About St. John Vianney · Sherman, Illinois
St. John Vianney Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the village of Sherman, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The parish community gathers for daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and the Sacraments, and it carries the name of St. John Vianney, the humble French curé of Ars who is the patron saint of parish priests. Parish life is supported by an active Parish Council, a Knights of Columbus council, a Women's Society, a Youth Group, and a Catholic Faith Formation program for children and adults. Under the pastoral care of Father Freddie (Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere) and Deacon Andrew Krug, the parish is a small, faithful witness to Catholic life in the northern Springfield metro area.
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney), the Cure of Ars
- Rector
- Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere (Father Freddie)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. John Vianney offers a small, welcoming Catholic community in Sherman with daily Mass, a weekly Wednesday of Eucharistic Adoration (7:00 AM – 6:00 PM) followed by evening Mass, and regular confession on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Families can grow in faith through Catholic Faith Formation (PSR), a Youth Group, and Confirmation preparation in the third grade, while adults have access to RCIA, Awaken Faith, Illuminated, and Coffee and Conversation programs. Service-minded parishioners find a home in the Knights of Columbus, the Women's Society, and the Parish Council, all working together with Father Freddie to support the spiritual and pastoral life of the parish.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (before the 6:00 p.m. Mass)
- Saturday: 4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (before the 5:00 p.m. Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (concluding before the 6:00 p.m. Mass)
About St. John Vianney Parish
St. John Vianney Catholic Parish in Sherman, Illinois is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois that welcomes visitors to take part in the Eucharist and the many activities of parish life. The parish takes its name and spiritual inspiration from St. John Vianney, the humble Cure of Ars whom the Church honors as the patron saint of parish priests. Under the leadership of Father Freddie (Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere) and Deacon Andrew Krug, the parish gathers for daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, and a wide range of formation and fellowship opportunities.
- Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
- Located at 902 St. John Dr., Sherman, IL 62684
- Pastor: Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere ('Father Freddie')
- Deacon: Andrew Krug
Patron Saint: St. John Vianney
The parish's welcome page is built around the story of its patron, Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, born May 8, 1786, in Dardilly, France. After a period of military service during the Napoleonic era, he entered seminary formation despite great academic struggles — particularly with Latin — and was ordained a priest in 1815. His bishop assigned him to the remote village of Ars, where he spent nearly his entire priestly life, briefly attempting to flee the pressures of parish life before returning to his calling. Vianney is remembered for his simple preaching, his great love of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother, his special devotion to St. Philomena, and for spending 14 to 18 hours a day in the confessional, often surviving on just a few hours of sleep and a diet of boiled potatoes.
- Born May 8, 1786, in Dardilly, France
- Ordained a priest in 1815 after persevering through difficult seminary years
- Served as parish priest of Ars, France for most of his life
- Died in 1859; canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925
- The only diocesan priest ever to be canonized
- Patron saint of parish priests worldwide; feast day August 4
Parish Staff and Parish Council
Day-to-day parish life is supported by a small but committed staff working alongside Father Freddie. The Parish Council collaborates directly with the pastor on pastoral planning and meets on the second Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Activity Center; its meetings are open to all parishioners.
- Pastor: Rev. Fredrick Chima Mbiere ('Father Freddie')
- Deacon & RCIA Coordinator: Andrew Krug
- Office Manager / Secretary: Cliff Shehorn
- Bookkeeper: Lynda Cliburn
- Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE): Stacie Henderson
- Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE): Jennifer Grebner
- Youth Minister: Molly Ishmael
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Lori Saathoff
- Parish Council Chair: Melissa Camille
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. John Vianney runs a Catholic Faith Formation program that prepares children and adults for a life of discipleship and for the reception of the Sacraments. In the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, Confirmation is celebrated together with First Communion in the third grade, so children typically begin formal sacramental preparation in the early elementary years. Adult inquirers — including adults seeking Confirmation — are served through the RCIA, coordinated by Deacon Andrew Krug.
- Catholic Faith Formation (Parish School of Religion / PSR) for children
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass
- Confirmation preparation in 3rd grade (Diocesan norm, with First Communion)
- RCIA for adults, coordinated by Deacon Andrew Krug
- Adult formation opportunities: Awaken Faith, Illuminated
- Coffee and Conversation faith-sharing gathering
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Beyond the liturgy and the classroom, the parish offers several ways to build community, serve neighbors, and grow in faith. These range from traditional Catholic service organizations to programs for youth and women, all working in concert with the Parish Council and Father Freddie.
- Knights of Columbus
- Women's Society
- Youth Group / Youth Ministry (led by Molly Ishmael)
- Parish Council (open meetings on the second Monday of each month)
- Liturgical Music Ministry (coordinated by Lori Saathoff)
- Online giving through We Share
- Parish subscription to Formed for faith-at-home resources
Sacraments
St. John Vianney celebrates the seven Catholic Sacraments and welcomes parishioners and newcomers to inquire about preparation. The Confirmation page emphasizes that the sacrament 'completes baptismal grace' and seals the confirmed with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Parents preparing children for First Communion should note that, in this diocese, Confirmation is received in third grade alongside First Eucharist.
- Baptism – contact the parish office
- First Communion – prepared through Catholic Faith Formation
- Confirmation – celebrated in 3rd grade with First Communion; adults via RCIA
- Marriage – contact the parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick – contact the parish office
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) – for unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, or Catholic adults seeking Confirmation
Parish Life, Feast Day, and Community Events
Photos and bulletins on the parish website show a community that marks the seasons of the Church year together. The annual Feast Day Mass and dinner honor the parish's patron, while seasonal events such as Trunk or Treat, Advent celebrations, the Catholic Faith Formation Kickoff, and Corpus Christi bring families together. The 2023 photo album also captures a pastoral visit and the ordination of a deacon serving the parish.
- Annual Feast Day Mass and dinner in honor of St. John Vianney
- Trunk or Treat (Halloween family event)
- Catholic Faith Formation Kickoff each year
- Advent and Corpus Christi celebrations
- Pastoral visit by the bishop
- Deacon ordination celebrated by the parish
Contact and Location
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, mail, or email for inquiries about Mass times, sacraments, faith formation, ministries, and bulletin announcements. The mailing address uses a P.O. Box in Sherman, while the parish's physical location and church are on St. John Drive in the village.
- Church address: 902 St. John Dr., Sherman, IL 62684
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 229, Sherman, IL 62684-0229
- Phone: (217) 523-3816
- Fax: (217) 523-3954
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sjvsherman.org
- Diocesan directory listing: dio.org