About St. Agatha · New Athens, Illinois
St. Agatha Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in New Athens, Illinois, established in 1870 and currently partnered with St. Joseph Parish in Freeburg under the Diocese of Belleville. The parish traces its roots to a brick Gothic-style church erected in 1870 (interior finished in 1890), was originally part of the Alton Diocese before transferring to the Diocese of Belleville in 1887, and today ministers to local families through weekly Masses, the Sacraments, faith formation (PSR, OCIA, Bible Study), youth ministry, and a long-running Catholic elementary school that merged with St. Joseph's in 2020. The community's mission is summed up in three simple lines: "Walk by Faith, Trust in Hope, Serve with Love." Daily life is anchored at 205 S. Market Street, where the parish office, weekday Masses, and partnered-parish activities are coordinated.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Agatha of Sicily (third-century virgin martyr, d. c. 250 AD in Catania)
- Rector
- Reverend Michaelsami Arockiam (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville (transferred from the Diocese of Alton when the Diocese of Belleville was created in 1887)
Why belong here
St. Agatha is a small, multi-generational parish with deep roots in New Athens and a clear sense of Catholic identity. Worshippers find a complete rhythm of prayer — Saturday vigil and Sunday Masses, weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday morning, Saturday Reconciliation (held at the partner parish of St. Joseph in Freeburg), and Holy Day liturgies as announced. The parish invests seriously in forming the next generation: a Parish School of Religion (PSR, grades 1–7), the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for new Catholics, a Sunday-morning Bible Study, an active Youth Ministry, and partnership with the merged St. Joseph Catholic School on the Freeburg campus. Its mission statement — "Walk by Faith, Trust in Hope, Serve with Love" — is lived out by two deacons, a parish staff, and faithful volunteers who keep this 1870 Gothic-brick church a true spiritual home in rural southern Illinois.
Mass times at St. Agatha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. at St. Joseph in Freeburg (partner parish)
Parish Mission & Identity
St. Agatha Catholic Church in New Athens lives by a short, three-fold mission statement: "Walk by Faith, Trust in Hope, Serve with Love." That mission shapes the parish's worship schedule, its faith-formation programs, and its partnership with neighboring St. Joseph in Freeburg. The parish sees itself as a faithful community rooted in over 150 years of Catholic life in southern Illinois — a place where multi-generational families and newcomers alike can encounter Christ through the Eucharist, the Sacraments, and ongoing formation.
History of St. Agatha Parish
Established in 1870 with the construction of a brick Gothic-style church (interior plastered in 1890), St. Agatha grew from a mission served by priests traveling from St. Joseph (Freeburg) and St. Liborius (St. Libory) into a full parish served by resident priests beginning with Rev. Bernard Hater in 1894. The parish was originally part of the Diocese of Alton, and was transferred to the newly created Diocese of Belleville in 1887. A parish school opened in 1910, and in 2020 that school merged with St. Joseph Catholic School (Freeburg) to form today's merged school on the Freeburg campus, sustaining Catholic education for families of both parishes.
- 1870 — Brick Gothic-style church erected; interior plastered 1890.
- Before 1870 — Catholics served by priests from St. Joseph (Freeburg) and St. Liborius (St. Libory).
- 1887 — Transfers from the Diocese of Alton to the new Diocese of Belleville.
- 1894 — Rev. Bernard Hater becomes the first resident pastor.
- 1910 — St. Agatha Catholic School opens.
- 2020 — St. Agatha Catholic School merges with St. Joseph Catholic School (Freeburg).
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Agatha centers on age-appropriate catechesis for children, youth, and adults seeking to enter or deepen their life in the Catholic Church. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) accompanies public-school children in grades 1–7 with classroom catechesis and sacramental preparation, including the Chosen program. Adults exploring Catholicism journey through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and a Sunday-morning Bible Study meets weekly to deepen scriptural understanding.
- PSR — Parish School of Religion (grades 1–7)
- Chosen — sacramental-prep component of PSR
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Sunday-morning Bible Study (9:15 a.m.)
- Youth Ministry
- FORMED online Catholic formation platform
- Saint Meinrad Retreats — monk-led Scripture, prayer, Benedictine, and art retreats
PSR Coordinators & Teachers
The PSR team oversees religious instruction for public-school children across two grade bands.
- Annie Dickens — Grades 1–5
- Alicia Morgan — Grades 6–7
- Chosen Coordinator (PSR sacramental preparation)
Catholic School — Merged with St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Agatha Catholic School, founded in 1910, merged in 2020 with St. Joseph Catholic School (founded 1869) into a single regional Catholic school on the Freeburg campus. The merged St. Joseph Catholic School provides affordable, quality Catholic education to families of both parishes and to Christian families who share the school's mission and philosophy. The school partners with families to pass on Catholic values, traditions, and heritage, with emphasis on Christian values, positive self-concept, strong academics, discipline, cooperation, and responsibility. Its motto is "Where Faith and Knowledge Meet."
- St. Agatha Catholic School (1910) merged with St. Joseph Catholic School (1869) in 2020.
- New school name and campus: St. Joseph Catholic School, Freeburg campus.
- Motto: "Where Faith and Knowledge Meet."
- Servicing families of St. Joseph (Freeburg) and St. Agatha (New Athens).
Parish Staff & Deacons
The parish is led by an Administrator and supported by two permanent deacons, a bookkeeper, and an administrative assistant.
- Rev. Michaelsami Arockiam — Administrator
- Deacon Corby Valentine
- Deacon Bruce Carlson
- Carol Mayfield — Bookkeeper
- Hope Wienhoff — Administrative Assistant
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office and church are located on South Market Street in New Athens, Illinois. Visitors are welcome at weekend Mass, and the office staff are available during listed office hours.
- Address — 205 S. Market Street, New Athens, IL 62264
- Phone — 618-475-2331
- Fax — 618-475-3177
- Parish Hall phone — 618-475-3579
- Office hours — Monday 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Tuesday & Friday 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Website — stagathaparish.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard Hater1894
First resident pastor of St. Agatha.
- Rev. Philip Becker1896–1901
- Rev. Anthony Breek1901
- Rev. Marcarius Walterbosch1901–1903
- Rev. Anthony Kuhls1923–1928
- Rev. William Fischer1928–1934