About St. Paul · Highland, Illinois
St. Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Highland, Illinois, one of the larger parishes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Founded in 1844 (cornerstone laid May 1, 1844; ready for occupancy 1846) in a village of 60 families, it now serves more than 1,800 families and roughly 4,500–5,000 area Catholics. The parish runs St. Paul Catholic School (preschool through 8th grade), an active Faith Formation program, and the famous annual Kirchenfest — one of the largest church festivals in Southern Illinois.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. Paul (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Pat Jakel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Paul's is a long-established Catholic family of more than 1,800 households in the heart of Highland's Swiss-German community. Worshippers can choose from four weekend Masses (including a livestreamed Sunday Mass on Facebook), weekly Confession, an elementary school and a full K–8 faith formation program, lively youth ministry (Edge for middle schoolers and SPYO for high schoolers), outreach to those in need, and the beloved annual Kirchenfest — making it a parish where families of every age can put down roots and grow in faith together.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm (regularly scheduled)
- By appointment through the parish office
- Communal Reconciliation Services offered during Lent and Advent
About St. Paul Parish
St. Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Highland, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The parish serves more than 1,800 families and approximately 4,500–5,000 Catholics across the area. Its six-acre campus includes the church, St. Paul Catholic School, St. Paul Hall (parish center, gymnasium and cafeteria), and the rectory/office at 1411 Main Street. Pastor Father Pat Jakel, who became pastor on July 1, 2015, often greets visitors personally with the parish's well-known welcome.
- Founded in 1844 (cornerstone laid May 1, 1844)
- More than 1,800 families / roughly 4,500–5,000 parishioners
- Member parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Parish History
The Catholics of Highland first organized in December 1843 to build a frame church, laying the cornerstone on May 1, 1844 and completing it in 1846. A brick church followed in 1854, with first services on Easter Sunday 1856. That second church was razed in 1951 and the present church — seating about 800 — was dedicated on October 12, 1952. The parish school was constructed in 1956 (major renovation in 1993), and the former high school building became St. Paul Hall, the parish center, in 1995.
- 1843 — Catholics organize to build a church
- 1844 — Cornerstone laid (May 1)
- 1846 — Original frame church ready for occupancy
- 1854 — Brick church built
- 1856 — Easter Sunday: first services in the brick church
- 1951 — Second church razed
- 1952 — Present church dedicated (Oct. 12)
- 1956 — Current grade school built
- 1993 — Major school renovation
- 1995 — Former high school renovated as St. Paul Hall (parish center)
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Pat Jakel, Pastor (since July 1, 2015), and is served by a Parochial Vicar and a permanent deacon. A team of parish and school office staff support liturgy, faith formation, school operations, and pastoral care.
- Rev. Pat Jakel — Pastor
- Rev. Mariadas Chatla — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Dave Bohnenstiehl — Permanent Deacon
- Dineen Czar — Executive Manager / Liturgical Music Coordinator (ext. 203)
- Jennifer Hilling — Office Manager (ext. 200)
- Laurie Scott — Administrative Assistant (ext. 215)
- Sharon Schmitz — Pastoral Associate for Pastoral Care (ext. 202)
- Deanna Harlan — Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation (ext. 217)
- Carrie Albaugh — Pastoral Associate for Youth Faith Formation (ext. 210)
- Laurie Wiedner — Faith Formation Administrative Assistant (ext. 212)
- Dale Triplett — Maintenance Superintendent (ext. 206)
- Stephanie Kuhn — St. Paul School Principal (ext. 300)
- Kim Venarsky — St. Paul School Secretary (ext. 302)
- Katie Rehkemper — St. Paul School Development Director (ext. 301)
Faith Formation
The parish's Faith Formation program — rooted in the belief that 'religious education starts at birth and continues until we meet the Lord' — accompanies parishioners from Baptism through adulthood. The journey begins with the Pre-Jordan class for parents presenting a child for Baptism, continues through PSR for elementary children, and is followed by middle school (Edge) and high school (SPYO) youth ministry.
