About St. Mary · Valmeyer, Illinois
St. Mary Church of the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin is a Roman Catholic parish in the Village of Valmeyer, Illinois, in the Metro-East Vicariate of the Diocese of Belleville, about 20 miles south of St. Louis. The parish traces its roots to March 1921, when it was established as a mission attached to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Harrisonville, and today it is served by Vincentian priests from the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.). It shares a pastoral team with its partner parishes, Ss. Peter and Paul in Waterloo and St. Augustine of Canterbury in Hecker, and worships at 101 South Meyer Avenue in relocated Valmeyer — the community that famously rebuilt on higher ground after the catastrophic 1993 Mississippi River flood.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- The Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin (Our Lady of Sorrows)
- Rector
- Rev. Linus Umoren, C.M.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville (Metro-East Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a genuine small-parish feel in the rebuilt village of Valmeyer, with the warmth of a congregation that refused to scatter even after the devastating 1993 flood. Worship centers on the historic Seven Dolors devotion — a marble sculpture of the patron stands in the church yard — and the Mass schedule keeps the community close-knit: a single Sunday Mass and a Wednesday evening Mass, with Holy Day Masses at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The parish is supported by an active choir, Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, altar servers, greeters, ushers, a Knights of Columbus council (chartered March 2005), St. Anne's Altar Sodality, and a Parish Council — so newcomers of any age or background can find a place to serve and belong.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. (per the parish's Sacrament page)
- Or by appointment
Parish History
Founded in 1921 as a mission of St. Francis of Assisi at Harrisonville, St. Mary became an independent parish in 1940 and grew with the Village of Valmeyer. After the Great Flood of 1993 destroyed Old Valmeyer, the congregation worshipped in Madonnaville, Gibault High School, and a school trailer before completing their new church in the relocated village on Christmas Eve 1995.
- Established March 24, 1921 (as a mission of St. Francis of Assisi, Harrisonville)
- Church dedicated Thanksgiving 1923; remodeled and rededicated under the title of Seven Sorrows in 1935
- Designated an independent parish in 1940; parsonage built next door
- 1966–1967: parish center built on the west end of Old Valmeyer
- 1974: historic bell from Harrisonville's St. Francis dedicated at St. Mary
- 1979: second extensive remodeling
- 1993 (Mother's Day): marble sculpture of the Seven Dolors placed in the church yard
- 1993 Great Flood: services move to Madonnaville, then Gibault High School
- 1995: fire at Gibault destroys parish belongings; worship moves to a school trailer
- Christmas Eve 1995: new church completed in relocated Valmeyer
Patron and Identity
The parish's formal name honors the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin — the seven sorrows of Mary — and the church's history page notes that the parish was rededicated to this title at its 1935 remodeling. The 1993 marble sculpture of the patron stands in the church yard, and the website links visitors to an explanation of the feast of the Seven Dolors.
- Formal name: St. Mary Church of the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin
- Feast day celebrated each year on September 15
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
St. Mary is currently served by Vincentian (C.M.) priests as part of a three-parish pastoral team with Ss. Peter and Paul in Waterloo and St. Augustine of Canterbury in Hecker.
- Pastor: Rev. Linus Umoren, C.M.
- Associate Pastor / Parochial Vicar: Rev. Balaiah Ery
- Parish Secretary: contact via [email protected] or (618) 935-2247
Parish Council
The parish is governed by an elected Parish Council chaired by Donna Wierschem, with Bobbie Klinkhardt as Vice Chair and Kaylee Dependahl as Secretary, along with trustees Angie Crawford and George Green.
- Chairperson: Donna Wierschem
- Vice Chair: Bobbie Klinkhardt
- Secretary: Kaylee Dependahl
- Members: Anna Glaenzer, Jenny Kohnz, Aaron Scheibe, Parker Reeves
- Trustees: Angie Crawford, George Green
Worship and Sacraments
Sunday and weekly worship follows a small-parish schedule, with Reconciliation offered before Mass and by appointment. The Sacraments page on the parish site also references Confirmation and Sacramental Preparation.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday Mass: 6:30 p.m.
- Holy Day Masses: 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:30–5:00 p.m. and Sunday 8:30–9:00 a.m. (per the parish's Sacraments page), or by appointment
- Confirmation and Sacramental Preparation listed on the parish Sacraments page
Liturgical Ministries
St. Mary's Liturgical Ministries page describes the roles of the parish's worship volunteers, from the choir that leads sung praise at Sunday Mass to the greeters who set a welcoming tone for newcomers.
- Choir (Director: Michelle Grisham)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Liturgical Coordinator: Angie Crawford
Parish Organizations
Two long-running parish organizations are featured on the St. Mary website: the Knights of Columbus council and St. Anne's Altar Sodality.
- Knights of Columbus Council 13840 (chartered March 2005)
- St. Anne's Altar Sodality
Knights of Columbus Council 13840
The Valmeyer Council 13840 of the Knights of Columbus was chartered in March 2005. The parish page describes the Knights' three-fold activity in spiritual formation, social fellowship, and service — supporting both the local Catholic community and members' family life.
- Council chartered March 2005
- Activities grouped under Spiritual, Social, and Service
Contact, Office, and Bulletin
Day-to-day communication runs through the parish office, with separate contacts for general office business and weekly bulletin submissions. The website is maintained by a volunteer council team.
- Office Administrator: Penny Heusohn
- Bulletin Editor: Mary Wuertz von Holt (submissions: [email protected])
- Website Administrator: Gardner von Holt
- Website Author: Mary Wuertz von Holt
- Parish office phone: (618) 935-2247
- Office email: [email protected]
Parish Center
The parish maintains a Parish Center, and the website directs visitors to a dedicated Parish Center webpage for information and bookings.
Diocese and Partner Parishes
St. Mary sits within the Metro-East Vicariate of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, and shares a pastoral team with two nearby partner parishes.
- Diocese: Belleville, Illinois
- Vicariate: Metro-East
- Partner parishes: Ss. Peter and Paul, Waterloo; St. Augustine of Canterbury, Hecker