About St. Lawrence · Greenville, Illinois
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish in Greenville, Illinois, in Bond County, serving approximately 275 families. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and is led by Pastor Rev. Jeffrey Stone. St. Lawrence's life centers on the Eucharist and the sacraments, with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, daily Mass on weekdays, weekly confession before Saturday Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays. The parish is known locally for its Lenten fish fries, the annual chicken dinner, its music program, and a robust Knights of Columbus Council #11707 that supports both parish and community life.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. Lawrence
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey Stone
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Lawrence offers a complete sacramental life — daily Mass, two Sunday Masses, Saturday confession, and Eucharistic Adoration — in the heart of Bond County. About 275 families worship, serve, and grow together here through parish faith formation, choirs, Youth Ministry, the Knights of Columbus Council #11707, Outreach Ministries to the sick and homebound, and beloved community traditions like the Lenten fish fries and the annual chicken dinner that bring the parish and town together.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:45–5:15 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesdays (as announced)
Parish Overview & Welcome
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a Latin-rite parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, serving about 275 families in Greenville, the seat of Bond County. The parish welcomes visitors and new members with the invitation to 'come and join us in worship and stewardship.' Its mission is summarized on the parish website: 'Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto Me.' Members are active throughout the year in fish fries, the annual chicken dinner, Youth Ministry, outreach to the sick and homebound, the choir, the Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Heart Work Camp.
- About 275 families worship at St. Lawrence
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
- Parish tagline: 'Together In Christ'
History of St. Lawrence Parish
St. Lawrence traces its roots to 1859, when Catholic families in the Greenville area began attending mission Masses from Mother of Dolors parish in Vandalia. The first Mass in Greenville itself was said by a Franciscan Father of Teutopolis at the home of Frank Seewald in 1875. In 1877 the small community organized formally under Rev. L. Quitter of Vandalia, meeting in a hall on the square. A brick church at the corner of Prairie and Spring Streets — the first church in Greenville — was completed in 1878, and the parish was named for Lawrence McGinnes, a leading early parishioner. Father John P. Moroney became the first resident pastor in 1895, and by the early 1900s the parish had built a parsonage, added a front to the church, frescoed the sanctuary, installed side altars and an organ, and acquired land for a parish cemetery.
- 1859: Mission church of Mother of Dolors, Vandalia
- 1875: First Mass in Greenville at Frank Seewald's home
- May 6, 1877: Congregation organized under Rev. L. Quitter
- 1878: First brick church built at Prairie and Spring Streets
- 1895: Rev. John P. Moroney — first resident pastor
- 1900: Parish cemetery acquired on the southwest edge of town
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Lawrence is led by Pastor Rev. Jeffrey Stone, with Rev. Alan Hunter serving as Pastor Emeritus. Religious education is directed by Mary Beth Kuenstler (DRE/CRE). Two administrative assistants — Jennifer Rehkemper (who also serves as bookkeeper) and Maura Campbell — keep the parish office running. The parish office can be reached at (618) 664-9149, with the rectory at (618) 664-3169.
- Pastor: Rev. Jeffrey Stone
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Alan Hunter
- Director of Religious Education: Mary Beth Kuenstler
- Administrative Assistants: Jennifer Rehkemper, Maura Campbell
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children and adults is coordinated by Mary Beth Kuenstler, the parish's DRE/CRE. The program prepares children for the sacraments of First Penance, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, and supports parish-wide activities such as Vacation Bible School. Families new to the parish are invited to register through the parish office.
- Director of Religious Education: Mary Beth Kuenstler
- Children's Faith Formation and sacrament preparation
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Parish registration for new families
Knights of Columbus Council #11707
The St. Lawrence chapter of the Knights of Columbus was chartered on February 6, 1996 under the direction of Father Victor Kaltenbach with assistance from Virgil Dechant of the K of C Supreme Council, beginning with 60 members. The council supports the parish and the broader Greenville community through an annual blood drive, Bingo at the Chicken Dinner, Coats for Kids, the Free Throw Shootout, cemetery clean-ups, food pantry donations, landscaping, and parish dinners. It offers two annual $500 scholarships — a general K of C scholarship for St. Lawrence high-school seniors and the Don Speraneo Memorial Scholarship for seniors and college students.
- Chartered February 6, 1996 — 60 founding members
- Past Grand Knights listed back to 1996
- Two annual $500 scholarships for parishioners
- Annual Blood Drive, Coats for Kids, and Free Throw Shootout
Music Ministry
Music at St. Lawrence supports both Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses with adult choirs. The parish draws on multiple choral groups to lead congregational singing and to provide music for feast days and special liturgical celebrations throughout the year. New vocal and instrumental members are always welcome.
- Adult choirs serving Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses
- Music for feast days and special celebrations
- Welcomes new singers and instrumentalists
Parish Life & Community Events
St. Lawrence is well known across Bond County for its food traditions and outreach. The annual Lenten Fish Fries draw visitors from across the region each Friday in Lent, and the annual Chicken Dinner — supported by the Knights of Columbus — is a signature community event. Other parish gatherings include outreach to the sick and homebound, Catholic Heart Work Camp, and parish-wide celebrations such as Ash Wednesday Masses. The parish complex includes the Posch Center, a multi-purpose building funded in part by a Posch family bequest, used for dinners, rentals, and ministry meetings.
- Annual Lenten Fish Fries (Fridays in Lent)
- Dave Marti Memorial Fish Fry
- Annual Chicken Dinner with Knights of Columbus Bingo
- Catholic Heart Work Camp
- Outreach Ministries for the sick and homebound
- Posch Center — multi-purpose building for dinners and meetings
Visit, Register & Contact
New parishioners are invited to register with the parish office. The church is located at 512 S. Prairie Street in Greenville — three blocks from Route 127 and about 1.5 miles from Interstate 70. The office phone is (618) 664-9149, the rectory is (618) 664-3169, and general correspondence may be sent to [email protected]. Online giving is available through the parish website.
- Address: 512 S. Prairie Street, Greenville, IL 62246
- Office: (618) 664-9149
- Rectory: (618) 664-3169
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stlawgreenville.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. L. Quitter1877–1881
Organized the congregation May 6, 1877 as a mission of Mother of Dolors, Vandalia
- Rev. Charles Geier1881–1885
Visiting missionary from Vandalia
- Rev. John J. HigginsSummer 1885
Visiting missionary
- Rev. Hy. Becker, D.D.1885–1888
Visiting missionary
- Rev. P. M. Bourke1888–1893
Visiting missionary
- Rev. Bernard Lee1894–1895
Visiting missionary
- Rev. John P. Moroney1895–1898
First resident pastor; built the parsonage and front addition (1897)
- Rev. S. P. Hoffman1898–1901
Frescoed sanctuary, installed side altars and organ, purchased cemetery land (1900)
- Rev. A. Hochmiller1901
Temporary replacement
- Rev. William A. Pachlhofer1902–
Appointed rector October 1, 1902; built new sacristy 1904
- Rev. Victor Kaltenbach
Chartered the Knights of Columbus Council #11707 in February 1996
- Rev. Ryszard Hanaczewski
Past pastor
- Rev. Paul Kala
Past Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Alan Hunter
Pastor Emeritus