About St. Mary · Carlyle, Illinois
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Carlyle, Illinois, established in 1853 as the second-oldest parish in Clinton County and a part of the Diocese of Belleville. The parish today is administered by Rev. Steven Pautler with Parochial Vicar Rev. Deva Ubbarapu and Deacon John R. Hempen, and it partners with three neighboring parishes — St. Teresa of Avila (Marydale), St. Mary (Centralia), and St. Lawrence (Sandoval). Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with a weekday Mass on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoon Confession.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Steven Pautler (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a welcoming, family-sized parish community rooted in 170+ years of Catholic tradition in Carlyle, with Mass celebrated Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and Tuesday mornings and Confession heard Saturday afternoons. Families with children can enroll in the Parish School of Religion (PSR) held Wednesday evenings, and parishioners can give anytime online to four funds — General, Cemetery, Capital Campaign, and the Guatemala sister-parish mission — making it easy to stay connected even when traveling. The parish also extends the Gospel beyond Carlyle through its long-standing sister-parish relationship with Santa Catarina Mita in Guatemala and its local outreach like the Easter basket program, Christmas Giving Tree, and food-pantry baskets.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. Mary's was founded in 1853 as the second oldest parish in Clinton County. Father Francis Joseph Fischer said the first holy Mass in Carlyle at the Mound Farm north of town, and Judge Sidney Breese donated the land on which the brick church was built by contractors Moses Richard and D.W. Norris. Bishop Van De Velde of Chicago laid the cornerstone in 1853; the new church was dedicated in 1855; and the first baptism was recorded in 1858.
- 1853 – Parish founded; cornerstone laid by Bishop Van De Velde.
- 1855 – New church dedicated.
- 1858 – First baptism at St. Mary's.
- 1905 – Cyclone causes ~$75,000 in damage.
- 1940 – Fire devastates church (May).
- 1941 – Church rebuilt by April.
- 1968 – July tornado causes ~$50,000 in damage.
- 1974 – Hailstorm shatters stained glass; replaced with heavy plate glass.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Since the Catholic grade school in Carlyle closed in 1970, St. Mary has passed on the faith to children through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), grades K-8. Classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The current Director of Religious Education is Tracy Becker; questions can be directed to [email protected] or 618-594-2284.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) — Wednesday 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- DRE: Tracy Becker
- Program founded in 1970 by Fr. Victor Sulkowski with Irma Huelsmann and Lucille Rohr
Clergy & Staff
St. Mary's is currently administered by Rev. Steven Pautler, with Rev. Deva Ubbarapu serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon John R. Hempen assisting. The parish office is staffed by Director of Religious Education Tracy Becker, Bookkeeper Tiffany Wesslemann, and Administrative Assistant Paula Timmermann.
- Administrator: Rev. Steven Pautler
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Deva Ubbarapu
- Deacon: John R. Hempen (314-304-3375)
- DRE: Tracy Becker (618-594-2284)
- Bookkeeper: Tiffany Wesslemann
- Administrative Assistant: Paula Timmermann
Parish Partnerships
St. Mary's shares ministry with three neighboring parishes in the Diocese of Belleville. Pastors serve multiple communities across this partnership.
- St. Teresa of Avila, Marydale
- St. Mary, Centralia
- St. Lawrence, Sandoval
Liturgy & Sacraments
Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., with a Tuesday weekday Mass at 7:30 a.m. Confession is heard Saturday from 3:45 to 4:00 p.m., and Holy Day Masses are announced in the bulletin.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday: 7:30 a.m.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
- Holy Day Vigil and Holy Day Mass: as announced
Online Giving & Parish Funds
Parishioners can contribute online any time of week to one of four funds: General Fund, Cemetery Fund, Capital Campaign Fund, and the Guatemala Fund. The online giving platform is administered through the parish office; questions go to Tiffany at 618-594-2225.
- General Fund
- Cemetery Fund
- Capital Campaign Fund
- Guatemala Fund (Santa Catarina Mita, Jutiapa)
Mission & Outreach
Since 1997, St. Mary has been the sister parish of Santa Catarina Mita in the diocese of Jutiapa, Guatemala. Parishioners have joined diocesan trips to Guatemala, hosted the parish's pastor (Fr. Stuardo Castanasa Lopez) in 1998 and 1999, and supported the community's pastoral, school, and clinic needs through monthly collections, school supplies, and musical instruments. Locally, the parish collects canned goods for Carlyle's food pantry and runs an Easter basket program and a Christmas Giving Tree to help local families.
- Sister parish: Santa Catarina Mita, Jutiapa, Guatemala (since 1997)
- Food-pantry basket collection at church doors
- Easter basket program
- Christmas Giving Tree
Communications & Parish Life
The parish uses FlockNote for email and text updates and publishes bulletins and meeting minutes on its website. The parish office welcomes new parishioners — a 'New Parishioner Form' can be completed and returned to the office or dropped in the collection basket, after which contribution envelopes are issued. Community milestones include the first published parish directory (1995), the first parish golf tournament (1998), and occasional parish picnics and dances held in the church gym.
- FlockNote email/text updates
- Bulletins & meeting minutes posted online
- New Parishioner Form available
- 1995 — first parish directory published
- 1998 — first parish golf tournament
Cemetery
St. Mary maintains a parish cemetery adjoining the Carlyle City Cemetery — together the two largest cemeteries in Clinton County. Burial plots can be supported through the dedicated Cemetery Fund.
- St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Carlyle, IL
- Cemetery Fund available through online giving
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Joseph Fischer (mission; from St. Marie, Jasper County)1853 – 1855
Said the first holy Mass in Carlyle at the Mound Farm; helped found the parish with 17 families.
- Revs. Arnold Damen, S.J. and Joseph Patschowski, S.J. (from St. Louis)after 1855
Jesuit fathers who continued to attend Carlyle after the church was dedicated.
- Rev. Roderick Heimerling1855 – 1858
First pastor appointed to Carlyle; resided in Galena and visited the mission.
- Rev. Jacob Marshal1858 – 1859
- Rev. Clement von Sieghardt1859 – 1874
- Rev. Anton Demming1874 – 1904
Long-serving pastor who led the parish through the 1905 cyclone reconstruction.
- Rev. John Diepenbrock1904 – 1919
- Rev. John Bruns1919 – 1934
- Msgr. Bernard Hilgenberg1934 – 1952
- Rev. Joseph Duehren1952 – 1966
- Rev. Victor Sulkowski1966 – 1994
Celebrated Golden Jubilee in 1993; died June 3, 1994 at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis.
- Rev. Jerome W. Feldmann (Temporary Administrator)June 6, 1994
Pastor of St. Teresa of Avila, Marydale, and St. Felicitas, Beaver Prairie, appointed temporary administrator.
- Rev. George MauckDecember 15, 1994 – present per parish history (currently succeeded by Fr. Pautler as Administrator)
Came from St. Joseph's in Olney and St. Joseph's in Stringtown (1986–1994); attended Notre Dame's Center for Continuing Formation in Ministry in fall 1994.