About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Kinmundy, Illinois
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a small Roman Catholic parish in Kinmundy, Illinois, in the Diocese of Belleville. Founded in 1870 under the patronage of St. Philomena, it is the older of the two partner parishes now served jointly from Salem. It was renamed in 1975 to honor St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born canonized saint. Today the parish shares pastoral leadership, staff, and a weekday Mass rotation with St. Theresa of Avila in Salem and St. Stephen in Flora, and celebrates its regular weekend liturgy in Kinmundy every Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (formerly St. Philomena)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a small, family-sized Catholic community in rural South-Central Illinois where everyone knows one another by name. Parish life centers on the sacraments, faith formation for children and youth through PSR and Youth Ministry, lay-led ministry and service, and a strong culture of fellowship around First Communion, Confirmation, graduations, Christmas, and the harvest. The parish also shares a long-standing sister-parish relationship with Our Lady of the Sioux in Oglala, South Dakota, giving members a tangible way to live the Gospel beyond their own community.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call 618-548-0899
- Sunday morning before Mass at St. Theresa of Avila
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at St. Theresa Chapel (begins with the Divine Mercy Chaplet)
Parish Overview
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Roman Catholic parish in Kinmundy, Illinois, founded in 1870 and now part of the Marion County Tri-Parish Collaborative (MTC) with St. Theresa of Avila in Salem and St. Stephen in Flora. The parish is led by Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM, V.F., supported by parish secretary Karen Neubauer, PSR Coordinator Mandy Buhnerkempe, and DRE Brittney Kramer, with Deacon Steven Eischens in diaconal ministry. The shared mission statement of the partner parishes is: 'As a Christian family united in faith, we celebrate the sacraments, practice the presence of God, and bear witness to the Gospel through fellowship and loving service to all God's people, especially the youth and those in need.'
- Founded 1870; renamed St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in 1975
- Diocese of Belleville
- Pastor: Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM, V.F.
- Parish Secretary: Karen Neubauer (618-548-0899)
- PSR Coordinator: Mandy Buhnerkempe
- Director of Religious Education: Brittney Kramer
- Deacon: Steven Eischens (ordained May 2018)
Parish History
The Kinmundy parish was founded in 1870 as St. Philomena on land donated by Isaac Eagen, with Father Francis Moening, OFM of Teutopolis as first pastor. A long agricultural depression from 1874–1897 strained the small community, which continued to be served by visiting Franciscans. In 1940 Father Alphonse Schomaker became the parish's first resident pastor and in 1951 built the present church on land from Fred Kleiss for $33,000, dedicated by Bishop Albert Zuroweste. The parish hall was added in 1968 ($40,000, dedicated 1969), and the parish celebrated its centennial in 1970. After the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the parish was renamed in her honor in 1975.
- 1870 — First church built under patronage of St. Philomena; Fr. Francis Moening, OFM, first pastor
- 1874–1897 — Crop failures and depression weaken the parish
- 1940 — Fr. Alphonse Schomaker becomes first resident pastor
- 1951 — New church built ($33,000) and dedicated by Bishop Albert Zuroweste
- 1968–1969 — Parish hall built ($40,000); dedicated March 1969 by Bishop Zuroweste
- 1970 — Parish celebrates 100th anniversary
- 1975 — Parish renamed St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Late 20th & 21st Century Milestones
The parish entered a new era in the 1990s with physical improvements and a mission partnership. Father Andrew Knopik had gutters installed and commissioned an $8,000 stained-glass image of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Father James Deiters restructured parish councils; and Father Jon O'Guinn, the parish's twelfth resident pastor, developed the Schomaker Center in the former rectory, dedicated by Bishop Wilton Gregory in August 1997. In May 2001 Bishop Gregory installed Darre Eultgen as the parish's first Parish Life Coordinator. A Catholic Extension Society grant in January 2013 brought Sister Mary Catherine Clark, ASC, as Director of Religious Formation, and parishioner Steven Eischens was ordained a permanent deacon in May 2018. Father Abraham Adejoh was appointed pastor in August 2019.
- 1990s — Stained-glass image of patron installed; Oglala mission partnership established
- 1997 — Schomaker Center dedicated by Bishop Wilton Gregory
- 2001 — Darre Eultgen installed as Parish Life Coordinator
- 2013 — Sr. Mary Catherine Clark, ASC, begins as DRE
- 2018 — Deacon Steven Eischens ordained
- 2019 — Fr. Abraham Adejoh appointed pastor
Sacraments
The parish offers preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) through its PSR program and welcomes Reconciliation either by appointment or on Sunday mornings before Mass at St. Theresa of Avila in Salem. Couples preparing for Marriage, families seeking Baptism, and those wishing to receive other sacraments coordinate directly through the parish office.
