About St. Nicholas · O Fallon, Illinois
St. Nicholas Parish is a Roman Catholic community of more than 1,400 households in O'Fallon, Illinois, part of the Diocese of Belleville. Founded in 1982, the parish describes itself as a "school of spirituality" and offers weekend and weekday Masses, a robust religious education program including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Parish School of Religion, the regional Catholic school St. Clare, and an active youth ministry. Its current pastor, Rev. Nicholas G. Junker, V.G., also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville, succeeding founder Msgr. William "Bill" Hitpas who retired in 2023 after 41 years of service.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- St. Nicholas
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas G. Junker, V.G.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Nicholas offers a full life of faith for every age and stage: weekend and weekday Mass, Saturday reconciliation, a vibrant Music and Liturgy program, robust faith formation through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Parish School of Religion, the regional St. Clare Catholic School and Good Shepherd Preschool, an active youth ministry with the Luke 18 retreat and Vacation Bible School, and dozens of adult ministries from Knights of Columbus and Women's groups to Bereavement and Respect Life. The parish is large enough to offer something for everyone, yet grounded in a small-parish welcome — newcomers are visited by the Welcome Committee and invited into fellowship at Coffee and Donut Sundays. With outreach to a sister parish in Guatemala, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a long-standing Giving Tree tradition, parishioners can put faith into action locally and beyond.
Mass times at St. Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. Nicholas Parish Community was established in 1982 in O'Fallon, Illinois, in the Diocese of Belleville. It was founded by Msgr. William "Bill" Hitpas, who served as the parish's first pastor and led it for 41 years before retiring in 2023. After his retirement, Rev. Nicholas G. Junker, V.G., was appointed pastor and continues to lead the community today. Under Msgr. Hitpas's long tenure, the parish grew from a new mission into a community of more than 1,400 households, eventually sharing St. Clare Catholic School with neighboring St. Joseph Parish in Lebanon and developing a wide network of ministries and outreach programs. The parish still proudly calls itself a "school of spirituality."
- Founded 1982
- Founder: Msgr. William "Bill" Hitpas (served 1982–2023)
- Current pastor since 2023: Rev. Nicholas G. Junker, V.G.
Our Pastor — Fr. Nick Junker
Fr. Nick Junker is the current pastor of St. Nicholas and also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville. Born and raised in Belleville, he is a graduate of Cathedral Grade School, Althoff Catholic High School (Class of 1999), and DePaul University (Class of 2003) in Chicago. He attended Mundelein Seminary and was ordained a priest in 2008. In his seventeen-plus years of priesthood he served at St. Teresa in Belleville and Sacred Heart in DuQuoin before being appointed pastor of St. Nicholas. He has served at St. Nicholas for over two years and is a vocal advocate for growing in Christian faith as a parish community.
- Ordained: 2008
- Alma mater: DePaul University '03; Mundelein Seminary
- Serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish staff supports liturgy, faith formation, administration, and youth ministry. Listed roles include the Pastor, a Deacon, Business Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Director of Religious Education, Coordinator of Liturgy and Music, Social Media Coordinator, and a (currently open) Youth Coordinator. The parish is also led by a Parish Council with Trustees and Members representing Liturgy, Education, and other commissions.
- Pastor: Rev. Nicholas G. Junker, V.G. (ext. 209)
- Deacon: Gary Mueller
- Business Administrator: Ann Daniels (ext. 201)
- Administrative Assistant: Tracie Forgette (ext. 200)
- Director of Religious Education: Beth Rheaume (618-632-1137)
- Coordinator of Liturgy and Music: Karen Scherrer (618-632-1007)
- Social Media Coordinator: Hannah Novy (618-726-6700)
- Youth Coordinator: Open
Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Nicholas runs from preschool through adulthood. The regional St. Clare Catholic School serves students from Kindergarten through 8th grade with over 490 students. The Good Shepherd Preschool provides Catholic early-childhood education for ages 3 to 5. The parish's Parish School of Religion (PSR) meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. at Saint Clare School, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — a Montessori-based religious formation program developed by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome — is held on Sunday mornings, Tuesday evenings, and Wednesday afternoons in the Saint Nicholas Spirituality Center.
