About St. Mary · Edwardsville, Illinois
St. Mary's Catholic Church, established January 22, 1842, is the oldest Catholic parish in Edwardsville, Illinois, and the mother church from which St. Boniface (1869) and St. Cecilia in Glen Carbon (1926) were later founded. The parish is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and serves roughly 1,971 parishioners in 625 families, with a current church built in 1965 in the Montclaire subdivision at 1802 Madison Avenue. It operates St. Mary's School (preschool through eighth grade) and a Parish School of Religion (PSR), and it celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2017. The parish is led today by Rev. Robert J. "Bob" Jallas, who was assigned in July 2019.
- Established
- 1842
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish originally named 'The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mary')
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. 'Bob' Jallas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic parish in Edwardsville (since 1842) and remains a tight-knit parish-and-school community with daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confession, a robust music ministry, and a wide range of parish organizations — from the 400-member Knights of Columbus Council 1143 and the Daughters of Isabella (O'Reilly Circle #218, meeting since 1922), to St. Vincent de Paul, a women's Bible Discussion Group, RCIA, Christ Renews His Parish retreats, and a summer men's softball team. Families with children can enroll in the parish school (preschool–8th grade on the same campus) or the Sunday-morning PSR program. Whether you're visiting, moving to the area, or searching for a church home, the parish welcomes you to attend Mass or call the parish office for a campus visit.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. Mary's Catholic Church, established on January 22, 1842, was the first Catholic parish of Edwardsville, Illinois, founded when about 25 pioneer families petitioned the Bishop of St. Louis (whose diocese then covered the western half of Illinois). The parish was originally named 'The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mary,' later shortened to St. Mary's. From its earliest days the parish founded Edwardsville's first Catholic school and first Catholic cemetery (1843), and went on to plant two daughter parishes: St. Boniface (1869) and St. Cecilia in Glen Carbon (1926). Three successive church buildings have served the parish: a modest frame church behind what is now the Wildey Theatre (1843), a red-brick Gothic-spired church at Park and Johnson Streets (1889), and the present church at 1802 Madison Avenue (1965). In 2017 the parish celebrated its 175th anniversary with a year-long series of events and looks forward to its bicentennial in 2042.
- Founded January 22, 1842 by Bishop Joseph Rosati of St. Louis
- First Catholic parish in Edwardsville, Illinois
- Mother Church of St. Boniface (1869) and St. Cecilia, Glen Carbon (1926)
- Three church buildings: 1843 frame church, 1889 red-brick Gothic church, 1965 present church
- 175th anniversary celebrated in 2017
Pastor Succession
St. Mary's has been served by a long succession of priests, beginning with mission priests from St. Louis, Cahokia, and Kaskaskia, and later by resident pastors appointed by the Bishops (and later Archbishops) of Alton and Springfield-in-Illinois. The longest-tenured pastor in parish history was Rev. Charles A. O'Reilly, who served from 1893 to 1936 — 43 years. Other notable pastors include Rev. Peter Paul McGuinness (who retired the parish debt, 1942–1961), Rev. Louis Elbow (who oversaw the move to the present church in 1965), Rev. Roger Simpson (who led Vatican II implementation and presided over a Mortgage Burning ceremony in 1984), and Rev. Daniel 'Dan' Bergbower (a U.S. Air National Guard chaplain who launched the Christ Renews His Parish retreat and the 'Together Toward Tomorrow' capital campaign). Rev. Robert J. 'Bob' Jallas, the current pastor, was assigned in July 2019 from St. Agnes in Springfield.
- Rev. Charles A. O'Reilly — 1893–1936 (43 years, longest-serving)
- Rev. Peter Paul McGuinness — 1942–1961
- Rev. Louis Elbow — 1961–1971
- Rev. Roger Simpson — 1971–1993
- Rev. Gerald Bunse — 1993–2012
- Rev. Daniel 'Dan' Bergbower — 2012–2019
- Rev. Robert J. 'Bob' Jallas — 2019–present
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Robert J. 'Bob' Jallas, Pastor (ordained May 26, 1984; assigned July 2019). He is supported by a business manager, parish secretaries, a Director of Religious Education (DRE), a Director of Music, and the PSR coordinator. The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.
