About St. Paul · Vienna, Illinois
St. Paul Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Vienna, Johnson County, Illinois, belonging to the Diocese of Belleville. Established in 1895 under Bishop John Janssen, it grew from a mission station visited occasionally by circuit-riding priests into a tight-knit Catholic community on the eastern edge of Vienna, overlooking State Route 146 near the Shawnee National Forest. The parish is currently served by Fr. Christian Iwuagwu (pastor, in partnership with St. Mary Eldorado and St. Mary Harrisburg) and Fr. Larry Lemay (parochial vicar), with Theresa Cecchi as office manager. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 a.m., with weekday Mass on Thursdays and a Saturday morning Mass on the first Saturday of the month.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Saint Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Christian Iwuagwu (Parochial Administrator; also pastor of partnered parishes St. Mary, Eldorado and St. Mary, Harrisburg)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Paul is a welcoming small-town parish where, by the community's own testimony, 'live Catholic teachings, participate in Sacramental and Liturgical celebrations, and serve our community' is more than a motto — it is the rhythm of parish life. Visitors and travelers passing through the Shawnee National Forest will find a faithful Sunday congregation, Eucharistic Adoration on the first Wednesday of the month, and a tight network of ministries including PSR religious education, a parish choir, the Council of Catholic Women, parish fish fries and picnics at Lake Glendale, a sewing/quilting group supporting Poshard and local veterans, and a Wellness Committee that maintains an AED and medical-emergency plan. With Fr. Christian Iwuagwu as pastor and Fr. Larry Lemay as parochial vicar, the parish maintains a stable sacramental life while reaching out in works of charity across Johnson County.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays from 7:30 am before Mass (Fr. Lemay; per parish website)
- Sunday 9:30 a.m. (per Diocese of Belleville directory listing)
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of the Month, 5:30 pm
History of the Parish
St. Paul's was established in 1895 under Bishop John Janssen, the first bishop of Belleville. From its founding until 1986 it remained a mission parish, served by priests residing at neighboring parishes — first New Burnside (1895–1922), and later Carbondale, Equality, and Metropolis. The first church was built in 1896 at the corner of 4th and Lewis; for decades it was heated by a coal stove and had no restroom facilities. Through the twentieth century the parish slowly grew; the opening of the Vienna and Shawnee Correctional Centers contributed to its expansion. A new church on the east edge of Vienna replaced the 4th and Lewis site in 1988 (last Mass there was 5 June 1988), a 'Centennial Tree' was planted in 1995, and a new church building was opened in 2010 with the former structure repurposed as the parish hall. On 30 June 2020, the former St. Francis de Sales parish of Stonefort was merged into St. Paul.
- Established 1895, Diocese of Belleville
- Mission parish 1895–1986
- First church built 1896 at 4th and Lewis
- Moved to east Vienna site 1988
- Centennial Tree planted 1995
- New church building opened 2010
- St. Francis de Sales (Stonefort) merged 30 June 2020
Parish Mission
St. Paul's official mission statement reads: 'St. Paul Church members will reflect God's saving love by living Catholic teachings and traditions. We as parishioners will support each other by active participation in Sacramental and Liturgical celebrations. We will live out our Catholic faith, and as Christians we will serve our community.' The parish lives this out through its PSR program, choir, Council of Catholic Women, Wellness Committee, parish fish fries, picnics at Lake Glendale, and a sewing/quilting ministry that donates completed projects to Poshard and local veterans.
Our Patron: Saint Paul the Apostle
Saint Paul, born in Tarsus (modern Turkey), was a tentmaker by trade and is considered one of the greatest evangelists of the early Church. As a devout Jew and a Greek speaker, he traveled throughout the northern Mediterranean basin bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. He began as a persecutor of Christians — present at the stoning of Saint Stephen — before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, where he was struck blind by the appearance of the risen Christ. He poured his energy into spreading the gospel throughout the Greek-speaking world, leaving a body of letters that were later compiled into the New Testament. He is believed to have been martyred in Rome, probably by beheading.
- Patron of missionaries, evangelists, and writers
- Feast day: June 29 (Saints Peter and Paul)
- Conversion commemorated January 25
Clergy & Staff
St. Paul is currently served by Fr. Christian Iwuagwu as Parochial Administrator/Pastor and Fr. Larry Lemay as Parochial Vicar. Fr. Iwuagwu also serves as pastor of the partnered parishes of St. Mary in Eldorado and St. Mary in Harrisburg; further information on those parishes is available at holyfamilycatholics.com. Theresa Cecchi serves as Office Manager. Parish Council leadership includes Chairperson Steve Pobst, Vice Chairperson Becky Bowers, and Trustees Steve Pobst and Matthew Slife (per the parish bulletin masthead).
