About St. John the Baptist · Red Bud, Illinois
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a historic parish of the Diocese of Belleville in Red Bud, Illinois, serving a small-town Catholic community in Randolph County for over 150 years. Established in the late 1850s, the parish worships at 515 Locust Street and is currently led by Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, CM, with a faith-formation staff, a parish school (St. John the Baptist Grade School at 519 Hazel Street), and a wide array of ministries and parish groups that support worship, fellowship, and outreach. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., with weekday Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Saturday confessions before the vigil Mass.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, CM (Administrator/Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville, Illinois
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a warm, multigenerational small-town parish that traces its roots back to 1859 and still celebrates the same core rhythms of Catholic life that have sustained Red Bud for over 160 years. Parishioners are actively involved as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, ushers, gift bearers, and choir members, and the parish runs a parish school, a PSR program, a youth group, St. Anne's Council of Catholic Women, the Knights of Columbus Council 12152, a Quilters ministry, a Prayer Chain, and an Outreach Committee. With Saturday confession, weekday adoration after Friday Mass, and a clear path to register as a new parishioner, the parish makes it easy both to worship and to belong.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Personal appointments available upon request
Adoration times
- Friday following the 8:00 a.m. Mass until 9:30 a.m.
Parish History
On November 26, 1858, Bishop Henry Damien Junker authorized the construction of a Catholic church in Red Bud, and the first church was completed in 1859 with the first Mass celebrated on Palm Sunday that year. A school building went up in 1866 and a new rectory in 1873; a severe storm on November 17, 1892 destroyed that first church and damaged the school. A second, larger church was consecrated October 24, 1894, and in 1913 the Sister Adorers of the Most Precious Blood began teaching in the parish school. A new school was completed in 1924 and a new rectory in 1952. In 1961 ground was broken for the present school (dedicated August 19, 1962); the current parish center was dedicated December 3, 1971; and the present church — the parish's third — was begun in 1978 and first used on October 13, 1979. After a 2025 fire and total classroom rehab, the school was rededicated the same year. Across 160+ years the parish has had three churches, three schools, and 21 pastors.
- 1858 — Bishop Junker authorizes building a Catholic church in Red Bud (Nov. 26)
- 1859 — First church built; first Mass on Palm Sunday
- 1862 — Parish official establishment date (Diocese of Belleville)
- 1866 — School building erected
- 1873 — New rectory built
- Nov. 17, 1892 — Storm destroys first church, damages school
- Oct. 24, 1894 — Second church consecrated
- 1913 — Sister Adorers of the Most Precious Blood begin teaching at the school
- 1924 — New school completed
- 1952 — New rectory completed
- 1961 — Ground broken for current school
- Aug. 19, 1962 — Current school dedicated
- Dec. 3, 1971 — Current parish center dedicated
- 1978 — Ground broken for current church
- Oct. 13, 1979 — First Mass in the current church
- 2025 — Fire and classroom rehab; school rededicated
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, CM, as Pastor/Administrator, supported by a small rectory team and a faith-formation office. The Diocese of Belleville directory also lists a PSR Coordinator as part of the parish's formation staff.
- Rev. Iuvenis Iheme, CM — Pastor/Administrator (ext. 1)
- Rhonda Juelfs — Parish Secretary (ext. 2)
- Kelly Donjon — Parish Bookkeeper (ext. 3)
- David Hollinshead — Director of Faith Formation (ext. 4)
- Robin Hentis — PSR Coordinator
- Msgr. Dennis Schaefer — Parish Council member
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Office of Faith Formation, directed by David Hollinshead, coordinates the parish's religious-education programs for children and adults. The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) welcomes inquirers into the Catholic faith; classes begin in September and registration forms are available from the parish office. Parishioners are also encouraged to use the online learning resources offered through Franciscan University's Catechetical Institute and the FORMED streaming platform.
