About St. Anthony of Padua · Effingham, Illinois
St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois is the oldest Catholic church in Effingham, founded on Christmas Day 1858. Today it serves over 1,300 registered families (about 3,165 parishioners) under the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and is led by Pastor Rev. Peter Harman with Parochial Vicar Rev. Jayke White. The parish campus anchors the largest Catholic school system in a 70-mile radius, including St. Anthony Grade School (405 N. Second St.) and St. Anthony High School (304 E. Roadway Ave.), with both schools sharing the parish's mission of forming 'lifelong intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.' Daily and weekend Masses are offered in the historic church at 101 E. Virginia Avenue, with weekday 6:30 am and Saturday 4:30 pm Masses live-streamed on YouTube.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Harman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a 1,300-plus family parish with a clear mission to form 'lifelong intentional disciples of Jesus Christ,' and an unusually full sacramental and devotional life to back that up. Daily Mass (six days a week), multiple Sunday Masses, regular Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, the Sacrament of Reconciliation six days a week, a vibrant OCIA/RCIA process, and ministries for every age — from SonRise Men's Group and DeColores retreats to a Catholic Young Adult Group, parish school of religion, choir program, and Catholic Heart Work Camp — make it easy to plug in. The parish also anchors the largest Catholic school system within a 70-mile radius, with a Grade School, High School, and pre-school serving Effingham and the surrounding south-central Illinois community at the crossroads of I-57 and I-70.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 7:45–8:15 am
- Saturday: 3:15 pm
- Wednesday: 5:30 pm
- Or anytime by appointment
- During Wednesdays in Lent: 6:30 am and 5:15 pm
Adoration times
- Adoration offered during the day (per parish bulletin)
- Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:15 pm on Wednesday evenings, followed by Mass and a formation session in the parish hall during Advent/Lent
- Adoration is part of the 3rd-grade Confirmation/Eucharist retreat and Junior High NET retreats
Parish History & Heritage
On Christmas Day 1858 the first Mass was celebrated in the newly created St. Anthony of Padua Church in Effingham, making it the oldest Catholic church in the city. Originally a mission parish served by priests from neighboring villages until 1871, the community grew from 40 founding families to 225 by 1875 and was officially incorporated as St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church of Effingham on March 1, 1870. The parish's present church was built under its first resident pastor, Rev. Michael Weis (1871–1877), and the School Sisters of Notre Dame arrived to teach the children. Through more than a century and a half of building — schools, convent, rectory, gymnasium, high school, parish center, and a major 1997 church renovation — St. Anthony has remained the spiritual anchor of Catholic life in Effingham.
- Founded Christmas Day, 1858
- Incorporated March 1, 1870
- First resident pastor: Rev. Michael Weis (1871)
- 150th anniversary celebrated June 13, 2008 — high school debt retired that day
- 1997 major church renovation aligned worship space with Vatican II rites
- New Parish Center occupied March 2001
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Peter Harman with Parochial Vicar Rev. Jayke White, supported by Permanent Deacon Joseph A. Emmerich, retired SSND Sister Jane Marie Hotze in pastoral ministry, and Deacon Candidate Joe Sudkamp. A full administrative team — parish secretaries, directors of operations, financial staff, music director, PSR director, accountant, network administrator, and maintenance manager — keeps the parish, schools, and cemetery running smoothly.
- Rev. Peter Harman — Pastor
- Rev. Jayke White — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Joseph A. Emmerich — Permanent Deacon
- Sr. Jane Marie Hotze, SSND — Retired Religious, Pastoral Ministry
- Joe Sudkamp — Deacon Candidate
- Regina Villafuerte — Director of Music
- Anne Wilson — PSR Director
- Liz Schmidt — Spiritual Direction and Annulment Ministry
- Bart Willenborg — Cemetery Sexton
St. Anthony Schools (Grade School & High School)
St. Anthony of Padua Parish anchors the largest Catholic school system within a 70-mile radius of Effingham. The Grade School at 405 N. Second Street (217-347-0419) is a Catholic, co-educational elementary school whose students grow spiritually, morally, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically, with a comprehensive curriculum and strong athletic tradition (the 'Bullpups'). St. Anthony High School at 304 E. Roadway Avenue (217-342-6969) was founded in 1912, is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, and currently enrolls about 215 students in grades 9–12. It offers a college-prep curriculum with three AP courses (Biology, Statistics, and Calculus AB), Honors Geometry and Algebra II, and dual-credit classes through Lake Land College.
- Grade School: 405 N. Second St., Effingham — (217) 347-0419
- High School: 304 E. Roadway Ave., Effingham — (217) 342-6969
- High School founded 1912; ~215 students grades 9–12
- AP courses: Biology, Statistics, Calculus AB
- Dual-credit partnership with Lake Land College (Composition I & II, Intro to Literature)
- Accredited by Illinois State Board of Education; member of College Board and NACAC
Faith Formation: OCIA, PSR & Youth
Faith formation at St. Anthony runs from kindergarten through adulthood. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a process of study and prayer culminating in Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil — all classes are open to any parishioner who wants to renew or deepen their understanding of Catholic teaching. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) welcomes public-school students entering K–8 each year and depends on volunteer catechists. Third-graders preparing for Confirmation and First Eucharist attend a parent-and-sponsor retreat that includes adoration and reflection on the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- OCIA (RCIA) process — Easter Vigil reception
- PSR for K–8 public-school students
- 3rd-grade Confirmation/Eucharist Retreat with parent or sponsor
- Junior High NET Ministries retreats (Mass, small groups, Reconciliation, adoration)
- Catholic Heart Work Camp — week-long summer service trip
Adult Ministries, Small Groups & Retreats
Adults at St. Anthony can join one of several ongoing small groups, study circles, and retreat ministries designed to deepen faith and build community. The Catholic Young Adult Group (CYA Effingham) hosts monthly events across local parishes, including a Holy Hour/Happy Hour with an hour of silent adoration followed by social time. The SonRise Men's Group meets Friday mornings at 6:10 am in the Parish Center for a continental breakfast, fellowship, and solid Catholic teaching. DeColores offers four spiritual retreat weekends per year (two men's and two women's) centered on piety, study, and action.
