About St. John the Baptist · Smithton, Illinois
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a small, faith-rooted parish in Smithton, Illinois (St. Clair County), established in 1867 and a member of the Diocese of Belleville since 1887. The parish operates St. John the Baptist Grade School (PreK-8) on adjoining property and is currently partnered with St. Michael the Archangel in Paderborn and St. James in Millstadt. After the May 2025 death of longtime pastor Fr. Stan Konieczny, the community is currently served by Fr. Evaristus Akabueze, CM, with Deacon William Mueller assisting.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Evaristus Akabueze, CM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a small-town parish that still worships in the heart of Smithton, offering Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, weekday Masses that the parish school attends together, and a rich devotional life of weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Mother of Perpetual Help devotion, and the Rosary. Families can enroll children in St. John the Baptist Grade School (PreK–8), where faith formation is woven into every school day through weekly Mass, sacramental preparation, retreats, and service projects. With an active parochial partnership with St. Michael (Paderborn) and St. James (Millstadt), it's a tight-knit Catholic community that welcomes new families and returning parishioners alike.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 7:30 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. (before weekday Mass) or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Adoration)
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. John the Baptist offers Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. Following a 2025 schedule change effective August 16, 2025, the previous 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is no longer celebrated. Weekday Masses are celebrated Tuesday at 8:20 a.m. and Thursday at 11:30 a.m.; First Fridays also include a 10:30 a.m. Mass. There is no Monday or Wednesday Mass. Holy Day schedules are announced. Times are subject to change, so parishioners are advised to confirm via the parish website or bulletin.
- Saturday Vigil — 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday — 8:00 a.m.
- Tuesday — 8:20 a.m. (school and parish)
- Thursday — 11:30 a.m.
- First Friday — 10:30 a.m.
- Holy Days — As Announced
Parish History
Founded in 1867 during the era when Smithton was still called Georgetown, St. John the Baptist was originally part of the Alton Diocese and transitioned to the Diocese of Belleville in 1887. The first resident pastor was Fr. Bernard Rossmueller (1884–1888), and Precious Blood Sisters began teaching in the parish school in 1888. The original church building was lost to fire in 1899 and rebuilt. The current pastoral configuration is a three-parish partnership with St. Michael the Archangel (Paderborn) and St. James (Millstadt).
- 1867 — Parish founded (then 'Georgetown') in the Alton Diocese
- 1884–1888 — First resident pastor, Fr. Bernard Rossmueller
- 1887 — Becomes part of the new Diocese of Belleville
- 1888 — Precious Blood Sisters begin staffing the school
- 1899 — Original church destroyed by fire; rebuilt
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
Following the passing of longtime pastor Fr. Stan Konieczny on May 6, 2025, the parish is currently administered by Fr. Evaristus Akabueze, CM, a member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). Deacon William Mueller assists at the parish. The parish is staffed by Business Manager Pat Ohlendorf and Parish Secretary Linda Bagsby, who also serves as the Parish School of Religion (PSR) coordinator. The Diocese of Belleville is presently led by Very Reverend Godfrey Mullen, OSB, as Diocesan Administrator.
- Rev. Evaristus Akabueze, CM — Pastor/Administrator
- Deacon William Mueller
- Pat Ohlendorf — Business Manager
- Linda Bagsby — Parish Secretary & PSR Coordinator
St. John the Baptist Grade School
Located at 101 Stoerger St. (phone 618-233-0581; website stjohnsschool.us), St. John the Baptist Grade School is a PreK-8 Catholic school that is a ministry of the parish. Its mission is to form well-rounded Christian students by nurturing faith and academic excellence and preparing children to become loving, service-oriented Christian members of the parish church. Students attend Mass weekly (usually Thursdays) and participate as altar servers, lectors, gift bearers, and choir members; the choir is open to students in grades 2–8. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion takes place in second grade; Confirmation preparation occurs in grades 7 and 8, with daily instruction and retreats. Service projects reach into the local community and the wider world, and religious knowledge is assessed annually through the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education.
- Grades served: PreK–8
- Address: 101 Stoerger St, Smithton, IL 62285
- Phone: 618-233-0581
- Website: stjohnsschool.us
- Weekly school Mass with student liturgical roles
- Student choir (grades 2–8)
- First Communion prep in Grade 2; Confirmation prep in Grades 7–8
St. John the Baptist School Handbook Highlights
From the school's 2022-2023 Family Resource Guide: arrival begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Munier Center with the school day starting at 7:55 a.m.; on Thursdays, Mass begins at 8:00 a.m. Dismissal is 2:55 p.m. most days, with 1:55 p.m. dismissal on Wednesdays. The parish school maintains child-protection compliance under the Diocese of Belleville's Diocesan Regulation 5113, requiring volunteers to complete application, CANTS, and training requirements.
- Arrival: 7:30 a.m.; Tardy bell: 7:55 a.m.
- Thursday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- Dismissal: 2:55 p.m. (most days); 1:55 p.m. on Wednesdays
- Volunteers must comply with the Diocese of Belleville Child Protection Policy
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion supports families whose children do not attend St. John the Baptist Grade School but still need catechetical formation and sacramental preparation. Linda Bagsby serves as the PSR coordinator and can be reached through the parish office.
- Coordinator: Linda Bagsby
- Contact: parish office 618-234-2068
Pastoral Partnership
St. John the Baptist is in a formal pastoral partnership with St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Paderborn, Illinois and St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Illinois. Mass and sacramental resources are shared among the three communities under the direction of the Diocesan Administrator.
- Partner parish: St. Michael the Archangel, Paderborn, IL
- Partner parish: St. James, Millstadt, IL
Parish Office & Contact
The parish office is at 109 Stoerger St, Smithton, IL 62285, with hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Two email addresses are monitored: [email protected] (for administrative and communication matters, handled by secretary Linda Bagsby) and [email protected] (for financial/ business manager Pat Ohlendorf). The parish phone is 618-234-2068.
- Address: 109 Stoerger St, Smithton, IL 62285
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Phone: 618-234-2068
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
Memorial for Fr. Stan Konieczny
The parish community continues to mourn and honor longtime pastor Fr. Stan (Stanisław) Konieczny, who died on May 6, 2025. A special memorial plaque in his honor was dedicated at a 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, May 2, 2026, and is now displayed in the vestibule of the church.
- Fr. Stan Konieczny — passed May 6, 2025
- Memorial plaque dedicated May 2, 2026; displayed in the church vestibule
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Carl Oberbrantacher1867–1870
Early mission priest at Smithton when parish was founded.
- Rev. Fredrich Cmelicek1870–1873
- Rev. L. Quitter1873–1875
- Rev. Anton Wirtschoreck1875–1884
- Rev. Bernard Rossmueller1884–1888
First resident pastor; Precious Blood Sisters began staffing the school in 1888.
- Fr. Stan (Stanisław) Konieczny
Longtime pastor who died May 6, 2025; a memorial plaque was dedicated in the vestibule on May 2, 2026.