About St. Teresa of Avila (Marydale) · Carlyle, Illinois
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church (Marydale) is a rural Roman Catholic parish located six miles north of Carlyle on Illinois Route 127, in rural Clinton County, Illinois. Although the hamlet of Marydale is not on most maps, the parish has served its farming community for more than a century and identifies proudly as part of the North Central Deanery of the Diocese of Belleville. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m., and the parish is currently administered by Rev. Deva Ubbarapu through a partnership with neighboring parishes.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Avila
- Rector
- Rev. Deva Ubbarapu (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Teresa of Avila, Marydale offers a small, rooted Catholic community in rural Clinton County where generations of farm families have worshipped for more than a hundred years. The parish keeps the traditional seven-day-a-week rhythm of Catholic life alive with two weekend Masses, parish-wide events such as the annual Fall Drive-Thru Chicken Dinner and quilt raffle, and shared faith-formation programming with its partner parishes. Newcomers can easily get connected by filling out a New Parishioner Form and contacting the parish office to join the mailing list and set up contribution envelopes.
Mass times at St. Teresa of Avila (Marydale)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Upon request, before or after Masses
Parish Identity & Welcome
The parish community of St. Teresa, Marydale, sits in rural Clinton County about six miles north of Carlyle on Illinois Route 127. The parish describes itself proudly as part of the North Central Deanery of the Diocese of Belleville, in the United States, in the universal Roman Catholic Church. New parishioners can contact Denise, the Administrative Assistant, at 618-594-3266 or [email protected] to get on the mailing list and set up contribution envelopes; a New Parishioner Form is also available to drop in the collection basket.
- Mailing address: 18021 Marydale Road, Carlyle, IL 62231
- Office contact: Denise Sinclair, Administrative Assistant
- New Parishioner Form available for the collection basket
- Parish Facebook: @MarydaleStTeresa
Church History
St. Teresa of Avila, Marydale, was established in 1919 when Bishop Henry Althoff of Belleville formally organized the 'new congregation at Irishtown' and personally suggested St. Teresa as the patron. A five-acre site on the Greenville Road was donated by Mr. John Schaefer, the former St. Edward's Church of Keyesport was moved there by Hagen Bros. Construction, and the first Mass was celebrated April 7, 1920, followed by a formal rededication on June 20, 1920. Father Edmund Niess served as founding pastor and in 1925 built the parish school.
- 1919: Parish formally established by Bishop Henry Althoff
- October 14, 1919: Althoff's letter to Rev. Edmund Niess naming St. Teresa as patron
- 1920: Relocated St. Edward's Church rededicated as 'Marydale Church'
- 1925: Parish school built under Father Niess for $5,000
- Rectory added under Father Immeth for $3,500
- Origins in St. Edward's, Keyesport (organized 1907 by Fr. J. Munier of St. Lawrence, Sandoval)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is administered by Rev. Deva Ubbarapu and served liturgically by Deacon John R. Hempen. Denise Sinclair serves as Administrative Assistant. The parish shares clergy with its partner parishes of St. Mary, Carlyle; St. Mary, Centralia; and St. Lawrence, Sandoval, in the North Central Deanery.
- Administrator: Rev. Deva Ubbarapu
- Deacon: John R. Hempen (314-304-3375)
- Administrative Assistant: Denise Sinclair
- Partner parishes: St. Mary, Carlyle; St. Mary, Centralia; St. Lawrence, Sandoval
Mass & Sacraments Schedule
Weekend Mass at St. Teresa of Avila, Marydale, is offered twice each weekend: Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available upon request, before or after Masses. Sacramental blessings such as the Blessing of Candles & Throats on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord are scheduled in the parish bulletin.
- Saturday (Vigil) Mass: 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: upon request, before or after Mass
- Blessing of Candles & Throats on the Feast of the Presentation
- Weekday Masses celebrated at partner parish St. Mary, Carlyle
Parish Life & Fundraisers
Despite its small size, St. Teresa of Avila, Marydale, runs a notably active social calendar anchored by its famous Drive-Thru Chicken Dinners (with homemade dressing, desserts and a quilt raffle). The parish regularly advertises these events through local media such as WGEL Radio and the Belleville News-Democrat. Through its partnership with St. Mary, Carlyle, parishioners also participate in KC Chicken Dinners, Basket Bingos, Lenten Clothing Drives and other community fundraisers.
- Drive-Thru Chicken Dinner (multiple times per year; typical hours 11 a.m.–4 p.m., $15/meal)
- Quilt raffle at the Chicken Dinner
- Lenten Clothing Drive (March, drop-off at St. Mary Parish Center)
- Knight of Columbus Hall / Columbian Club, Carlyle, used for partnered events
Faith Formation & Parish Partnership
Faith formation for the parish's children is offered through the partnered-parish program with St. Mary, Carlyle, with classes typically meeting on Wednesday evenings. The two parishes share bulletins, calendars, and sacramental preparation, and they cooperate on outreach initiatives including the annual Lenten Clothing Drive.
- Faith Formation: Wednesday evenings, 6:30–7:30 p.m. (shared with St. Mary, Carlyle)
- All Saints Academy partnership with other local Catholic schools
- Outreach: Lenten Clothing Drive (drop-off March 11–15 at St. Mary Parish Center)
How to Join & Contact
Anyone interested in becoming a parishioner can reach out to the parish office by phone at 618-594-3266 or by email at [email protected] to be added to the mailing list and to arrange contribution envelopes. The New Parishioner Form on the parish site can also be dropped in the collection basket at Mass. The office can help with scheduling baptisms, weddings, and other sacraments.
- Phone: 618-594-3266
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 18021 Marydale Road, Carlyle, IL 62231
- New Parishioner Form: downloadable from stteresamarydale.com
Patron Saint — St. Teresa of Avila
The parish is named for St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582), the Spanish Carmelite mystic, reformer and Doctor of the Church whose liturgical memorial is celebrated on October 15. Bishop Althoff specifically suggested her as patron in his 1919 founding letter because her feast fell on the day after he wrote.
- Feast Day: October 15
- Titles: Virgin and Doctor of the Church
- Birth: March 28, 1515, Ávila, Spain
- Death: October 4/15, 1582, Alba de Tormes
- Founder of the Discalced Carmelite reform
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edmund Niess1919–
Founding pastor; in 1919 Bishop Althoff granted him authority to organize the Irishtown/Marydale congregation, and under him the former St. Edward's Church of Keyesport was moved to the new site, with first Mass on April 7, 1920 and rededication on June 20, 1920. He also built the parish school in 1925 for $5,000.
- Father Immeth
Pastor during construction of the rectory at a cost of $3,500.