About St. Andrew · Murphysboro, Illinois
St. Andrew Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Murphysboro, Illinois, established in 1868 when the first Mass in the town was celebrated by Bishop Damien Junker of the Diocese of Alton in the home of Medar Lucier. Today the parish is part of the Diocese of Belleville and is partnered with St. Ann Church in Raddle, sharing a pastor and staff. Worship is offered on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrew, with weekday Masses Monday–Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and a chapel Mass at St. Joseph Hospital. The parish also operates Saint Andrew School, a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic elementary school whose roots go back to 1872.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Andrew (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Joel Seipp
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Andrew offers the fullness of Catholic life in a small-town setting: a historic 1868 parish with a beautiful 1889 church on the same ground the pioneers bought for $800, daily and weekend Mass, weekly confessions on Saturday afternoons, and Eucharistic Adoration. Families are served by Saint Andrew School (Pre-K through 8th) and a Parish School of Religion program, while the parish partners with St. Ann in Raddle under one pastor, creating a tight-knit Catholic community across Jackson County.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at St. Andrew: 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Sunday at St. Ann, Raddle: 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
- By appointment upon request
Adoration times
- 24-hour Adoration from 6:00 p.m. Thursday to 6:00 p.m. Friday (the Thursday before the first Friday of the month) at St. Andrew
- One hour of Adoration following the Thursday daily Mass at St. Andrew
Parish History
St. Andrew Catholic Church was founded in 1868, making it one of the earliest Catholic communities in Jackson County, Illinois. The first Mass was celebrated on the feast of the Ascension, May 21, 1868, by Bishop Damien Junker of the Diocese of Alton in the home of Medar Lucier, after pioneer Catholic settler Joseph Van Cloostere wrote asking for a priest. Bishop Junker arranged for the pastor in Anna to offer Mass monthly, and within months the trustees of the new Catholic congregation — Medar Lucier, Jacob King, and Henry Boucher — purchased the present grounds for $800. A frame church was built in 1869, and by 1889 the present, larger church was dedicated.
- 1868 — First Mass offered in Murphysboro by Bishop Damien Junker in the Lucier home
- 1868 — Land at present site purchased for $800 by trustees Lucier, King, and Boucher
- 1869 — Frame church 24 × 50 feet built with a turret topped by a cross
- 1872 — Fr. Herman Jungmann founds the parish school in his own home
- 1889 — Present St. Andrew's Church dedicated October 16
- 1888 — Diocese of Belleville established; St. Andrew comes under the new See
- 1912 — St. Ann Church in Raddle dedicated in its present form (partner parish)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious education for parish children is provided through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), and there is a separate St. Ann PSR coordinated by Jessica Fritsche for the Raddle mission. Catholic Youth Faith Formation is led by Patty Williams (Coordinator of Family Faith Formation), and High School Youth Ministry is directed by Bill Schwartz. Together these programs serve the spiritual and catechetical needs of children, teens, and families across the partnered parishes.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) at St. Andrew
- St. Ann PSR — Jessica Fritsche, 618-713-1835
- Catholic Youth Faith Formation — Patty Williams, 618-534-6164
- High School Youth Ministry — Bill Schwartz
Saint Andrew School
Saint Andrew School is a private Catholic school serving Pre-K through 8th grade, accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Diocese of Belleville. It is located immediately next to the church at 723 Mulberry Street, Murphysboro. The school offers full- and part-time Pre-K, daily Spanish instruction, a 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio, a dedicated resource teacher, and extended care until 5:30 p.m.
- Address: 723 Mulberry Street, Murphysboro, IL 62966
- Phone: 618-687-2013
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Accredited by Illinois State Board of Education and the Diocese of Belleville
- 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- Daily Spanish instruction
- Extended care until 5:30 p.m.
School History — Founded 1872
Catholic education at St. Andrew dates to 1872, when newly arrived pastor Fr. Herman Jungmann opened the first classroom in a 15-by-18-foot room of his own home — a room with a sloping ceiling, a large fireplace, and a single window. He hired lay teacher Katherine Horn, often paying her from his own pocket. By 1873, 70 students were enrolled. In 1875 a new square school building was constructed with windows on all four sides, beginning the tradition of Catholic schooling on Mulberry Street that continues today.
- 1872 — School founded by Fr. Jungmann in his own home
- 1873 — 70 students enrolled
- 1875 — First dedicated school building constructed
St. Ann — Partner Mission in Raddle
St. Ann Catholic Church in Raddle (Jacob, IL 62950) has been a partner parish of St. Andrew since the early 20th century. The mission was first blessed in 1888 by a Bohemian priest from St. Louis, with Fr. Hessoun hearing confessions and offering Mass. The present St. Ann Church was dedicated on October 23, 1912, after the congregation outgrew the original structure. Today the two parishes share a pastor (Rev. Joel Seipp) and staff, with St. Ann offering Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and weekday Mass at 8:00 a.m.
- Address: 101 Raddle Lane, Jacob, IL 62950
- 1888 — Mission church blessed
- 1912 — Present St. Ann Church dedicated October 23
- Shared pastor and staff with St. Andrew, Murphysboro
Parish Staff & Administration
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Joel Seipp and supported by a small staff of parish administrators, faith formation leaders, and youth ministers. Together they serve both St. Andrew in Murphysboro and its partner mission St. Ann in Raddle.
- Pastor — Rev. Joel Seipp ([email protected])
- Administrator — Austin Burklund ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary — Cindy Thompson ([email protected])
- Finance Manager — Tammy Gartner ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Family Faith Formation — Patty Williams ([email protected])
- High School Youth Minister — Bill Schwartz
Visit Us
St. Andrew Catholic Church welcomes visitors at 724 Mulberry Street in Murphysboro, Illinois. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Diocese of Belleville parish directory lists the parish phone as 618-687-2012 and the fax as 618-684-3431. Saint Andrew School, immediately adjacent, can be reached at 618-687-2013.
- St. Andrew Catholic Church — 724 Mulberry St., Murphysboro, IL 62966
- St. Ann Catholic Church — 101 Raddle Lane, Jacob, IL 62950
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Parish phone: 618-687-2012
- School phone: 618-687-2013
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F. Fockele1868–1871
Pastor in Anna who offered the first monthly Masses for the Murphysboro group in the Ozborn School after Bishop Junker's visit.
- Rev. Theodore Wigman1871–April 1872
Baptized 34 parishioners during his short stay.
- Rev. Herman JungmannOctober 1872–February 1877
Founded the parish school in his own home in 1872; returned to dedicate the new church on October 16, 1889; baptized 177 members.
- Rev. L. ReisenMarch 25–August 19, 1877
Short-term successor to Fr. Jungmann.
- Rev. Paul TeroerdeSeptember–November 1877
Brief transitional pastorate.
- Rev. Frederick BergmannNovember 1877–July 1887
Born in Germany 1854, ordained at Louvain; served 10 years.
- Rev. Kaspar SchauerteJuly 1887–c. 1924
Great builder and educator; served 37 years; member of diocesan boards; helped bless St. Ann mission church in 1888.
- Rev. Joseph Taggart
Co-guided the parish with Fr. Schauerte for more than three-quarters of the first century of its existence.
- Rev. Leo Hayes1963–
Pastor of St. Ann, Raddle, in the 1960s; mentioned in St. Ann history.
- Rev. Joel Seipppresent
Current pastor of both St. Andrew, Murphysboro and partner parish St. Ann, Raddle.