P.O. Box 35, Dupo, IL 62239
- Phone: (618) 286-4373
- Web: https://sacredheartdupo.org/
- Diocesan directory: https://www.diobelle.org/directory/parishes/sacred-heart-of-jesus-dupo
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Wiemar1914–
- Rev. Bernard Moorman
- Rev. Patrick Slattery
- Rev. Edmund A. Lugge
- Rev. Meinard Dunn
- Rev. Joseph Hays
- Rev. Robert Keating
- Rev. Lloyd Misho
- Rev. George Mauck
- Rev. Emil Maziarzthrough 1990