About St. Mary · Alton, Illinois
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton, Illinois, officially the Church of the Immaculate Conception, is a large historic parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois that has served the Catholic community of the Alton area since 1858-1859. Staffed and served by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV) since 1987, the parish operates St. Mary's Catholic School (elementary and middle school), runs The God Squad (TGS) youth ministry, an OCIA (RCIA) program for adult initiation, Parish School of Religion, Eucharistic Adoration, a livestream Mass for the homebound, and maintains St. Joseph Cemetery. With about 1,700 families (roughly 4,200 parishioners), it is one of the largest parishes in the region and offers a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses plus devotions in English.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Fr. Christopher Uhl, OMV
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the full rhythm of a large, traditional Catholic parish — six Sunday Masses, daily Mass, daily Eucharistic Adoration from 3:00–10:00 PM, daily Rosary at 7:30 AM, weekly Mother of Perpetual Help devotions on Tuesdays, Stations of the Cross on Fridays of Lent, and a year-round OCIA (RCIA) process — anchored by its own parish school and the Oblate of the Virgin Mary charism of mercy, missions, and spiritual retreats. With a school serving elementary and middle school students, The God Squad youth group, Parish School of Religion, livestream Mass for the homebound, and St. Joseph Cemetery under parish care, St. Mary's gives families a single, rooted Catholic home across every stage of life.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- First Friday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (and all Fridays of Lent)
- Sunday: 6:15 AM to 11:00 AM, 15 minutes prior to each morning Mass
- Advent and Lent: additional Sunday confessions offered in these seasons
- By appointment: call the parish office at 618-465-4284
Adoration times
- Daily: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM (signup required via adorationpro.org/maryalton)
- First Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Parish History & Heritage
St. Mary's was founded October 17, 1858 by roughly forty German Catholic immigrant families at the urging of Alton's first bishop, Henry Damian Juncker, and was placed under the title of the Immaculate Conception in the same year Mary identified herself at Lourdes. The first pastor, Fr. Franz Ostrop, survived the tornado of June 2, 1860 that demolished the original brick church and went on begging trips across the Midwest to clear the parish's debt before dedicating the second church on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1861. By 1895 the present Bedford-stone church had been completed under the supervision of local architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger, and its celebrated pipe organ became a touchstone of parish life through the 1940s and 1950s.
- Parish established October 17, 1858
- First pastor: Fr. Franz (F.A.) Ostrop, ordained May 4, 1859
- Original brick church destroyed by tornado June 2, 1860
- Second church dedicated 1861 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Present Bedford-stone church completed 1895; architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger of Alton
- Renowned pipe organ associated with organist/choir director Prof. Max Hendelmeyer (1940s–50s)
Devotions & Livestream
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Mary's keeps a daily devotional rhythm: the Rosary is prayed in church every morning at 7:30, the Mother of Perpetual Help novena follows the Tuesday 8:00 AM Mass, and on Fridays of Lent the parish offers Confessions from 4:00–5:00 PM, Mass at 5:15 PM, and Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM. The parish also livestreams Mass for the homebound (clarified as an aid to private prayer, not a substitute for physical attendance) and publishes an e-bulletin each Saturday morning.
- Daily Rosary at 7:30 AM in church
- Tuesday Mother of Perpetual Help devotions after 8:00 AM Mass
- Lenten Fridays: 4–5 PM Confessions, 5:15 PM Mass, 7 PM Stations of the Cross
- Saturday e-bulletin delivered by email
- Livestream Mass for the homebound
Parish Staff — Oblates of the Virgin Mary
Since 1987 St. Mary's has been entrusted to the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV), an international religious community founded in 1826 in Italy by Venerable Bruno Lanteri to promote holiness and preach parish missions. The current pastoral team includes Fr. Christopher Uhl, OMV as Pastor (returned July 2022 after earlier service here from 2003–2010), Fr. John Wykes, OMV as Parochial Vicar, Fr. Jorge Sanchez, OMV as Parochial Vicar (ordained a priest in July 2024), and Deacon James M. Schwartzkopf as permanent deacon and OCIA coordinator. Fr. John Luong, OMV, previously assigned here, now serves as the OMV Vocation Director.
- Fr. Christopher Uhl, OMV — Pastor (since July 2022)
- Fr. John Wykes, OMV — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Jorge Sanchez, OMV — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon James M. Schwartzkopf — Permanent Deacon / OCIA
- Fr. John Luong, OMV — Vocation Director (St. Ignatius Province)
- Carolyn Simansky — Parish Secretary (T, Th, F); ext. 222
- Dan Maher — Accountant; ext. 225
- Laurie Horn — Director of St. Joseph Cemetery
- Theresa Pancella — Director of Sacred Music (per diocesan directory)
St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School, a parish school serving both elementary and middle-school grades, pledges 'to provide an education that forms Christian leaders spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, and culturally.' The current elementary program is led by Principal Mrs. Mary Rivera with Dean of Students Mrs. Beth Hogg; the middle school is administered via Mrs. Emily Shewmake. The school admits students of any race, color, sex or national/ethnic origin and reserves its Catholic identity under the First Amendment and the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Phone (618) 465-8523 / Fax (618) 465-4725.