- Rev. Christian Iwuagwu — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Larry Lemay — Parochial Vicar
- Theresa Cecchi — Office Manager
- Becky Bowers — Parish Council Chair (per bulletin)
- Steve Pobst, Matt Slife — Trustees
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 a.m. Weekday Mass is offered on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m., with an additional Mass on the first Saturday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Holy Day Mass is at 6:30 p.m. Reconciliation is available from Fr. Lemay beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sundays before Mass (the Diocese of Belleville directory also lists Sunday 9:30 a.m. as a reconciliation opportunity). Eucharistic Adoration is held on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:00 am
- Thursday: 6:00 pm
- First Saturday of the Month: 8:30 am
- Holy Day: 6:30 pm
- Reconciliation: Sundays from 7:30 am
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Wednesday, 5:30 pm
Religious Education & Formation
The PSR (Parish School of Religion) program meets after Sunday Mass on designated Sundays, when students present a program for the parishioners and serve a pancake/ham/eggs breakfast. Chris Cain serves as the Parish Council liaison for Religious Education.
- PSR classes after Sunday Mass
- Student-led parish programs and breakfasts
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical life is supported by the parish choir, which rehearses on designated Sundays, and by a Liturgy Committee led on the Parish Council by Zachary Garrett. Cantor and lector ministries are active among parishioners.
- Parish choir and Christmas choir
- Liturgy Committee
- Cantor, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, sacristan ministries
Pastoral Council & Parish Leadership
The Parish Pastoral Council includes committees for Liturgy, Wellness, Religious Education, Building & Maintenance, and Parish and Community Life, plus an Altar Sodality and Communications liaison. The Council includes laypeople deeply embedded in the parish's day-to-day life.
- Steve Pobst – Chairperson, Trustee
- Becky Bowers – Vice Chairperson
- Matthew Slife – Trustee
- Jared Bergmann – Trustee, Building & Maintenance
- Chris Cain – Religious Education
- Cathy Kruep – Parish and Community Life
- Xennia Gruszczyk – Wellness Committee
- Zachary Garrett – Liturgy Committee
- Pam Shallenberger – Altar Sodality
- Ryan Weeks
Outreach & Community Life
Parish and Community Life is led on the Pastoral Council by Cathy Kruep, and includes Miners baseball trips, pilgrimages to Our Lady of the Snows, card-making for Hillview nursing home residents, a monthly social, fish fries, parish picnics at Lake Glendale, a Drawdown fundraiser, and a Christmas party. A parish sewing/quilting group donates its completed projects to Poshard and to local veterans. The Wellness Committee has obtained an AED through grant funding and authored the parish Medical Emergency Plan.
- Fish fries and Lake Glendale picnics
- Ladies Luncheon, Chili & Dessert Cook-off, Drawdown
- Card ministry to Hillview nursing home
- Sewing/quilting ministry supporting Poshard and veterans
- Wellness Committee and AED program
Partnered Parishes & Regional Cluster
St. Paul shares pastoral leadership with its partnered parishes of St. Mary in Eldorado and St. Mary in Harrisburg. Fr. Iwuagwu serves as pastor of all three under the 'Holy Family Catholics' grouping (holyfamilycatholics.com).
- St. Mary, Eldorado
- St. Mary, Harrisburg
- Cluster website: holyfamilycatholics.com
Visiting & Directions
The church sits overlooking State Route 146 on the east edge of Vienna — a gateway point to the Shawnee National Forest — and the parish welcomes travelers as well as those exploring the Catholic faith. Detailed driving directions are posted on the parish website for visitors coming from Evansville/Golconda, Belleville/St. Louis, Memphis/Southwest, Chicago/North, and Nashville/Clarksville.
- East edge of Vienna, IL on State Route 146
- Gateway to Shawnee National Forest
- Welcomes visitors and travelers
Contact & Office
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (618) 658-4501 or by email at [email protected]. Fr. Iwuagwu can additionally be reached directly at (618) 303-4997. The mailing address is 2020 State Route 146-E, Vienna, IL 62995.
- Office: (618) 658-4501
- Email: [email protected]
- Fr. Iwuagwu direct: (618) 303-4997
- 2020 State Route 146-E, Vienna, IL 62995
Pastors & rectors through the years
- First pastors (residents of New Burnside)1895–1922
St. Paul's was organized as a parish but remained a mission with its pastors residing at New Burnside.
- Later mission pastorsafter 1922 – 1986
Pastors resided at Carbondale, Equality, and Metropolis at various times while St. Paul's remained a mission parish.
- Resident pastorate era begins1986
St. Paul's ceased being a mission parish; pastors thereafter resided locally.