About St. Clare of Assisi · O Fallon, Illinois
St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church is a Roman Latin-rite parish in O'Fallon, Illinois, belonging to the Diocese of Belleville. Founded in 1867 as O'Fallon's first Catholic church with 40 founding members, the parish today serves roughly 1,000 households from its current worship space at 1411 Cross Street, dedicated by Bishop Edward K. Braxton on September 30, 2007. The parish runs an active parochial school (St. Clare Catholic School, established 1868), offers daily and weekend Masses in English, hosts weekly Eucharistic Adoration and confessions, and supports more than 80 ministries ranging from faith formation and youth groups to outreach like Feed My Lambs.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. James E. (Fr. Jim) Deiters
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Clare is a 158-year-old parish with deep roots in O'Fallon and a current campus built for active parish life — daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a parochial school serving children preschool through 8th grade. Father Jim Deiters has been pastor since 1996, supported by three deacons and a full staff running Family Faith Formation, Adult Faith Formation, youth ministry, and more than 80 ministries. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed through RCIA, parish registration, and outreach efforts like the multi-church Feed My Lambs summer lunch program for local students.
Mass times at St. Clare of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (in St. Clare Chapel, on the left of the baptismal font)
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (during Tuesday Evening Adoration; no confessions during July)
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (with confessions during this hour, except in July)
- 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration periodically (e.g., 11:40 AM Sunday through 11:45 AM the following Monday)
History of St. Clare of Assisi Parish
St. Clare traces its roots to 1858, when O'Fallon's Catholics gathered for the first Mass in the home of Thomas and Catherine Mackin at First and Apple streets. The parish itself was officially established on December 17, 1867, by 40 founding members who contributed $700 for four lots on Third Street and $5,000 to build a 36-by-56-foot brick church. A permanent pastor was assigned in 1868, the same year the parish school opened. By 1890 the parish had outgrown the original structure; a larger red-brick church was built up and around the first one (so worship continued uninterrupted), dedicated in 1895 by 70 families at a cost of $35,000, and served as the parish home for more than 110 years.
- 1858 — First Mass in O'Fallon at the Mackin home, First & Apple streets
- 1867 — Parish officially established December 17; original brick church dedicated the same day
- 1868 — First permanent pastor assigned; Catholic school founded
- 1890–1895 — Second (red-brick) church built at Third & Oak; serves 110+ years
- 2001 — Louis Rasp donates 20 acres of farmland for a new church
- September 30, 2007 — Current 1,100-seat church dedicated by Bishop Edward K. Braxton
- 2017 — Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrated
The 1895 Church & Heritage Landmark
The 1895 red-brick St. Clare Church with its soaring steeple and sturdy bell remains a downtown O'Fallon landmark at Third and Oak streets. After the 2007 church was built, the historic structure was repurposed as the school chapel for St. Clare Catholic School and has received the O'Fallon Chamber's heritage award for its historical significance.
- Built by 70 families at a cost of $35,000
- Constructed around the original 1867 church so Mass could continue
- Now serves as the school chapel for St. Clare Catholic School
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Clare is pastored by Rev. James E. 'Fr. Jim' Deiters, who has served the parish since 1996. Ordained in 1991, Fr. Deiters holds a bachelor's in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Master of Divinity from Mundelein Seminary in Chicago. He serves on the diocesan Mission and Planning Commission, on the Board for Dynamic Catholic, on the Board of Directors for Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), and as adjunct faculty for the Institute of Priests and Presbyterates at St. Meinrad Seminary. He is supported by three deacons and a lay staff running faith formation, liturgy, and parish operations.