- Pre-Jordan Baptism preparation — first Thursday of each month
- PSR — Grades 1–5, Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 pm in the Parish Life Center
- Edge — Grades 6–8, Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 pm
- SPYO — High School, Sundays 6:00–8:00 pm
- Sunday School — Ages 3 through Kindergarten, during the 8:30 am Mass
- Adult Faith Formation — contact Deanna Harlan
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School provides Catholic education for children from preschool through eighth grade and is recognized as one of the strongest Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The current grade school was constructed in 1956 and received a major renovation in 1993. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, and the school can be reached at (618) 654-7525.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Current school built 1956; major renovation in 1993
- School Office: (618) 654-7525
- Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 am–4:00 pm
- Principal: Stephanie Kuhn (ext. 300)
Parish Center — St. Paul Hall
In 1995, the former St. Paul High School building was renovated to better serve the parish. Today it is known as St. Paul Hall and serves as the Parish Life Center, used for the Religious Education Program, parish meetings and gatherings, the parish gymnasium, and the cafeteria.
- Houses the Religious Education Program
- Gymnasium and cafeteria
- Meeting and gathering space for parish events
Youth Ministry: Edge & SPYO
Edge (grades 6–8) and SPYO — the St. Paul Youth Organization (high school) — provide age-appropriate faith formation rooted in the four pillars of the Catechism: Profession of Faith, Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Sacraments/Liturgy), Life in Christ (Morality/Commandments), and Christian Prayer. Edge nights mix games, social time, retreats, and community involvement; SPYO focuses on forming disciples who serve the parish and wider community through prayer, service, and the sacraments.
- Edge: Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 pm, August–May
- SPYO: Sundays 6:00–8:00 pm, August–May
- SPYO Vision: continue the formation of Christ in the lives of St. Paul's young adults
- SPYO Mission: be disciples showing the love of Christ through prayer, service, and sacraments
- Contact: Carrie Albaugh, 618-654-2339 x210
Outreach & Pastoral Care
St. Paul Outreach Ministry maintains a voicemail line (573-340-3763) for parishioners or neighbors in need, with calls returned as soon as possible. Pastoral Care, coordinated by Sharon Schmitz, accompanies parishioners through illness, bereavement, and other life events.
- St. Paul Outreach Ministry — voicemail line 573-340-3763
- Pastoral Care — contact Sharon Schmitz, ext. 202
The Kirchenfest
The Kirchenfest — German for "Church Festival" — is St. Paul's annual parish festival and one of the largest church festivals in Southern Illinois. Held every August across the six-acre parish campus since 1970, it reflects Highland's Swiss and German heritage with German-themed food (including a Bavarian skillet dish cooked in a 500-pound skillet and a sit-down chicken dinner), German music, craft beer, rides, games, a mega flea market with more than 40,000 items, live entertainment, raffles, and a car giveaway.
- Begun in 1970
- Held across six acres of parish grounds
- Strassenlauf 5K & 2K Run/Walk
- Live Saturday morning auction featuring an 8-foot pizza
- Flea market with 40,000+ items
- Tour of Brats bike race
- German food, music, rides, bingo, korbball tournament, bags tournament
- Special Kirchenfest Masses (e.g., Saturday 4 pm & 5:30 pm; Sunday 7:30 am & 10 am)
Visit & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Paul's. The parish office is located with the church at 1411 Main Street, Highland, IL 62249, and can be reached at (618) 654-2339. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (closed 12:00–1:00 pm for lunch), Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm during the school year, and Friday 8:00 am to noon during the summer.
- Address: 1411 Main Street, Highland, IL 62249
- Phone: (618) 654-2339
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 am–4:30 pm (closed 12–1 pm); Fri 8:00 am–3:00 pm (school year) / 8:00 am–noon (summer)
- Website: stpaulhighland.org
- Sunday Mass livestreamed on Facebook