About St. Francis of Assisi - St. Norbert · Hardin, Illinois
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving Calhoun County, Illinois, formed in 2005 by Bishop George Lucas of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois through the merger of the four historic Calhoun County parishes. It is structured around two worship sites: St. Norbert Church in Hardin (the parish seat) and St. Anselm Church in Kampsville, with a third seasonal site at St. Michael during the summer. The parish operates St. Norbert School (K–8) and a Children's House of Montessori preschool, and supports a full range of liturgical ministries, faith formation, and sacramental preparation rooted in the rural Catholic life of the Illinois River valley.
- Established
- 1850 (first Mass in Hardin area; 1878 first church dedicated; 1914–1915 present St. Norbert Church built; 2005 parish established as St. Francis of Assisi)
- Patron
- St. Norbert of Xanten (original patron of the Hardin church)
- Rector
- Rev. Don J. Roberts
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers a small, faith-rooted rural Catholic community anchored by the historic 1915 St. Norbert Church in Hardin and the St. Anselm site in Kampsville, with daily and weekend Masses across the week, a sacramental life including Reconciliation, Baptism, Confirmation, OCIA, Anointing of the Sick, weddings, and funerals, a K–8 parish school with a Montessori preschool, religious education through PSR, adult faith formation, and a working music ministry. Active lay involvement is the norm — greeters, lectors, acolytes, extraordinary ministers, ushers, sacristans, money counters, gift bearers, and pastoral, finance, and school advisory councils all share in the parish's life.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi - St. Norbert
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is the Catholic community of Calhoun County, Illinois, established in 2005 by Bishop George Lucas of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The merged parish brings together the historic faith communities of St. Agnes, St. Michael, St. Norbert, and St. Anselm, and is centered today on two worship sites — St. Norbert Church in Hardin and St. Anselm Church in Kampsville — plus a seasonal summer site at St. Michael. The parish coordinates sacramental preparation, faith formation, K–8 Catholic education at St. Norbert School, and a broad slate of lay ministries serving the rural Illinois River valley.
- Parish seat: St. Norbert, Hardin
- Second worship site: St. Anselm, Kampsville
- Seasonal summer site: St. Michael
- Formed 2005 by merging four Calhoun County parishes
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
History of the Hardin / St. Norbert Community
Catholic life in the Hardin area began in 1850, when the first Mass was said at a house three miles north of town on the old Paul Godar property by a priest traveling from St. Charles, Missouri. Father Freimuth, appointed resident pastor at Michael in 1877, built the first frame church in Hardin, which Bishop P.J. Baltes of Alton dedicated on April 25, 1878. The present brick St. Norbert Church was built in 1914–1915 under Father Edmund Hickey. The parochial school was established in 1928, and generations of subsequent priests have maintained the buildings, added accessibility, renovated the sanctuary, and preserved the parish's stained glass.
- 1850 — first Mass in Hardin area
- 1878 — first Hardin church dedicated (frame)
- 1914–1915 — present brick St. Norbert Church built
- 1928 — parochial school established
- 1996 — handicapped-accessible entrance added
- 1998+ — sanctuary overhaul and mural installed
Worship Sites
St. Norbert Church in Hardin is the parish seat, with daily and Sunday Masses. St. Anselm in Kampsville hosts the Saturday vigil September through May. During the summer (June–August) the Saturday vigil moves to St. Michael.
- St. Norbert, 304 French St., Hardin
- St. Anselm, Kampsville
- St. Michael (Saturday summer vigil)
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Father Don J. Roberts, who has been pastor since 2008, assisted by Deacon Mike Hagen. Maria Carmody serves as Office Manager and Jennifer Roth as Business Manager.
- Pastor: Rev. Don J. Roberts (since 2008)
- Deacon: Mike Hagen
- Office Manager: Maria Carmody ([email protected])
- Business Manager: Jennifer Roth
Pastoral Succession at St. Norbert
The parish maintains a comprehensive list of priests who have served at St. Norbert going back to 1877. Notable names include Father Freimuth (who built the first frame church), Father Edmund Hickey (who built the present brick church in 1914–1915), Father Steven Janoski (1996 entrance work), and Father Sylvano Pera (1998 sanctuary overhaul). Father Bill Kessler arrived in 2005 — the year of the merger — and was followed by the current pastor, Father Don Roberts, in 2008.
- 1877 – Fr. Freimuth
- 1910 – Fr. Edmund Hickey (built brick church)
- 1922 – Fr. Daniel Daly (school founded 1928)
- 1971 – Fr. Roy Bauer
- 1993 – Fr. Steven Janoski (1996 entrance)
- 1996 – Fr. Sylvano Pera (1998 sanctuary renovation)
- 1999 – Fr. Tom Hagstrom
- 2005 – Fr. Bill Kessler
- 2008 – Fr. Don Roberts (current)
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes new members into the Church.