- Rev. Robert J. Jallas — Pastor
- Sarah Ray — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Eva Duncan — Parish Secretary & PSR Coordinator ([email protected])
- Joyree Chura — Parish Secretary
- Gloria Couvion — Pastoral Associate / Director of Religious Education (DRE)
- Ann Richard — Director of Music
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Music Ministry
Music is an important part of the prayer and worship experience at St. Mary's, led by Music Director Ann Richard. There is a place for every voice and instrument, with choirs serving all ages and several Masses each week.
- Adult Choir — sings 1–2 times/month at the 10:30 am Sunday Mass plus Christmas and Triduum
- Magnificat Choir — sings once/month at the 10:30 am Sunday Mass; practice 9:00 am day-of
- Young Adults Ensemble — sings at the 8:00 am Sunday Mass and special liturgical-year Masses
- St. Mary's Children's Choir (grades 3–8) — sings ~6 times/year at the 10:30 am Sunday Mass
- Teen Choir (high school) — sings ~once/month at the 10:30 am Sunday Mass
- Men's Choir
- Cantors and Instrumentalists welcome (training available)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Education is the primary mission of St. Mary's Parish. The parish school (St. Mary's School) provides daily Catholic education from preschool through eighth grade on the same Madison Avenue campus, while the Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers weekly religious classes for K–8 students who attend public school, non-denominational private school, or homeschool. The parish also supports Father McGivney Catholic High School, where the pastor regularly celebrates Mass with students. For adults, ongoing formation includes book series, Bible studies, retreats, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), and Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) weekends — all coordinated through DRE Gloria Couvion.
- St. Mary's School — preschool through 8th grade (opened 1966)
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Sundays 9:00–10:15 am between the 8 am and 10:30 am Masses
- PSR Sacramental Preparation Policy — two consecutive years of religious education and required parent meetings for First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation
- Father McGivney Catholic High School — parish-supported
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP / 'Chirp') retreat weekends for men and women
- Bible Discussion Group (women's, Mondays 6:30 pm)
- FaithBook Discussion Group
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's School, located at 1802 Madison Avenue (618-656-1230), has offered an affordable preschool through eighth grade Catholic education since 1966. The school opened in September 1966 with grades K–4, staffed by two Sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (Sister M. Lorine, first principal, and Sister M. Andrea) and two lay teachers; students wore uniforms from the start. Two later additions expanded the campus, including a multi-purpose building dedicated by Bishop Daniel L. Ryan on December 18, 1995. The school is fully accredited, state-recognized, and offers Spanish, music, art, computers, and physical education at all ages, along with competitive athletics, robotics, marching band, and fine arts. It welcomes transfer students, parishioners, neighboring parishioners, and non-Catholics.
- Opened September 1966 with grades K–4
- First principal: Sister M. Lorine (Sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ)
- Curriculum includes Spanish, music, art, computers, physical education at all ages
- Extracurriculars: competitive athletics, robotics team, marching band, fine arts
- Multi-purpose building dedicated December 18, 1995 by Bishop Daniel L. Ryan
- Accepts transfer students into any grade where space is available
Parish Organizations & Adult Ministries
St. Mary's offers a wide range of adult ministries and parish organizations. The Knights of Columbus Council 1143 boasts more than 400 active members and supports council, church, community, youth, and family activities, while the Daughters of Isabella — O'Reilly Circle #218 (named for the parish's longest-serving pastor) has met since June 19, 1922, and supports KC fish fries. The Ladies Guild meets monthly for fundraisers and funeral luncheons. St. Vincent de Paul Society members provide person-to-person service to those in need. The parish also supports a men's Christ Renews His Parish ('Chirp') retreat weekend, a women's Bible Discussion Group, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist who distribute Holy Communion at Mass and to the homebound and at nursing homes, a Ministry of Praise for the ill and homebound, a Meals on Wheels partnership through the Main Street Community Center, and a Men's Softball Team in the spring.