- Director of Faith Formation: David Hollinshead (ext. 4)
- PSR Coordinator: Robin Hentis
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — classes begin in September
- Franciscan University Catechetical Institute — online workshops available to parishioners
- FORMED — parish subscription streaming platform of Catholic resources
- Steubenville Conferences 2025 — youth conference information
- Retreats and Events — promoted through the Office of Faith Formation
Parish School
St. John the Baptist Grade School operates as the parish school at 519 Hazel Street, Red Bud, IL 62278 (618-282-3215). The current school building was dedicated on August 19, 1962; after a 2025 fire and a total rehabilitation of the classrooms, the school was rededicated in 2025. The school has representatives on the Parish Council.
- Address: 519 Hazel Street, Red Bud, IL 62278
- Phone: 618-282-3215
- Current building dedicated August 19, 1962
- Fire in 2025 led to full classroom rehab
- School rededicated in 2025
Liturgical Involvement & Schedules
Parishioners serve Mass in a number of liturgical roles and the parish keeps published schedules for each. The website invites anyone interested in becoming a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Gift Bearer, Usher, or Server to consult the schedules page for descriptions and assignments.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Servers (altar servers)
- Ushers
- Gift Bearers
- Coffee & Donuts fellowship after Mass
Parish Groups & Ministries
Beyond liturgical roles, the parish supports a broad network of parish groups — including a women's organization, fraternal order, youth group, outreach committee, and crafts ministry — that meet regularly and serve both the parish and the wider community.
- St. Anne's Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — women 18+; meets first Tuesday of the month, September–May, 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria; monthly visits to the nursing home
- Knights of Columbus Council 12152 — meets third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria
- Parish Council — eight elected members, two trustees, and Msgr. Dennis Schaefer; meets third Tuesday at 7 p.m.
- Welcome Committee
- Prayer Chain Ministry
- Outreach Committee
- Quilters
- Youth Group (high school) — meets 2nd Wednesday, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
- Choirs — including a Children's Choir
Youth Group & Dead Theologian Society
All high-school youth are welcome at the parish Youth Group, which meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the church. The group's motto is 'We learn, we pray, we share, we serve!' The parish has also launched a chapter of the Dead Theologian Society, where teens explore the lives of the saints and why these witnesses still matter today. Youth Minister Jena Hoeninger — a Red Bud native, NICU nurse, former Diocesan Youth Advisory Council member, and alumna of St. John the Baptist Grade School and Gibault High School — leads the group.
- Meets: 2nd Wednesday, 6:30–8:00 p.m. at the church
- Youth Minister: Jena Hoeninger
- Dead Theologian Society chapter — study of the saints
Sacraments
The parish website lists preparation pathways for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation/First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. The Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation (Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m. or by appointment) are also part of regular parish life. Couples and families preparing for these sacraments should contact the rectory office.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m. or by appointment
Partner Parishes & Diocese
St. John the Baptist, Red Bud, is part of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, and is partnered with St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher and St. Patrick in Ruma. The Diocese of Belleville records the parish's official establishment as 1862 and lists it in its parish directory with the same Locust Street address and contact numbers shown on the parish's own website.
- Diocese of Belleville, Illinois
- Partnered Parish: St. Joseph, Prairie du Rocher
- Partnered Parish: St. Patrick, Ruma
- Diocese establishment date listed: 1862
Getting Involved — Becoming a Parishioner
The parish's homepage carries the invitation 'All Are Welcome!' and links directly to a Parishioner Registration Form. The parish mission statement, published on the site, reads: 'As members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud Illinois, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in the Tradition of the Catholic Church, we commit ourselves to be a welcoming community of faith, worshiping with generations of believers, and serving God in all people. We commit to strive to grow in the love of God and to be the best community we can be.'
- Parishioner Registration Form available on the parish website
- OCIA inquiry form for adults seeking initiation
- Liturgical volunteer opportunities listed under 'Liturgical Involvement/Schedules'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Iuvenis Iheme2025 - Present
Listed on the parish history page as the current pastor.