- Rev. James E. Deiters — Pastor (since 1996)
- Deacon John J. Gomez
- Deacon Daniel Kimutis
- Deacon Leonard Ratajczyk
- Stephen Eros — Music and Liturgy Director
- Jane Dotson — Director of Family Faith Formation
- Ellen Gravlin — Adult Faith Formation
- Toni Stanton — Business Manager
- Marcia Fix — Parish Secretary
- Jamae Shubirg — Administrative Assistant
- Angi Klohr — Administrative Assistant
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
St. Clare celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation for children requires weekend Mass attendance at the parish and enrollment in St. Clare School, the Parish School of Religion, or an approved home-school program. First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in 2nd grade (after 1st–2nd grade formation), and Confirmation is a two-year program typically beginning in 7th grade with Confirmation near the end of 8th grade. Parents must attend a parent meeting and register their child for the specific sacrament.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation (typically 2nd grade)
- First Communion (typically 2nd grade)
- Confirmation (two-year program, 7th–8th grade)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick / funerals
- Contact: Jane Dotson, Director of Family Faith Formation
Faith Formation for All Ages
Faith formation at St. Clare spans cradle to adult. Family Faith Formation (Jane Dotson) coordinates children's sacramental prep and the Parish School of Religion, while Ellen Gravlin directs Adult Faith Formation, which includes RCIA for adults interested in becoming Catholic. The parish publishes seasonal family resources — Lenten calendars, Triduum reflections, coloring pages, monthly family prayers, and Sacramentals-in-the-Home guides — to help parents pass on the faith at home.
- Family Faith Formation (Director: Jane Dotson)
- Adult Faith Formation (Ellen Gravlin)
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- RCIA — 'Interested in Becoming Catholic?'
- Seasonal family resources (Lent, Triduum, Easter, Mary, etc.)
St. Clare Catholic School
St. Clare Catholic School has been a cornerstone of Catholic education in O'Fallon since 1868. Today the school, located at 214 W. Third Street, serves children from Preschool (Good Shepherd program) through 8th grade as a shared ministry of St. Nicholas, Corpus Christi, and St. Clare parishes. Students come from four metro-east parishes, and current fourth-generation students carry on the school's tradition of excellence. The school was expanded in 2013.
- Preschool–8th Grade, 214 W. Third Street, O'Fallon
- Phone: (618) 632-6327
- Shared ministry of St. Nicholas, Corpus Christi, and St. Clare parishes
- Draws students from four metro-east parishes
- Interactive ViewSonic Boards in every classroom
- 1:1 Chromebook program for grades 3–8
- Arts program: music, choir, band, visual arts
- Preschool Spanish, cooking, and art curriculum
- 20+ extracurricular activities
- School expanded in 2013
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
St. Clare runs a robust youth ministry for 8th graders through high school, meeting during the school year and through the summer at the church Garden Pavilion or Fellowship Hall. Summer highlights include Totus Tuus (a parish summer program replacing VBS for students entering grades 1–12), the Steubenville Youth Conference trip, Crazy 8s for incoming 7th and 8th graders, and Emmaus Days at the Shrine. Young adults gather for periodic socials.
- Youth Group (8th grade through high school)
- Totus Tuus parish summer program
- Steubenville Youth Conference trip
- Crazy 8s (incoming 7th & 8th graders)
- Emmaus Days at the Shrine
- Young Adults socials
Outreach & Community Service
The parish supports the wider O'Fallon community through Feed My Lambs, a summer sack-lunch program co-sponsored with nine area churches that provides meals to students who normally receive free or reduced lunch during the school year. The parish is also active in parish-wide pilgrimages (such as a 12-day Sicily, Sorrento & Rome pilgrimage in November 2024) and in more than 80 ministries that serve local needs.
- Feed My Lambs — summer sack-lunch program with nine area churches
- Parish pilgrimages (e.g., Sicily, Sorrento & Rome)
- Over 80 ministries across the parish
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgy at St. Clare are coordinated by Stephen Eros, the parish's Music and Liturgy Director. The parish live-streams Mass on its YouTube channel (broadcasts begin 15–30 minutes before the liturgy) and posts weekly Worship Aids on the Live Stream page for online congregants to follow along.
- Music and Liturgy Director: Stephen Eros
- Live-streamed Mass via parish YouTube channel
- Weekly Worship Aids posted online