About St. Stephen · Flora, Illinois
St. Stephen is a historic Catholic parish in Flora, Illinois, established in 1854 — the same year the city of Flora itself was founded in Clay County. It is one of the older Catholic communities in southern Illinois and belongs to the Diocese of Belleville. The parish sits at 812 N. Main Street in Flora and is currently led by Very Rev. Jacob Jose, SMM, V.F., a Montfort Missionary priest from India who also serves the partnered parishes of St. Theresa of Avila in Salem and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kinmundy. Weekend Mass is offered Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with daily Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, plus regular Eucharistic Adoration and a strong tradition of Marian devotion.
- Established
- 1854
- Patron
- St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jacob Jose, SMM, V.F. (Fr. Jose Jacob)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Stephen is a small-town Catholic parish where everyone knows one another and where the faith is lived out across generations. Visitors will find a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Mass, regular Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and Fridays, frequent Confession, and devotions like the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Servite Rosary. The parish runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) on Sundays, RCIA for adults, a Knights of Columbus council, an Altar Society, and an annual Christmas Cookie Walk that supports the local food pantry and the Guadalupe Project. As Fr. Jose Jacob writes, the cluster of parishes is called to be 'a family of faith' where, in the words of Pope Leo XIV, 'In Christ we are all one.'
Mass times at St. Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM
- Wednesday after Mass (per older bulletin)
- Additional times by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 7:00 PM – Midnight
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM
About St. Stephen Parish
St. Stephen is a Roman Catholic parish established in 1854 in Flora, Illinois, the seat of Clay County in southern Illinois. It is part of the Diocese of Belleville and shares its pastor with two partner parishes — St. Theresa of Avila in Salem and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kinmundy. The church is located at 812 N. Main Street and serves as the spiritual home for Catholic families across Flora and the surrounding rural communities.
History
Founded the same year as the city of Flora itself (1854), St. Stephen has been a fixture of Catholic life in Clay County for more than 170 years. Over the decades the parish has been served by diocesan priests and, most recently, by members of the Company of Mary (Montfort Missionaries). Fr. Charles Anyaoku served as Pastoral Administrator in the late 2010s, and in 2022 Fr. Jose Jacob, SMM, returned to the diocese to lead the Flora–Salem–Kinmundy cluster of parishes.
- Founded 1854
- Prior administrator: Fr. Charles Anyaoku
- Current administrator (since 2022): Very Rev. Jacob Jose, SMM, V.F.
Pastor & Staff
The parish is administered by Very Rev. Jacob Jose, SMM, V.F., a Montfort Missionary from Kerala, India, ordained in 1986. He is supported by a small lay staff and ministry coordinators.
- Administrator: Very Rev. Jacob Jose, SMM, V.F.
- Parish Secretary: Laura Anderson
- PSR Coordinator: Paul Duquaine
- RCIA Coordinator: Cheryl McCarty
- Music Director: Diane Briscoe
- Sacristan: Sam Pierce
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Stephen runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) for parish children and an RCIA program for adults seeking to enter or return to the Catholic Church.
- PSR classes — Sundays 9:30–10:30 AM (Coordinator: Paul Duquaine)
- RCIA — Coordinator: Cheryl McCarty (815-343-1502)
- Young Adult / High School group — videos and discussion on topics of faith
Ministries, Organizations & Outreach
Parishioners are involved in a wide range of ministries, councils, and community outreach efforts — from the Knights of Columbus to the annual Cookie Walk that supports local charities.
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st Wednesday, 7:00 PM
- Altar Society
- Pastoral Council — meets 4th Wednesday, 7:00 PM
- Finance Committee — meets 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 PM
- Food Pantry Collection — first weekend of the month (benefits Clay County Ministerial Alliance)
- Annual Christmas Cookie Walk & Basket Raffle (proceeds to local food pantry and the Guadalupe Project)
- Liturgical ministries: altar servers, lectors, commentators, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are made available to parishioners and visitors; contact the parish office for preparation and scheduling.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion & Confirmation
- Reconciliation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick & Care of the Sick
- Holy Orders / Vocations
Partnered Parishes (Cluster)
St. Stephen Flora shares its pastor with two other parishes in the Diocese of Belleville, forming a cluster of three rural parishes in southern Illinois.
- St. Theresa of Avila — Salem, IL
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton — Kinmundy, IL
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office during posted hours; the church is open for scheduled Masses, Adoration, devotions, and by appointment.
- Address: 812 N. Main Street, Flora, IL 62839
- Parish Office: 618-662-8121
- Rectory: 618-662-6261
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ststephenflora.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles Anyaokuthrough at least 2019
Listed as Pastoral Administrator / Rev. Father Charles Anyaoku in 2019 parish bulletin; oversaw daily parish life, sacraments, and partnered-parish coordination from the Flora rectory.
- Very Rev. Jacob Jose, SMM, V.F.2022–present
Montfort Missionary priest from Kerala, India; returned to Diocese of Belleville in 2022 and now serves St. Stephen Flora alongside St. Theresa of Avila (Salem) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Kinmundy).