About St. Michael the Archangel · Sigel, Illinois
St. Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic parish in the small rural village of Sigel, Shelby County, Illinois, belonging to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The parish shares pastoral leadership and faith-formation staff with Sacred Heart (Lillyville), St. Mary of the Assumption (Neoga), and St. Mary Help of Christians (Green Creek) as part of a four-parish collaborative. St. Michael the Archangel School, located on the parish grounds, has been providing Catholic education to the community since 1866 and serves preschool through 8th grade. With roughly 1,065 registered parishioners in about 398 families, the parish celebrates daily and Sunday Mass at its historic church on North Church Street.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Hyland Smith
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel offers a classic small-town Catholic parish experience in rural Shelby County, with daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, two Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and a monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction. Parishioners can grow in faith through the parish school of religion (PSR), RCIA, and a music ministry directed by a dedicated organist/choir director. The parish's 1866 parish school is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Illinois, giving families the rare gift of a K-8 Catholic education rooted in the same community where they worship.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (before the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- Wednesday before First Friday: 6:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (with Benediction at 3:00 p.m.)
Parish Identity & Location
St. Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, located at 200 N. Church Street in the village of Sigel, Shelby County. The mailing address is P.O. Box 68, Sigel, IL 62462-0068. The parish rectory can be reached at (217) 844-3371, with fax (217) 844-2309. The parish office email listed in the diocesan pastoral directory is [email protected].
- Address: 200 N. Church Street, Sigel, IL 62462-0068
- Phone: (217) 844-3371
- Fax: (217) 844-2309
- Diocese: Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
History
The parish traces its roots to 1866, when St. Michael the Archangel School was founded — one of the oldest Catholic schools in Illinois. The school and parish together became the spiritual and educational center for Catholic families in rural Shelby County. Today the parish operates as part of a four-parish collaborative with Sacred Heart (Lillyville), St. Mary of the Assumption (Neoga), and St. Mary Help of Christians (Green Creek).
- Parish school founded in 1866
- One of the older Catholic schools in Illinois
- Long-running 'Four Parishes' collaborative with three neighboring mission churches
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Hyland Smith and supported by a small lay staff that handles parish administration, faith formation, and music ministry. Earlier directory entries and bulletins show that previous pastor Rev. Robert L. DeGrand ('Fr. Bud'), sacramental priest Rev. Sylvano Pera, OFM, and pastoral associate Sr. Patricia Thies, S.S.N.D. served the four-parish family together.
- Rev. Hyland Smith – Pastor
- Mary Lou Hoene – Secretary & Business Manager (Sigel site)
- Cassie Jansen – Secretary & Business Manager (more recent directory)
- Eric Thompson – Director of Faith Formation (PSR & RCIA)
- Val Probst – Director of Music
- Rev. Robert L. DeGrand – former pastor (Four Parishes)
- Sr. Patricia Thies, S.S.N.D. – former Pastoral Associate
Faith Formation & RCIA
Faith formation for children is provided through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), and adults seeking initiation or full communion with the Catholic Church are served through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), both coordinated by Director of Faith Formation Eric Thompson.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children
- RCIA for adult catechumens and candidates
- Director of Faith Formation: Eric Thompson
St. Michael the Archangel School
Sharing the same campus at 200 N. Church Street, St. Michael the Archangel School has been educating students since 1866 — a preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic school rooted in the parish. The school's philosophy emphasizes building well-rounded students of solid moral character, high intelligence, and the skills to become leaders of tomorrow.
- Founded 1866 — one of the older Catholic schools in Illinois
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Catholic faith formation integrated with academics
- Located on the parish grounds, 200 N. Church St., Sigel
- Web: http://www.ssmcs.org/
Music Ministry
Liturgical music at the parish is coordinated by Director of Music Val Probst, supporting the sung prayer of both daily and Sunday Masses.
- Director of Music: Val Probst
- Music for daily Mass, Sunday Masses, and Holy Days
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and provides preparation for each according to the norms of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
- Baptism – arranged through the pastor
- Marriage – contact the pastor at least six months in advance
- Reconciliation – Saturday 3:15 p.m. and Wednesday before First Friday 6:00 p.m., or by request
- Holy Communion to the sick and elderly on request
- RCIA for adult initiation
Four-Parishes Collaborative
St. Michael the Archangel shares its pastoral team with three neighboring Catholic communities in Shelby, Cumberland, and Effingham counties: Sacred Heart (Lillyville/Sigel), St. Mary of the Assumption (Neoga), and St. Mary Help of Christians (Green Creek). The parishes once published a single combined bulletin and share a joint pastoral staff and faith-formation resources.
- St. Michael the Archangel – Sigel, IL
- Sacred Heart – Lillyville, IL (Sigel)
- St. Mary of the Assumption – Neoga, IL
- St. Mary Help of Christians – Green Creek, IL (Effingham)
- Shared Facebook presence: facebook.com/SNLTriparish
Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers are invited to register with the parish office and join the faith-formation programs, music ministry, or outreach to the sick and homebound. The parish office can be reached by phone, fax, or email during regular hours.
- Parish office: (217) 844-3371
- Fax: (217) 844-2309
- Email: [email protected]
- In-person: 200 N. Church Street, Sigel, IL
- Facebook: facebook.com/SNLTriparish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert L. DeGrand
Pastored St. Michael the Archangel as part of the Four Parishes collaborative (Sigel, Lillyville, Neoga, Green Creek). Listed in the combined parish bulletin in 2012 with email [email protected] and emergency line (217) 821-1081.
- Rev. Hyland Smith
Current pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, Sigel, as listed in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois parish directory and the diocesan pastoral directory.