- Catholic Young Adult Group (CYA Effingham) — monthly Holy Hour / Happy Hour
- SonRise Men's Group — Fridays 6:10 am in the Parish Center
- DeColores — four retreat weekends a year (men's & women's)
- Marriage Preparation Mentor Couples
- Adult Education Planning Team — bible studies and topical classes
- Small-group options for all adult ages
Liturgy & Music Ministries
Music is central to worship at St. Anthony. The Adult Choir supports the assembly once a month from September through early June and leads music for Midnight Mass and Holy Week. The Junior High Chorus sings before school and at selected weekend and Tuesday school Masses; the High School Chorus partners with them for a winter Christmas concert in the church and a spring concert at the high school. The Resurrection Choir sings for funerals upon a family's request, and trained Cantors lead congregational singing. Parishioners who have received Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation may request to become Eucharistic Ministers (extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) after a short training session.
- Adult Choir — monthly Sept–June plus Midnight Mass and Holy Week
- Junior High Chorus and High School Chorus
- Resurrection Choir — for funerals
- Cantors
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
Outreach & Service
Service is woven into parish life. St. Anthony partners with Catholic Charities to extend the healing and empowering presence of Jesus to those in need, and the parish Pro-Life Group organizes seasonal activities such as the 40-Day Prayer Campaign and Luminaries for Life. A Bereavement Support group and an annual November Memorial Mass comfort the grieving. The Cemetery Committee (led by Cemetery Sexton Bart Willenborg) prepares plots, registers burials with the Diocese, and maintains the grounds. Funeral Ministries supply servers, doorkeepers, and Eucharistic Ministers to help grieving families. High-school students and young adults also travel on Catholic Heart Work Camp mission trips each summer.
- Catholic Charities partnership
- Pro-Life Group (40-Day Prayer Campaign, Luminaries for Life)
- Bereavement Support Group and November Memorial Mass
- Funeral Ministries (servers, doorkeepers, Eucharistic Ministers)
- Cemetery Committee — Bart Willenborg, Cemetery Sexton
- Student Mission Work Camps / Catholic Heart Work Camp
- School Volunteers and Collection Counters
Cemetery
St. Anthony's parish cemetery, one of the earliest pieces of land donated to the parish in its founding era, is cared for by the Cemetery Committee. The committee assigns and prepares plots for burial, registers burials with the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, and keeps the grounds well maintained. Bart Willenborg serves as Cemetery Sexton.
- Cemetery Committee
- Cemetery Sexton: Bart Willenborg
- Burial registration coordinated with the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Visiting & Contact
The parish church and Parish Center are at 101 E. Virginia Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401 (PO Box 764). The parish office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, phone (217) 347-7129, email [email protected]. For deaths, accidents, or other life emergencies when the office is closed, parishioners can reach a priest on the after-hours emergency line at 217-703-1042. The Grade School is at 405 N. Second Street and the High School at 304 E. Roadway Avenue.
- Parish Office: 101 E. Virginia Ave., Effingham, IL 62401
- Phone: (217) 347-7129 — Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am–4:00 pm
- After-hours priest emergency line: (217) 703-1042
- Grade School: 405 N. Second St. — (217) 347-0419
- High School: 304 E. Roadway Ave. — (217) 342-6969
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Weis1871–1877
First resident pastor; built the present church.
- Rev. H.J.F. Jungmannfrom 1877
Built a new main altar, brick rectory, and a new six-room school.
- Rev. Louis W. Lammert1896–
Added parish hall/stage, installed pipe organ and stained-glass windows, built new convent (1918).
- Rev. John H. Gramke1929–1945
Added four school rooms, started hot lunch program; served until his death.
- Rev. John J. Goffafter 1945–
Added Stations of Cross, patron statues, classrooms, library, gym, new high school, current rectory; started C.C.D.
- Msgr. John McGrath1968–1972
- Team ministry: Rev. William Peters, Rev. Robert Spriggs, Rev. Donald Meehling1972–1976
First team-ministry administration.
- Rev. Robert Heintz1976–~1984
Retired the parish debt in 1983.
- Rev. Michael Kuseafter Heintz–~1988
Later called by Bishop to direct Springfield Diocese Ministry to Priests Program.
- Rev. William Overmannfrom 1988
Served the 1,500-family parish.
- Very Rev. Msgr. Leo EnlowJune 1989–
Oversaw 1997 church renovation, built the new parish center (2001), led capital campaigns for high school and grade school.
- Rev. Albert AllenApril 2020–
Assigned pastor of St. Anthony and Annunciation parishes during the COVID-19 pandemic.