- Reconciliation (Confession) — by appointment (618-548-0899) or Sunday morning at St. Theresa of Avila
- First Communion — preparation via PSR
- Confirmation — preparation via PSR
- Baptism and Marriage — contact the parish office
Devotions
Beyond Mass, the parish community gathers regularly for Adoration and the Rosary. Wednesday Adoration is held at St. Theresa Chapel from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., opening with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Rosary is recited after the Friday 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Theresa Chapel.
- Wednesday Adoration — 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. Theresa Chapel, beginning with the Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Friday Rosary — after 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Theresa Chapel
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith formation for children and youth is provided through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), coordinated by Mandy Buhnerkempe, with Brittney Kramer serving as Director of Religious Education. A regional Youth Group (MTC Regional) brings together young people from the three partner parishes. The parish emphasizes passing the faith to children and engaging young adults and parents as ministers to one another.
- PSR — Mandy Buhnerkempe, Coordinator
- Director of Religious Education — Brittney Kramer
- MTC Regional Youth Group
- Director of Religious Formation role established January 2013 (Sr. Mary Catherine Clark, ASC)
Parish Organizations & Outreach
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton shares a number of parish organizations with its partner parishes, including the Knights of Columbus, the Avila Ladies (St. Theresa Avila League) for women's fellowship and service, the St. Theresa Quilting Club, and Small Home Study Groups of 6–10 members meeting in homes or the parish center. Outreach includes the St. Theresa of Avila Food Pantry, which distributes non-perishable food to local residents in need with help from the Knights of Columbus and other volunteers.
- Knights of Columbus
- Avila Ladies / St. Theresa Avila League
- St. Theresa Quilting Club
- Small Home Study Groups
- St. Theresa of Avila Food Pantry
- Sister-parish mission with Our Lady of the Sioux, Oglala, South Dakota
Contact, Office & Location
The parish office serving St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is located at 180 North Ohio, Salem, IL 62881, and is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (visitors are asked to ring the door bell). The church itself stands at 110 N. Madison Street in Kinmundy, with the diocesan directory also listing the mailing address as 812 W. Main Street, Salem, IL 62881. The parish shares the staff and phone line with St. Theresa of Avila: 618-548-0899 (fax 618-548-0269).
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton — 110 N. Madison St., Kinmundy, IL 62854
- Parish Office — 180 North Ohio, Salem, IL 62881
- Mailing Address — 812 W. Main Street, Salem, IL 62881
- Phone: 618-548-0899 — Fax: 618-548-0269
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Buildings & Facilities
The parish's physical campus reflects more than 150 years of growth. The current church (dedicated 1951) sits on land once owned by Fred Kleiss; the parish hall, completed in 1968 on land from Mildred Kleiss, provides a kitchen, four classrooms, and restrooms and remains a hub for parish gatherings. The Schomaker Center, repurposed from the former rectory and dedicated in 1997 by Bishop Wilton Gregory, serves as a joint office and meeting space for both parishes.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (dedicated 1951)
- Parish Hall (1968; dedicated March 1969)
- Schomaker Center (former rectory, dedicated August 1997)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Moening, OFM1870–
Franciscan priest from Teutopolis, IL; first pastor of the parish in Kinmundy.
- Father Alphonse Schomaker1940–
32-year-old Damiansville native; first resident pastor; built the current church in 1951 (cornerstone laid, dedicated by Bishop Zuroweste, $33,000).
- Father Andrew Knopik1990s
Installed new gutters and arranged $8,000 stained-glass image of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; established Oglala mission partnership.
- Father James Deiters1990s
Restructured parish council committees, fostering greater parish unity.
- Father Jon O'Guinn1990s
12th resident pastor; oversaw development of the Schomaker Center, dedicated by Bishop Wilton Gregory in August 1997.
- Darre Eultgen2001–
Installed as Parish Life Coordinator (PLC) by Bishop Wilton Gregory in May 2001; marked significant growth in lay participation.
- Father Abraham AdejohAugust 2019–
Appointed pastor; preceded Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM, V.F., the current pastor.
- Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM, V.F.current
Current pastor, listed on the Diocese of Belleville directory.