About St. Mary · Anna, Illinois
St. Mary Catholic Church (officially St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception) is a small Catholic parish in Anna, Union County, in the southern Illinois region historically known as 'Little Egypt.' Established in 1857, it is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Belleville and is partnered with St. Joseph Catholic Church in nearby Cobden, with which it shares an administrator, Rev. Uriel Salamanca. The parish is a welcoming, family-sized community offering weekend and weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation for all ages, and a diverse range of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Uriel Salamanca (Administrator; also serves partnered St. Joseph, Cobden)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville, Illinois
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception offers a deeply personal Catholic life in a small, family-sized community: weekly Mass with weekday morning Masses and Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions before the vigil Mass, RCIA and adult faith formation, faith-formation classes for all ages on Sunday mornings in the Parish Hall, and more than a dozen active lay ministries ranging from the Ladies of St. Mary hospitality group and Bereavement Ministry to Respect for Life, Homebound Ministry, Music Ministry, Building and Grounds, and a Christian Education program for children and youth. Because it shares its pastor with the neighboring St. Joseph parish in Cobden, newcomers quickly get to know both parishes' families and have many ways to put their faith into action.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Following 8:15 am Mass (approximately 9:00 am) on Tuesday and Thursday
About St. Mary Catholic Church, Anna
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a small Catholic parish in Anna, Illinois, established in 1857 according to the Diocese of Belleville's parish directory. The parish's own mission statement reads: 'We, the people of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, are a welcoming community of Catholic Christians, rooted in the apostolic foundation of our church, united by The Eucharistic table and the word of God. We value and pass on our Catholic heritage and traditions through education and worship. We strive to be a spiritual community of faith grounded in love.' Worship is offered Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with Eucharistic Adoration following the weekday Mass and Saturday confessions before the vigil Mass.
History of the Parish
According to the centennial history of Anna, Illinois, 'St. Mary's Catholic Church, previously mentioned, was the first church in Anna, being organized in 1855 by Col. L. T. Ashley, and the church was built on its present site. Present structure dated 1894.' Col. Ashley was the Division Engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad and a co-founder of the town of Anna itself, which grew up around the railroad in the 1850s. The Diocese of Belleville records the parish's official establishment as 1857, and the parish has ministered continuously on its original site in southern Illinois' Union County ever since.
- 1855 — parish organized in Anna by Col. L. T. Ashley, on its present site
- 1857 — official establishment date per the Diocese of Belleville
- 1894 — present church building constructed
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Mary offers Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, plus two weekday morning Masses. The Reconciliation schedule runs Saturday afternoons before vigil Mass, and confessions are also available by appointment. On Holy Days the 6:00 pm Mass is celebrated at St. Mary, while St. Joseph, Cobden hosts a 7:00 a.m. Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 pm
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 am
- Weekday Mass: Tuesday and Thursday 8:15 am
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00-3:45 pm (or by appointment)
- Eucharistic Adoration: following 8:15 am Mass (~9:00 am)
Partnered Parish: St. Joseph, Cobden
St. Mary is partnered with St. Joseph Catholic Church, 101 North Centennial St., Cobden, IL 62920 (618-893-2276), and both parishes share one priest-administrator. Worshippers can attend the Rosary at 7:50 am followed by Mass at 8:15 am at St. Joseph on Wednesdays and Fridays, with a Sunday Mass at 10:00 am, so all three weekend Masses in the cluster (Sat 4:00 pm St. Mary, Sun 8:00 am St. Mary, Sun 10:00 am St. Joseph) are easily available.
- Address: 101 N. Centennial St., Cobden, IL 62920
- Phone: 618-893-2276
- Mass: Wed & Fri 8:15 am; Sun 10:00 am
Staff and Parish Leaders
The parish is served by Administrator Rev. Uriel Salamanca, with Ellen Quertermous as Parish Secretary (office hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm). Rhonda Schmidt is the Director of Religious Education (DRE). The Parish Bulletin lists Trustees Jackie Beatty and John Profilet, Parish Council members Jeff Agne, JoElla Basler (Vice President), Beth Dallas, John Schmidt (President), Rachel Kell, and Doug Vaughn, Music Director Rachel Kell, Parish Life Coordinator Susan Belcher, and Weddings and Funerals coordinator Mary Beth Hileman.
- Administrator: Rev. Uriel Salamanca
- Parish Secretary: Ellen Quertermous
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Rhonda Schmidt
- Music Director: Rachel Kell
- Parish Life Coordinator: Susan Belcher
- Weddings/Funerals Coordinator: Mary Beth Hileman
- Trustees: Jackie Beatty, John Profilet
- Parish Council President: John Schmidt
Parish Ministries and Volunteer Opportunities
The parish website outlines nine active lay ministries, in addition to the Parish Council and the Parish Life Coordinator's outreach. Each ministry has a brief description on the Ministry page and invites parishioners to give of their time and talent.
- Ladies of St. Mary — parish-hall hospitality and stewardship
- Bereavement Ministry — funeral Mass support and funeral dinners
- Building and Grounds — maintenance, landscaping, and seasonal decorating
- Liturgical Ministry — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers
- Christian Education — PSR classes, VBS, Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Music Ministry — cantors, choir, instrumentalists
- Homebound Ministry — bringing the Eucharist to those unable to attend Mass
- Adult Faith Formation / RCIA — ongoing study and initiation
- Respect for Life Ministry — advocacy and education for the sanctity of life
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith-formation classes for all ages meet Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in the Parish Hall — between the 8:00 am Sunday Mass and the 10:00 am Sunday Mass at partnered St. Joseph in Cobden. The Christian Education ministry welcomes volunteers to teach PSR classes, lead Vacation Bible School, and form a Children's Liturgy program during the readings and homily of Mass. Adult Faith Formation and RCIA are also offered through the parish.
- Faith Formation for all ages: Sundays 9:15 am, Parish Hall
- Director of Religious Education: Rhonda Schmidt
Contact, Location, and Visiting
The parish office and mailing address is 204 Church Street, Anna, IL 62906, with the church proper at 402 Freeman St., Anna, IL 62906. Office hours run Monday 9:30 am - noon and Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm (summer hours may vary). Walk-in Saturday confessions are available 3:00-3:45 pm in addition to appointments. New email: [email protected]. The official parish website is www.stmaryanna.org.
- Church (street address): 402 Freeman St., Anna, IL 62906
- Office / mailing address: 204 Church St., Anna, IL 62906
- Phone: 618-833-5835
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmaryanna.org/