About St. Augustine of Canterbury · Belleville, Illinois
St. Augustine of Canterbury is a Catholic parish in Belleville, Illinois, established in 1955 and belonging to the Diocese of Belleville. The parish sits at 1910 West Belle Street and today is partnered with nearby St. Henry Church under a Diocesan Parish Renewal Plan, sharing pastoral life and resources between the two communities. Worship is centered on a weekend Mass schedule (Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.), weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, a weekly rosary, and a Healing Mass, with livestreamed services for those who cannot attend in person. The parish is led by Rev. Msgr. William P. McGhee, supported by two permanent deacons and a parish staff, and is rooted in its mission to help all ages 'live, practice, and experience their Catholic Faith completely, peacefully, and in the true spirit of brotherhood.'
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Augustine of Canterbury
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. William P. McGhee
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Augustine of Canterbury offers a warm, mid-sized parish home with a full sacramental life—weekend and weekday Masses, regular Reconciliation, First Friday Adoration and Benediction, a weekly rosary, and a Healing Mass—along with livestreamed services for those at home. It is a multi-generational community in west Belleville with active lay leadership (Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Music Director, Sodality, and a long list of liturgical volunteers), and through its partnership with St. Henry Parish and the regional Notre Dame Academy / Family Faith Formation Building, members have access to PSR classes for five parishes plus on-site RCIA formation. Whether you are a newcomer or a longtime parishioner, the parish's stated mission is to make it possible 'for all ages to live, practice, and experience their Catholic Faith completely, peacefully, and in the true spirit of brotherhood.'
Mass times at St. Augustine of Canterbury
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
- Sunday 7:30–7:45 AM
Adoration times
- First Friday 2:00–5:15 PM (with Benediction at 5:15 PM, followed by Mass at 5:30 PM)
About St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish
St. Augustine of Canterbury is a Catholic parish in west Belleville, Illinois, established in 1955 and entrusted to the Diocese of Belleville. From its founding Mass in the St. Clair County Highway Garage to its present partnership with neighboring St. Henry Church, the parish has grown into a multi-generational faith community served by Rev. Msgr. William P. McGhee and two permanent deacons. The parish's stated mission is to make it possible 'for all ages to live, practice, and experience their Catholic Faith completely, peacefully, and in the true spirit of brotherhood,' and its tagline reminds members they are 'One Parish....One Body in Union with Christ.... All Dedicated to God, family and the community.'
History
On August 12, 1955, Father Urban Kuhl was appointed founding pastor and the parish purchased ten acres from Mr. and Mrs. August Vernier. The first Mass was celebrated September 4, 1955 in the St. Clair County Highway Garage—along with the first baptism, Jennifer Hoeffken—and the temporary worship site was used until December 9, 1956. The first rectory was a rental at 620 Royal Heights Road, and within the first month the Holy Name Society, the Queenship of Mary Sodality, and the CYO were all founded.
School and Faith Formation Consolidation (2008–Present)
In 2008 Bishop Braxton ordered the merger of St. Augustine School with St. Mary School; in 2014 a further consolidation formed Notre Dame Academy, which opened in August 2015 in partnership with the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary. After the older grades were relocated to the Cathedral Campus, the former St. Augustine School building became the St. Augustine Family Faith Formation Building—now the home of PSR for five parishes and RCIA classes.
Anniversaries
The parish marked its 60th Anniversary with a special Mass and dinner on August 12, 2015, attended by all former pastors, associates, and deacons. The 70th Anniversary is scheduled for August 15, 2025.
Weekend & Weekday Masses
Weekend Masses: Saturday 4:30 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Weekday Masses: Tuesday 6:30 PM; Wednesday–Friday 8:00 AM. Holy Day Masses vary.
Devotions: Rosary, Healing Mass & Men of St. Joseph
The Rosary is prayed Tuesday at 6:00 PM and Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 AM (before the 8:00 AM Mass). A Healing Mass is offered (see parish bulletin). The Men of St. Joseph gather on the second Saturday of each month for an 8:00 AM Mass, and on the third Saturday with Rosary at 7:30 AM followed by 8:00 AM Mass.
Live-Streaming
For parishioners who cannot attend in person, Masses are live-streamed and recent services are archived on the parish's YouTube channel, linked from stasaints.org.