- Knights of Columbus Council 1143 (400+ members)
- Daughters of Isabella — O'Reilly Circle #218 (since June 19, 1922)
- Ladies Guild
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) men's retreat weekend
- Bible Discussion Group (women's, Mondays 6:30 pm)
- FaithBook Discussion Group
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Ministry of Praise (for the ill and homebound)
- Meals on Wheels (Main Street Community Center)
- Men's Softball Team (spring)
Community Outreach & Social Ministries
In Jesus' likeness, the St. Mary's Parish family is called to serve. Parishioners serve through and within a number of local organizations focused on the poor, the hungry, the homebound, and those in crisis pregnancies.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Glen-Ed Food Pantry
- A Beacon of Light Pregnancy Help Center
- Faith in Action
- Meals on Wheels (Main Street Community Center)
- Restore Decor
- Faith Coalition Edwardsville
- Catholic Charities
Buildings, Campus & Recent Construction
The present St. Mary's Church (the third in the parish's history) was designed in the mid-1960s and was originally intended as a temporary worship space seating about 650, with plans for the school to be built first and a permanent church to follow. The traditional interior features a wooden Communion rail with wheat motif and gold-tone gates, an altar placed traditionally against the back wall, statues of St. Mary and St. Joseph, and a faceted stained-glass window of the Blessed Virgin Mary installed in 1991. In 2017 the parish began a two-phase, $4 million 'Together Toward Tomorrow' capital campaign. Phase I raised $2.1 million for new HVAC, new windows and carpeting in the worship space, gym floor replacement, and retiring all diocesan debt. Phase II — recently nearing completion in 2024 — expanded the church lobby/atrium, upgraded the bathrooms, added new parish offices, and topped the campus with a prominent new cross tower visible from Madison Avenue.
- Original 1965 church designed to seat 650 and intended as temporary
- Traditional sanctuary with wooden wheat-motif Communion rail and gold-tone gates
- Faceted stained-glass window of Mary installed 1991
- 'Together Toward Tomorrow' capital campaign launched under Fr. Dan Bergbower
- Phase I (2017): HVAC, windows, carpeting, gym floor, debt retirement — $2.1 million
- Phase II: atrium expansion, upgraded bathrooms, new parish offices, cross tower
Contact & Visiting the Parish
St. Mary's Parish welcomes visitors, new residents, and those seeking a church home. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm and can be reached by phone at 618-656-4857 or by email at [email protected]. The parish is located at 1802 Madison Avenue in the Montclaire subdivision on the south side of Edwardsville, sharing its campus with St. Mary's School. Bulletin announcements should be sent to [email protected] by Monday at 12:00 pm.
- Address: 1802 Madison Avenue, Edwardsville, IL 62025
- Phone: 618-656-4857
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Business manager: [email protected]
- PSR coordinator: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Bulletin deadline: Mondays at 12:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Carroll (mission priest)1842
One of the first mission priests from Ireland who celebrated the sacraments before the first church was built.
- Rev. J. Reiss1857–1859
First resident pastor; first recorded baptism at St. Mary's was John Loeb on September 1, 1857.
- Rev. Louis Hinssen1859–1861
From Sonsbeck, Germany.
- Rev. Peter Peters1861–1862
From Keppelen, Rhenish Province; built a rectory and reportedly started the first Catholic school in Edwardsville.
- Rev. Charles A. O'Reilly1893–1936
Longest-serving pastor in parish history (43 years), appointed by Bishop James Ryan, ordained in 1892.
- Rev. Charles A. Meagher1925
Assistant pastor (nephew of Fr. O'Reilly), said Masses in Glen Carbon and supported creation of St. Cecilia parish.
- Rev. Peter Paul McGuinness1942–1961
Born in Ireland; retired all parish debt and made major improvements (organ, stained glass, automatic bell-ringer, grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes).
- Rev. Louis Elbow1961–1971
Appointed by Bishop O'Connor; retired June 28, 1971.
- Rev. Roger Simpson1971–1993
22 years as pastor; led parish through implementation of Vatican II; participated in Mortgage Burning ceremony in 1984.
- Rev. Gerald Bunse1993–2012
Assigned by Bishop Daniel Ryan on January 12, 1993.
- Rev. Daniel 'Dan' Bergbower2012–2019
U.S. Air National Guard chaplain recently deployed to Southwest Asia; launched 'Together Toward Tomorrow' capital campaign and Christ Renews His Parish retreat.
- Rev. Robert J. 'Bob' Jallas2019–present
Born and raised in Springfield, IL; ordained May 26, 1984; previously served at St. Agnes Springfield and many other parishes across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.