About St. John the Baptist (Piopolis) · McLeansboro, Illinois
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a small historic Roman Catholic parish in the unincorporated community of Piopolis, Hamilton County, Illinois (mailing address McLeansboro, IL 62859), within the Diocese of Belleville. Founded in 1841 by German pioneers from Ersingen, it is one of the oldest parishes in southern Illinois and today is partnered with St. Edward in Fairfield under one pastor. The parish family gathers around weekend Masses (Saturday 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m.), weekday Masses, and the seven sacraments, and is served by a parish administrator, a deacon, a CRE, and a secretary.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Slawomir Ptak (Administrator / 13th Pastor, since 2011)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville, Illinois
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a small, family-sized Catholic community rooted in 180 years of southern Illinois Catholic heritage, where most parishioners know one another by name. Weekend Mass is offered Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with weekday Masses Tuesday through Thursday and a First Friday Mass with Holy Hour, plus regular opportunities for Reconciliation before Sunday Mass. The parish is partnered with neighboring St. Edward in Fairfield, runs a Vacation Bible School, and is served by a stable team of pastor, deacon, CRE, and secretary — making it easy to get involved, receive the sacraments, or find a ministry that fits.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist (Piopolis)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m.
- First Friday: 7:30 a.m.
- Thursday: 7:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- First Friday Holy Hour: 8:00 a.m. (follows First Friday Mass)
Parish History
St. John the Baptist was founded in 1841 by twenty-five German Catholic pioneers who left Ersingen, Germany on April 19 and arrived in Piopolis on August 21, 1841. The first Mass and first Baptism were celebrated by Fr. Elisha Durbin of Morganfield, Kentucky in the log cabin of Nicholas Engel in 1843, and the original 40-acre church tract was acquired in 1844 from Cajetan Aydt and deeded to Bishop William Quarters of Chicago. The parish built successive log (1846), frame (1860) and brick (1882) churches, hosted Precious Blood Sisters from Burwell, Germany as schoolteachers from 1870 to 1964, and laid out the village of Piopolis itself in 1877 to honor Pope Pius IX. The 1954 brick church (replacing the 1882 building destroyed by storm) still serves the community, and a 1991 sesquicentennial drew over 1,500 people for a pioneer-arrival reenactment under Bishop James P. Keleher.
- 1841 — 25 pioneers depart Ersingen, Germany; arrive Piopolis Aug. 21.
- 1843 — First Mass & first Baptism by Fr. Elisha Durbin (KY) at Nicholas Engel cabin.
- 1844 — 40-acre church tract deeded to Bishop William Quarters, Chicago.
- 1846 — First log church; first Mass on Ash Wednesday.
- 1857 — Frame church under architect Tobias Brummer destroyed by windstorm.
- 1860 — Frame church completed; Bishop Juncker of Alton confirms.
- 1864 — Fr. Edward Harriman, first resident pastor.
- 1865 — Fr. Blase Winterhalter, second pastor; ministers by horseback to McLeansboro, Enfield, Carmi, Mt. Vernon.
- 1870 — Nine Precious Blood Sisters arrive from Burwell, Germany; teach at parish school until 1964.
- 1877 — Parish lays out 13 acres into 50 lots, naming the village Piopolis for Pope Pius IX.
- 1881 — Brick church cornerstone laid May 4; west wall destroyed by storm Aug. 6.
- 1882 — Brick church completed at $12,000; John & Henrica Reyling first couple married there.
- 1884 — Brick church dedicated Oct. 1 by former pastor Fr. John Neuhaus.
- 1892 — Fr. Albert J. Karcher, son of the parish, ordained in Switzerland.
- 1914 — Two-story sisters' house built for $4,000 (later rectory).
- 1941 — Centennial celebrated.
- 1953 — Storm destroys the brick church; it is torn down.
- 1954 — New brick church cornerstone laid March; first Mass Christmas Day 1954.
- 1964 — Precious Blood Sisters end 94 years of teaching at St. John's.
- 1975 — Parish Council established.
- 1991 — Sesquicentennial: Bishop Keleher presides; 1,500 attend pioneer reenactment; parish history book published (compiled by Edwin Frey); History niche built in church.
- 2009 — Fr. Slawomir Ptak assigned as Associate Pastor.
- 2011 — Fr. Slawomir Ptak installed as 13th Pastor; Fr. Joseph A. Lawler retires July 12.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a small, stable team under the Diocese of Belleville. Rev. Slawomir Ptak, originally from Poland, is the parish Administrator (and 13th pastor since 2011); he also serves the partnered parishes in the Hamilton County cluster. Deacon Archie L. Bowers, Jr. assists with diaconal ministry, and Rachel Hopfinger is the parish secretary handling office and rectory business. A Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) coordinates faith formation; the CRE line is 618-838-4430.
- Rev. Slawomir Ptak — Administrator (13th pastor, since 2011)
- Deacon Archie L. Bowers, Jr.
- Rachel Hopfinger — Parish Secretary
- CRE — Coordinator of Religious Education (618-838-4430)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, and its mission statement explicitly emphasizes 'growing spiritually with respect for the sacraments.' Baptisms, weddings, First Communions, Confirmations, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders are all part of parish life — historically, the very first Baptism in the parish took place in 1843 in a settler's log cabin.