Parish Leadership & Staff
Parish life is shaped by a working team of clergy, deacons, staff, council members, and trustees. The pastor leads the mission and liturgy; two permanent deacons assist; and a parish secretary / business manager and administrative assistant handle day-to-day operations.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. William P. McGhee ([email protected])
- Deacon Gerald G. Bach, Sr. (Liturgy Committee; serving since 2009)
- Deacon James C. Law (Permanent Deacon; ordained May 2018)
- Mary Zeveski — Business Manager / Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Barbara Snider — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Cecilia Wheetley — Music Director ([email protected])
- Rita Uhl — Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson
- Barb Masters — Parish Pastoral Vice Chairperson
- John Gingrich — Parish Pastoral Council Secretary
- Rick Martini — Finance Committee Chair
- Ken Bossung — Finance Committee Secretary
- Don Schaefer — Finance Committee Member
- Ed Lemay — Parish Trustee
- Mike Bassler — Parish Trustee
- William McCarty, Connie Jean Goyda, Deanna Grimmig, James 'Jamie' Grimmig — Parish Pastoral Council Members
- Diane Kreeb — Queenship of Mary Sodality
Councils & Committees
The Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council provide governance and stewardship. The Finance Council meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5:00 PM and is chaired by Rick Martini. The Liturgy Committee is chaired by Deacon Gerry Bach.
Sacraments
St. Augustine prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, and Christian Initiation. Baptism requires at least 30 days' notice; Matrimony ideally requires 6 months' notice plus a Diocese-required pre-marriage inventory and pre-marriage course (Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter). Those seeking to become Catholic are invited to inquire through the parish's RCIA / OCIA program, which meets in the on-site Family Faith Formation Building.
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish's former school building now serves as the St. Augustine Family Faith Formation Building, hosting the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for students from five parishes—Cathedral, St. Augustine, St. Luke, St. Mary, and St. Theresa—as well as RCIA / OCIA classes for adults. This regional role was formalized after the 2015 launch of Notre Dame Academy.
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
St. Augustine's ministries serve the liturgy, the parish community, and the wider church. The parish's own website invites anyone interested in serving as a Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Youth or Adult Server, Usher, or Greeter to contact the parish office.
- Liturgical ministries: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers (Youth & Adult), Ushers, Greeters
- Music Ministry (Music Director: Cecilia Wheetley)
- Liturgy Committee (chaired by Deacon Gerry Bach)
- Queenship of Mary Sodality
- Holy Name Society (one of the parish's founding organizations)
- CYO – Catholic Youth Organization (one of the parish's founding organizations)
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
Partnership with St. Henry Parish
Under Bishop Braxton's 2013 Diocesan Parish Renewal Plan, St. Augustine of Canterbury and St. Henry Church were formally paired as working partners, with Msgr. McGhee and Fr. Ken York collaborating on shared pastoral life. The partnership remains a defining feature of the parish's current chapter.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Newcomers, visitors, and longtime parishioners are warmly welcomed at any Mass. The parish office is located at 1910 W. Belle Street, Belleville, IL 62226, phone 618-233-3813. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM; Wednesday the office is closed; and Friday 8:30 AM to noon. The parish's history page references an on-site parking lot for visitors.
- Address: 1910 W. Belle Street, Belleville, IL 62226
- Phone: 618-233-3813
- Website: stasaints.org
- Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 8:00 AM–3:30 PM; Wed closed; Fri 8:30 AM–noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Urban Kuhl1955–1995
Founding pastor; oversaw purchase of land from the Verniers and the building of the parish's first facilities.
- Fr. Andy Knopik1995–2007
Succeeded Fr. Kuhl as pastor.
- Fr. John Myler2007–2008
Short-term pastor before the 2008 school consolidation.
- Msgr. William P. McGhee2008–2009
Appointed Pastor of both St. Mary and St. Augustine Parishes and School Superintendent during the merger forming St. Mary–St. Augustine School.
- Fr. Patrick Okwumuo2009–2012
Served as Parish Administrator; the two parishes were again made independent during his tenure.
- Msgr. William P. McGhee2012–present
Re-appointed Pastor; continues to serve St. Augustine as it partners with St. Henry Parish.