- Principal — Mrs. Mary Rivera ([email protected])
- Dean of Students — Mrs. Beth Hogg ([email protected])
- Middle School Secretary — Mrs. Emily Shewmake
- School phone: (618) 465-8523; fax: (618) 465-4725
- Supports SCRIP gift-card fundraising program
Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep
Faith formation at St. Mary's runs through three main tracks: the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children attending public schools, the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church (whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian community, or baptized Catholic but never confirmed), and sacramental preparation coordinated through the school office or PSR Director. Following a May 2021 diocesan announcement, third-graders in the parish now receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation together in a single ceremony at the Cathedral.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults — program begins each fall; inquire at [email protected]
- First Holy Communion — normally 3rd grade, combined with Confirmation at the Cathedral
- Confirmation — same ceremony as First Communion for parish children
Youth Ministry — The God Squad (TGS)
The God Squad (TGS) is the official high-school youth group of St. Mary's Catholic Church. It gathers teens for regular meetings, 'Youth Masses,' pro-life activities, and parish service projects, and sponsors group travel to the Steubenville youth conference and other retreats. Information about upcoming events is updated on the TGS microsite (tgs.stmarysalton.com).
- High-school youth group of St. Mary's
- Weekly meetings, Youth Mass, pro-life and service projects
- Annual trips to the Steubenville youth conference
- Evening events with Eucharistic Adoration, live music, and Confessions
Becoming Catholic — OCIA / RCIA
OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly RCIA) at St. Mary's is the formal process by which adults become fully initiated Catholics through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. It is designed for three groups: adults who were never baptized; adults baptized in another Christian community who wish to become Catholic; and baptized Catholics who have never been confirmed. The program typically begins each September; those interested are asked to email [email protected] to be notified of the next start date.
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
- For never-baptized adults, Christians entering full communion, and uncatechized Catholics
- Coordinated with Permanent Deacon James Schwartzkopf
- Begins each fall — email [email protected] or call 618-465-4284
St. Joseph Cemetery
St. Joseph Cemetery, on Henry Street in Alton, has been under the jurisdiction of St. Mary's Catholic Church since at least 1869 and is administered on behalf of the parish by Cemetery Director Laurie Horn, a long-time parishioner and former parish secretary. Inquiries about plots, burials, and records are directed through the parish office.
- St. Joseph Cemetery — under St. Mary's since the 1860s
- Henry Street location, Alton
- Cemetery Director: Laurie Horn (Email via parish office)
- Administered through the parish office
Safe Environment & Diocesan Compliance
St. Mary's Parish operates in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and maintains a Safe Environment program: all employees and volunteers are background-checked and trained, children are never left alone with an adult, and children are taught to recognize safe and appropriate touch. The parish Safe Environment Coordinator can be reached through the parish office at 618-465-4284 x226, and the diocese's Promise website addresses prevention, investigation, and care for victims of abuse.
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois — Safe Environment program
- Background checks and training for all employees and volunteers
- No child alone with an adult
- Safe Environment Coordinator — ext. 226
- Diocesan 'Promise' website for reporting and victim care resources
Parish Giving & Parish Digital Library
The parish supports online giving through its E-Giving platform and promotes SCRIP gift-card purchases as a tuition-assistance fundraiser for the school (parish secretary Carolyn Simansky handles SCRIP orders on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays). The Parish Digital Library provides parishioners free online Catholic media resources — talks, books, videos, and faith-formation material — to deepen prayer and study at home.
- E-Giving online donation platform
- SCRIP gift-card fundraiser supporting St. Mary's School tuition
- Parish Digital Library — free online Catholic media for parishioners
- Weekly Saturday e-bulletin by email
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Franz (F. A.) Ostrop1859–c.1860s
First pastor, ordained May 4, 1859; built the original brick church, survived the June 2, 1860 tornado that demolished the building while he was trapped under the ruins, traveled east to pay off the debt and begin the second church dedicated in 1861.
- Fr. Christopher Uhl, OMV2022–present
Returned as pastor in July 2022; had previously served here as Parochial Vicar after his 2003 ordination, then was Director of St. Francis Chapel in Boston, and pastor of Holy Ghost Church in Denver for eleven years.
- Fr. John Wykes, OMV1996–2003, 2014–2018, 2024–present (multiple assignments)
First OMV ordained at St. Mary's (1998); returning for his fourth time serving the parish.