- Baptism (the first was celebrated in 1843)
- Confirmation (Bishop Juncker of Alton confirmed here as early as 1860; Bishop Keleher presided at the 1991 sesquicentennial Mass)
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Sunday 7:30 a.m., Thursday 7:30 p.m., First Friday 7:30 a.m.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage — the first couple married in the 1882 brick church were John and Henrica Reyling
- Holy Orders / Vocations support
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation has been central to St. John the Baptist since 1870, when nine Precious Blood Sisters arrived from Burwell, Germany, by way of Shawneetown and began teaching at the parish school. The Sisters taught continuously for 94 years, until 1964. Today the parish continues this catechetical mission through a Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) and the parish's Vacation Bible School program.
- Precious Blood Sisters taught at the parish school 1870–1964 (94 years).
- Two-story motherhouse/school built 1870 at $3,000; Bishop Juncker donated $500.
- School building completed and dedicated 1924 by Bishop Henry Althoff.
- Vacation Bible School offered annually.
- CRE — Coordinator of Religious Education (618-838-4430).
Music & Liturgy
Music has long been part of worship at St. John the Baptist. In 1992 the parish refurbished its Wicks organ in the choir loft — the work was carried out by Jerry Crystal and family with funds provided by the Clara Emma Karcher family. The parish mission statement centers on 'celebrating the liturgy and the Holy Eucharist as the center of our Christian life.'
- Wicks organ refurbished in choir loft in 1992 by the Jerry Crystal family, funded by the Clara Emma Karcher family.
- Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist are identified as the center of parish life.
Parish Mission & Parish Council
St. John the Baptist formally adopted a Parish Council in 1975 with various parish organizations represented. The parish mission statement, prominently displayed on the website, reads: 'We the parishioners of St. John the Baptist, brothers and sisters in Christ, accept as our mission: to know our faith and share it with others, to continue to grow spiritually with respect for the sacraments, to celebrate the liturgy and the Holy Eucharist as the center of our Christian life, to live by truth and love, to serve those in need, to teach by example, and thereby strengthen and inspire our Parish family in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church.'
- Parish Council established 1975.
- Five-fold parish mission: know and share the faith, grow in the sacraments, celebrate the Eucharist, live by truth and love, serve those in need.
Cluster & Partnered Parishes
St. John the Baptist is part of a small cluster of Catholic parishes serving Hamilton County and surrounding areas, allowing the limited number of priests to share ministry across communities. According to the Diocese of Belleville directory the partnered parish is St. Edward, Fairfield. The parish website covers St. John the Baptist, Piopolis along with St. Clement in McLeansboro and St. John Nepomucene — Fr. Slawomir Ptak has served all three since at least 2009.
- St. Edward, Fairfield — official partnered parish (Diocese of Belleville directory).
- St. Clement, McLeansboro — also served by Fr. Slawomir Ptak.
- St. John Nepomucene — also served by Fr. Slawomir Ptak.
- Cluster planning meetings held in 1991 and 1992 to plan shared mission.
Contact & Location
The parish is located in the unincorporated community of Piopolis along Piopolis Road in rural Hamilton County, southern Illinois. The mailing address uses McLeansboro (the Hamilton County seat). The office and rectory share one phone line, and the parish can also be reached through the website contact form.
- Address: 7598 Piopolis Road, McLeansboro, IL 62859
- Rectory / Office phone: 618-648-2490
- Pastor (Rev. Slawomir Ptak) line: 618-643-3552
- CRE line: 618-838-4430
- Website: hamiltoncountycatholic.org
- Parish grounds include the church and a parish hall.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward Harriman1864
First resident pastor; arrived Jan. 20, left Dec. 8, 1864.
- Fr. Blase Winterhalter1865–c.1870
Second resident pastor; ministered by horseback to McLeansboro, Enfield, Carmi and Mt. Vernon; brought the Precious Blood Sisters from Burwell, Germany to Piopolis.
- Fr. John Neuhaus1871–c.1876
Third pastor; began the brick church; transferred to Edwardsville and became chaplain for the nuns at Ruma.
- Fr. John N. Enzilberger1876–1902
Fourth resident pastor; arrived from Vandalia; transferred in 1902.
- Fr. Bernard Reusch1902–
Fifth resident pastor.
- Fr. Eckermanmid-20th c.
Died 1962; interred in St. John's Cemetery.
- Fr. Edmund Schumacher1962–1965
Seventh pastor; died Aug. 30, 1965; buried at San Francis, Aviston.
- Fr. Meinrad Dunn1965–1972
Eighth pastor; transferred to Hecker in February 1972.
- Fr. Albert Jerome1972–1976
Ninth pastor; transferred May 30, 1976 to St. Phillips, East St. Louis.
- Fr. James Van Oss1976–1982
Tenth pastor.
- Fr. Emil Maziarz1982–1983
Eleventh pastor; assigned to the Chancery Office in June 1983.
- Fr. Joseph A. Lawler1983–2011
Twelfth pastor; retired July 12, 2011.
- Fr. Slawomir Ptak2011–present
Thirteenth pastor; previously Associate Pastor (2009); also serves St. Clement, McLeansboro and St. John Nepomucene.