About St. Sebastian (St. Sebastian/Mt. Carmel) · Mount Carmel, Illinois
Saint Sebastian Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish located in rural Wabash County in southern Illinois, serving the farming community of St. Sebastian outside Mount Carmel. Established in 1870, it is named for the early Christian martyr Saint Sebastian, after the saint who shared a name with the parish's original benefactor, Sebastian Ankenbrand. The parish is currently partnered with St. Mary, Mount Carmel, under the Diocese of Belleville, and is pastored by Very Rev. Robert J. Zwilling, V.F., with Deacon James Keepes assisting. Visitors and parishioners describe it as a faithful, welcoming community with deep roots going back to the Jesuit missionaries who first celebrated Mass in the area in pioneer log homes.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- Saint Sebastian
- Rector
- Very Rev. Robert J. Zwilling, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Sebastian is a small, multigenerational rural parish where many families have belonged for generations, and the parish itself has produced three native-born priests — a testament to its deep Catholic roots. With weekly Sunday Mass, weekday devotions like the daily Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet livestreamed on Facebook, and the personal care of a pastor and deacon who know the community, it offers an intimate, faithful worship life in the heart of Wabash County. Visitors are warmly invited to become part of the parish family.
Mass times at St. Sebastian (St. Sebastian/Mt. Carmel)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. (per parish website); see also Tuesday 6:00 p.m. (per parish site note).
Welcome to Saint Sebastian Parish
Saint Sebastian Parish is a faithful and welcoming Roman Catholic community located in rural Wabash County, in southern Illinois. The parish's small size and deep roots make it a place where generations of farming families worship together. The parish is partnered with St. Mary, Mount Carmel, within the Diocese of Belleville, and is led by Father Robert Zwilling and Deacon James Keepes. Visitors are warmly invited to join in worship as often as they can.
Parish History
In May 1870, Sebastian Ankenbrand donated an acre of land on which the original church was built and completed in 1871. The parish was named for Saint Sebastian in honor of its founder. In its earliest days, Jesuit missionaries celebrated Mass in the log homes of the Keepes and Berberich families. The parish has since been a mission of Mt. Carmel, St. Francisville, and Fairfield, and today is partnered back with Mt. Carmel (St. Mary parish).
- 1870 – Sebastian Ankenbrand donates land; parish established
- 1871 – Original church building completed
- 1881 – Ankenbrand donates two more acres for a school and a cemetery
- 1893 – First cemetery burial (Michael Tennis); parish school opens
- 1899 – Current altar donated by Joseph Steckler for his daughter's wedding
- 1919 – Rev. Charles Brumleve assigned to the parish
- 1925, Feb. 24 – Parish school destroyed by a field fire
- Early 1970s – Old priest house torn down
- 1980 – Parish Hall added
- 1986 – Classrooms added on
- 1996 – Church completely renovated to its present appearance
St. Sebastian Cemetery
In 1881, Sebastian Ankenbrand donated land adjoining the church for a parish cemetery. The first recorded burial was Michael Tennis in 1893. An old local custom was for the church bell to toll once for each year the deceased had lived. The cemetery's current metal cross came from St. Mary in Mount Carmel in 1965, when that parish replaced its crucifix and Bernard Keepes arranged to have it transferred to St. Sebastian.
- Established 1881 (land); first burial 1893 (Michael Tennis)
- Cross transferred from St. Mary, Mt. Carmel in 1965 at the request of Bernard Keepes
Notable Furnishings & Architecture
The current altar was donated in 1899 by Joseph Steckler on the occasion of his daughter's wedding. The large stained-glass windows were relocated from Saint Polycarp Church in Carmi, Illinois, after that parish decided to remove its stained glass. The present interior of the church reflects a full renovation completed in 1996, during which Mass was held in the Parish Hall.
- Altar – donated 1899 by Joseph Steckler
- Stained-glass windows – relocated from St. Polycarp, Carmi, IL
- Church interior – completely renovated 1996
Native-Born Priests
From this small rural parish have come three native-born priests — a remarkable legacy for a community of its size. They are Father Anthony Keepes, Father Jerry Wirth, and Father Pat Peter. Their vocations are a point of pride for the parish and reflect the deep Catholic identity of the Keepes, Wirth, and Peter farming families of the area.
- Father Anthony Keepes
- Father Jerry Wirth
- Father Pat Peter
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently pastored by Very Rev. Robert J. Zwilling, V.F. (also styled on the parish website as 'Father Robert Zwilling'), and is assisted by Deacon James Keepes, who was ordained to the diaconate on June 4, 2023. Father Zwilling also serves as pastor of the partner parish, St. Mary, Mount Carmel.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Robert J. Zwilling, V.F. — 618-262-5337
- Deacon: James Keepes (ordained June 4, 2023)
Devotions & Livestream Prayer
In addition to the Mass schedule, the parish livestreams the daily Rosary at 1:00 p.m. and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 p.m. on its Facebook page, with on-demand playback available. This makes daily devotional prayer accessible to parishioners who are homebound, traveling, or living away from the parish.
- Daily Rosary – 1:00 p.m. (Facebook livestream)
- Daily Divine Mercy Chaplet – 3:00 p.m. (Facebook livestream)
- On-demand playback on the parish Facebook page
Diocese & Partner Parish
Saint Sebastian Parish belongs to the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, and is currently partnered with St. Mary, Mount Carmel. Sharing a pastor (Fr. Robert Zwilling, V.F.) allows the two parishes to share sacramental ministry and resources while retaining their distinct identities and histories.
- Diocese: Belleville
- Partner parish: St. Mary, Mount Carmel, IL
Visit & Contact
Saint Sebastian Parish is located at 4921 N. 1400 Blvd., Mt. Carmel, IL 62863, in the heart of rural Wabash County. The parish office can be reached at (618) 262-5337 or by email at [email protected]. The parish's main online presence is its WordPress website and its Facebook page, where daily devotions are livestreamed.
- Address: 4921 N. 1400 Blvd., Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
- Phone: 618-262-5337
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://saintsebastianparish.wordpress.com/
- Facebook: Saint Sebastian Parish (livestream devotions)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Charles Brumleve1919–
Assigned to the parish in 1919; brought his sister Estella from Teutopolis (who married Herman Berberich) and left a photographic record of early parish life.