- Baptism (parish class required)
- First Communion
- Reconciliation (2nd grade)
- Confirmation
- OCIA
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- Weddings
- Funerals
St. Norbert School (K–8)
St. Norbert School offers Catholic elementary education from Kindergarten through 8th grade, plus a Children's House of Montessori preschool for children ages 3–5. The school describes its mission as 'Building a Brighter Future by Shaping Religious and Moral Values in Children Today.' Contact: 618-576-2514; [email protected].
- K–8 Catholic elementary education
- Children's House of Montessori preschool (ages 3–5)
- Phone: 618-576-2514
- Email: [email protected]
- Staff listed: Angie Goode, Racheal Friedel, Cindy Klocke, Sarah Sabol, Tammy Gansz
- School Advisory Board meets 1st Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Faith Formation
Alongside the parish school, the Parish School of Religion (PSR) supports religious education, and an Adult Faith Formation program continues formation for older parishioners. OCIA is the pathway for those entering the Catholic faith.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion)
- Adult Faith Formation
- OCIA / New to the Faith?
Parish Ministries & Liturgical Roles
Lay participation is central to the parish. Liturgical roles include greeters, ushers, sacristans, lectors, acolytes (open to junior high students), extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, extraordinary ministers to the homebound and hospitalized, gift bearers, and money counters. The Music Ministry organizes choirs for weekend Mass and para-liturgical prayer.
- Ministers of Hospitality / Greeters
- Ushers
- Sacristans
- Acolytes (Altar Servers) — junior high and up
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Liturgy
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound/Hospitalized
- Lectors
- Gift Bearers
- Money Counters (contact Larry Wieneke)
- Music Ministry (Sarah Kinder, Mary Kay Hughart, Jerry Sievers)
Advisory Councils
Three councils consult the pastor: the Parish Pastoral Council (heart-and-soul pastoral planning), the Finance Council (temporal and fiscal matters), and the St. Norbert School Advisory Board (school policy).
- Pastoral Council — 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m. (Dick Lieber, 217-320-8792)
- Finance Council — 3rd Tuesday, 8 p.m. (Brad Vacca, 314-608-9302)
- School Advisory Board — 1st Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Outreach & Stewardship
The parish supports a Grief Support ministry and is associated with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (referenced in recent bulletins). Online giving is available, and the parish handbook is published online for stewardship and ministry participation.
- Grief Support ministry
- Saint Vincent de Paul
- Online Giving
- Parish Handbook available online
- Time and Talent stewardship form
Visit, Contact & Hours
The parish office at 304 French Street, Hardin (P.O. Box C, Hardin, IL 62047) is open Monday 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Wednesday 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m., and Thursday 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. The office phone is (618) 576-2628 and the office manager email is [email protected].
- Office: 304 French Street, P.O. Box C, Hardin, IL 62047
- Phone: (618) 576-2628
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sfacalhoun.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Freimuth1877
Resident pastor at Michael; built first frame church in Hardin, dedicated April 25, 1878 by Bishop P.J. Baltes
- Father Clement Johannes1878
Stationed at Michael, attended Hardin church
- Father T.J. Connelly1895
- Father J.H. Kelly1903
First resident priest at Hardin per parish narrative
- Father Francis Smith1904
- Father J.J. Hertenberger1904
- Father O'Flaherly1905
- Father Joseph Kopp1908
- Father Edmund Hickey1910
Built the present brick St. Norbert Church in 1914–1915
- Father Michael Enright1915
Succeeded Hickey on November 1, 1915; served until 1922
- Father Daniel Daly1922
Parochial school established during his tenure in 1928
- Father Edmund Butler1936
- Father Henry Knoedler1957
- Father Deppish1967
Fell ill in 1968; Fathers Felix Duffey, Donald Mehe, and Leo McDonald filled in
- Father Roy Bauer1971
- Father Dennis Kollross1985
- Father Robert Jallas1989
- Father Steven Janoski1993
Redid church entrance, adding handicapped-accessible ramp and steps in 1996
- Father Sylvano Pera1996
Oversaw major interior renovation beginning 1998: repaint, stained glass repair, sanctuary overhaul, mural
- Father Tom Hagstrom1999
- Father Bill Kessler2005
Installed 2007 used digital organ at St. Anselm; arrived the year of the parish merger
- Father Don Roberts2008
Current pastor; succeeded Kessler