About St. Ann · Nashville, Illinois
St. Ann Catholic Church is a historic parish serving the Catholic faithful of Nashville, Illinois, in the rolling countryside of southern Illinois (Washington County). Established in 1874, it began as a mission from nearby Okawville and is now partnered with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Posen, the two sharing one pastor and parish staff. Today the parish is administered by Rev. Benny George Ayathupadam, CMI, and offers weekend and weekday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, a parish preschool, a Parish School of Religion (PSR), Catholic Youth Ministry, the Nashville Knights of Columbus, and the St. Ann Quilters. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Belleville and remains an active rural congregation whose church and school are described as an outstanding achievement of a dedicated community.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne), mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Benny George Ayathupadam, CMI (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Ann is a welcoming, family-sized Catholic parish rooted in Washington County since 1874, with two historic worship sites (Nashville and Posen) sharing one pastor and staff. Parishioners can worship at a Saturday vigil or Sunday Mass in Nashville (or Sunday morning at partnered Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Posen), attend weekday Mass Tuesday through Friday, bring little ones to St. Ann Preschool, enroll children in the Parish School of Religion, and join active groups like the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Youth Ministry, St. Ann Quilters, and the Holy Name Society. Monthly Eucharistic Adoration and a steady confession schedule make it a true spiritual home for Catholics in rural southern Illinois.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (St. Ann, Nashville): 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Sunday (Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Posen): 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
- 1st Friday: 7:45 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
- Or by appointment — contact the parish office
Adoration times
- 1st Thursday of every month (St. Ann, Nashville): 2:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., closing with Benediction at 7:30 p.m.
About St. Ann Catholic Parish
St. Ann Catholic Church in Nashville, Illinois, is a historic Catholic parish of the Diocese of Belleville, established in 1874. The parish is formally partnered with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Posen, and the two communities share one pastor and staff. The parish serves Catholics in Nashville and the surrounding Washington County farmland of rural southern Illinois, offering weekend and weekday Mass, the sacraments, religious education, a preschool, and a number of active lay societies.
- Established 1874
- Diocese of Belleville
- Partnered with Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Posen
- Administrator: Rev. Benny George Ayathupadam, CMI
- Deacon: Fred Sterns, Jr.
History
St. Ann began as a mission from the Catholic parish at Okawville and was formally established in 1874. A historical sketch of Washington County notes that the first church building was destroyed by fire; the present church and school are described as 'one of the outstanding achievements of a dedicated parish.' In modern times the parish entered into a formal partnership with Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Posen, and the two share one priest and one parish staff.
- Founded 1874 as a mission from Okawville
- Original church building destroyed by fire
- Today a partnered parish with OLPH, Posen
St. Ann Preschool
St. Ann Preschool is a parish-sponsored early-childhood program that nurtures children's spiritual, emotional, social, and intellectual growth in a loving Catholic environment. Families interested in enrollment can contact the preschool directly.
- Parish-sponsored early childhood program
- Phone: 618-327-8741
- Faith-based, nurturing atmosphere
Religious Education (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides Catholic religious education for the children of both partnered parishes. PSR is coordinated separately for the Nashville (St. Ann) and Posen (OLPH) communities.
- St. Ann PSR Director: Lindsay O'Rear — 618-967-1402
- OLPH PSR Director: Brenda Timmermann / Brenda Spenner — 618-357-1349 / 618-246-3926
- Parish Secretary / DRE: Juliann Zyk
Catholic Youth Ministry
Catholic Youth Ministry serves the young people of both partnered parishes with faith formation, fellowship, and service opportunities.
- Director: Sarah Kozuszek — 618-316-3939
Parish Organizations & Societies
St. Ann and its partnered parish Our Lady of Perpetual Help are home to a number of long-standing lay organizations that serve the parish community through fellowship, service, and fundraising.
- Nashville Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Dale Hentges — 618-329-5263
- St. Ann Quilters (Nashville)
- Holy Name Society (OLPH, Posen) — President Ben Niedbalski — 618-314-3273
- Ladies' Altar Sodality (OLPH, Posen) — President Joyce Bauza — 618-314-0765
- Ushers (Nashville) — 618-327-8669
Parish Leadership & Staff
The partnered parishes of St. Ann and Our Lady of Perpetual Help are led by the Administrator, supported by a deacon, parish secretary/DRE, parish and finance councils, and trustees.
- Administrator: Rev. Benny George Ayathupadam, CMI — [email protected]
- Deacon: Fred Sterns, Jr. — [email protected]
- Office Secretary / DRE: Juliann Zyk — [email protected]
- Parish Council President (St. Ann): David Sturgeon — 618-899-0199
- Parish Council President (OLPH): Jill Stein — 618-314-0784
- Trustees (St. Ann): Doug Holzhauer (618-314-5390), Fred Sterns (618-246-0699)
- Trustees (OLPH): Art Matecki (618-327-8779), Brenda Spenner (618-246-3926)
Music Ministry (Organists)
Music at weekend Masses is provided by parish organists serving the Nashville and Posen worship sites.
- Saturday Vigil (St. Ann Nashville): Brian Rusiewski
- Sunday (St. Ann Nashville): Mary Kozuszek / Kerry Henderson
- Sunday (OLPH Posen): Mary Niedbalski / Kerry Henderson
Visiting & Contact Information
The parish office at St. Ann is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The OLPH office in Posen is open Wednesday mornings from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Maps to both churches are available on the parish website.
- St. Ann — 631 S. Mill Street, Nashville, IL 62263
- Office: 618-327-3232 | Fax: 618-327-4904
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Ann Preschool: 618-327-8741
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help — 19824 Posen Road, Posen, IL — 618-327-3556
- Hall Rental (Nashville): 618-327-3232
- Hall Rental (Posen): 618-314-0765