- St. Clare Catholic School (K–8) — 214 West Third Street, O'Fallon; 618-632-6327
- The Good Shepherd Preschool (ages 3–5)
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Sundays 9:00 a.m. at Saint Clare School
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Youth Ministry & Retreats
St. Nicholas operates a comprehensive youth ministry built around the eight components of a USCCB comprehensive youth ministry model: advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice & service, leadership development, pastoral care, and prayer and worship. The parish hosts Vacation Bible School each summer (June 8–11, 2026 for grades K–6), and the annual Luke 18 retreat each February (Feb. 6–8, 2026) provides an energetic overnight experience for eighth graders led by high school and college students from St. Nicholas, St. Clare and Corpus Christi parishes.
- Youth Ministry meets Sunday evenings 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- High School Teen Ministry
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) — June 8–11, 2026; grades K–6
- Luke 18 Eighth-Grade Retreat — Feb. 6–8, 2026 at St. Clare School
Outreach & Charitable Works
The parish reaches out to neighbors in O'Fallon and beyond through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the annual Giving Tree Christmas gift drive, Respect Life Committee, the Soup Bus and Cosgrove's Kitchen meal ministries, and a long-standing Sister Parish relationship in Guatemala. The parish also supports a Ministry to the Homebound and the Ill and a Parish Health Ministry that provides screenings and health information. The Parish Lottery is an annual fundraiser held in late May or early June for specific projects each year.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Giving Tree — long-standing Christmas tradition
- Respect Life Committee
- Soup Bus & Cosgrove's Kitchen meal ministries
- Guatemala Sister Parish
- Parish Lottery (annual fundraiser)
Liturgical & Parish Ministries
St. Nicholas depends on dozens of lay ministries to celebrate the liturgy and care for the parish community. Volunteers serve at the altar, greet at the door, distribute Holy Communion, sing in the choir, present the gifts, serve as Catechists for the Children's Word every third Sunday at 10:30 Mass, and care for the church through the St. Nicholas Altar Angels and Coffee and Donut Sundays.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers (young men and women up to grade 12)
- Ushers, Greeters, Presenters of Gifts
- Music Ministry (choir and cantors)
- Liturgy Committee
- Children's Word Catechists
- Nursery
- St. Nicholas Altar Angels
- Coffee and Donut Sunday (3rd Sunday of most months)
Adult Groups & Gatherings
Adult life at St. Nicholas is enriched by a number of ongoing groups and gatherings. The Knights of Columbus meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., and the KC Ladies Auxiliary gathers the 4th Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Yesterday's Kids is the parish's vibrant mature community, and Women to Women offers spiritual, ministerial, and social events for women. Small Christian Communities, Marriage Enrichment, and the Social/Community Life Committee offer additional ways to grow in faith and friendship.
- Knights of Columbus — 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.
- KC Ladies Auxiliary — 4th Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
- Yesterday's Kids (mature community)
- Women to Women — board meetings 2nd Monday, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- Small Christian Communities
- Marriage Enrichment
- Bereavement Committee
Contact, Location & Hours
The parish office is located at 625 St. Nicholas Drive, O'Fallon, IL 62269. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Friday, 9:00 AM to Noon. The parish can be reached by phone at (618) 632-1797, with a separate line for the Parish Hall at (618) 632-1054 and fax (618) 632-7703. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel.
- Address: 625 St. Nicholas Drive, O'Fallon, IL 62269
- Phone: (618) 632-1797
- Parish Hall: (618) 632-1054
- Fax: (618) 632-7703
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–Noon
- Website: stnicholasofallon.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. William J. Hitpas1982–2023
Founder and first pastor; served 41 years; retired in 2023.
- Rev. Nicholas G. Junker, V.G.2023–present
Appointed pastor after Msgr. Hitpas's retirement; also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville.