About St. Mary of the Assumption · Sainte Marie, Illinois
St. Mary of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic parish in the small village of Sainte Marie, Jasper County, Illinois, on the banks of the Embarras River. Founded in 1837 by French-speaking settlers from Alsace-Lorraine who came seeking religious freedom, it is the second oldest parish in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and remains a small but active rural and farming community. It is currently served by Fr. Pawel Luczak (Pastor) and Rev. Tomy Philip (Parochial Administrator), with Deacon Emeritus Larry Miller, and offers Sunday Mass, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, PSR (Parish School of Religion) on Wednesday evenings, and reconciliation on three Saturdays a month.
- Established
- 1837
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Pawel Luczak
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (historically founded while the region was part of the older Diocese of Vincennes); the parish identifies itself as the second oldest in the diocese.
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Assumption welcomes visitors and new parishioners into a small, family-oriented rural Catholic community along the Embarras River that has worshipped on the same site since 1837. The parish offers a straightforward weekly schedule of Sunday and weekday Masses, regular Reconciliation on three Saturdays a month, and a Parish School of Religion (PSR) that meets Wednesday nights September through May from kindergarten through high school. As the parish's mission states, it is a farming community ever mindful of God's hand in nature, dedicated to nurturing and passing on the faith, building Christian community, and welcoming neighbors near and far.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 3rd Saturday of the month: 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
- 4th Saturday of the month: 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
- 5th Saturday of the month (when applicable): 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
- Or by appointment
Parish History
St. Mary of the Assumption was founded in 1837 by a small colony of French-speaking Catholic families from Alsace-Lorraine, led by Joseph Picquet, who chose the bend of the Embarras River partly because it was within reach of priests from Vincennes, Indiana. The first Mass was celebrated in the colonists' cabin by Father Stephen Theodore Badin, the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States. On October 28, 1837 the settlers formally dedicated the land to the Virgin Mary as Colonie des Frères — later 'St. Mary's,' and, after 1892, 'Sainte Marie.' Four successive churches have stood on the same site: a frame church (1842), a brick church (1850), a larger brick church built in 1892 and destroyed by fire in March 1933, and the present church dedicated in 1935. The parish carries on today as a small rural community, sustained by the involvement of its parishioners across the generations.
- 1837 — French colonists arrive; first Mass celebrated in their cabin by Fr. Stephen Theodore Badin
- 1842 — first frame church built
- 1850 — first brick church completed
- 1892 — second (larger) brick church built; in the same year the village name becomes the French feminine 'Sainte Marie'
- March 1933 — 1892 church destroyed by fire
- 1935 — present church completed and dedicated
- 1962 — parish and village celebrated their quasquicentennial (125th anniversary)
Mission & Identity
The parish describes itself as the second oldest parish in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and as a rural and farming community. Its mission statement emphasizes God's hand in all of nature, worship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, ongoing religious education for all ages, good relations with neighbors here and abroad, and the passing on of the faith especially to younger parishioners.
- Identity: rural, farming, French-founded parish community
- Diocese: Springfield in Illinois
- Self-described as the second oldest parish in the diocese
Clergy & Staff
Pastoral leadership and parish staff are listed on the parish Contact page. The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Pawel Luczak, with Rev. Tomy Philip serving as Parochial Administrator. Deacon Emeritus Larry Miller continues in ministry. Marie Wagner serves as both Office Manager and Coordinator of Religious Education. The parish also lists two Tribunal Annulment Advocates (Debbie Matson and Denisse Ochs) and a diocesan Victim Assistance contact.
- Rev. Pawel Luczak — Pastor
- Rev. Tomy Philip — Parochial Administrator
- Larry Miller — Deacon Emeritus
- Marie Wagner — Office Manager and Coordinator of Religious Education (PSR: 618-754-3388)
- Debbie Matson & Denisse Ochs — Tribunal Annulment Advocates
- Patricia Komfeld — Victim Assistance (Diocesan: 217-698-8500 Ext. 155)
Religious Education (Parish School of Religion)
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) meets Wednesday evenings from September through May, providing religious instruction from Kindergarten through High School. Marie Wagner coordinates the program (618-754-3388). The program works in conjunction with nearby St. Thomas Parish for sacramental records, and children baptized or receiving First Communion elsewhere must supply certificates from their home parish.
- Kindergarten — Amanda Richey
- 1st & 2nd Grade — Marie Wagner
- 4th & 5th Grade — Elaine Zwilling
- 6th Grade — Amy Kocher
- 7th & 8th Grade — Nancy Ochs
- High School — Cynthia Giffith, Sharon Boehl, Sarah Boehl
- Youth Group — Sarah Boehl
- PSR registration fee: $15.00 per child
Youth & Pastoral Council
Alongside PSR classes, the parish supports a Youth Group led by Sarah Boehl. A Pastoral Council is in place to assist the pastor in parish governance and planning.
- Youth Group — Sarah Boehl (contact through Marie Wagner, 618-754-3388)
- Pastoral Council — current membership is referenced on the parish Pastoral Council page
Sacraments
Sacramental information is published mainly through the PSR registration process and the Mass-Times/Contact pages. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation takes place through the PSR program. Baptism, marriage and other sacramental requests are coordinated through the parish office (618-455-3155); confession is offered on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Saturdays of each month from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. or by appointment.
- Reconciliation — 3rd, 4th and 5th Saturdays, 3:15–3:45 p.m., or by appointment
- PSR sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion) — see PSR registration form
- Sacramental certificates required if a child was not baptized or did not receive First Communion in St. Thomas or St. Mary's Parish
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary of the Assumption Parish is located at 112 W. Embarras St., P.O. Box 68, Sainte Marie, Illinois 62459, on the Embarras River in Jasper County. The parish office can be reached at 618-455-3155 (Fax 618-455-3665), the parish hall at 618-455-3150, and the PSR/Religious Education office at 618-754-3388.
- Address: 112 W. Embarras St., P.O. Box 68, Sainte Marie, IL 62459
- Parish Office: 618-455-3155
- Fax: 618-455-3665
- Parish Hall: 618-455-3150
- PSR / Religious Education: 618-754-3388
- Diocesan Victim Assistance: 217-698-8500 Ext. 155 (Patricia Komfeld)
- Website: http://www.stemariechurch.org/
Bulletins & Communications
The parish maintains an online Bulletins page where the current weekly bulletin, Kids Bulletins, and a 'Bible in a Year' reading resource are linked, along with online giving. The bulletin remains the source of truth for current Mass and event times.
- Weekly parish bulletin
- Kids Bulletin (available online)
- Online giving portal
- Bible in a Year resource
Patron & Heritage
The parish is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Assumption, celebrated each year on August 15. The 1837 dedication of the colony 'under the protection of the Virgin Mary' is the foundation of that patronage. The nearby Sainte Marie Foundation maintains a museum/artifact exhibit preserving items from the 1837 founding, the four successive churches, and Father Badin's celebrated first Mass.
- Patron: Blessed Virgin Mary — Assumption
- Feast Day: August 15
- 1837 foundation: original name 'Colonie des Frères' placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary
- Sainte Marie Foundation exhibit preserves parish and village artifacts
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin1837
Celebrated the first Mass in the colony's cabin; first Catholic priest ordained in the United States.
- Joseph Picquet1835–1837 (lay founder/colonizer)
19-year-old scout from Alsace-Lorraine who selected the site and led the 1837 colonization.