About St. Theresa of Avila · Salem, Illinois
St. Theresa of Avila is a Roman Catholic parish in Salem, Illinois, founded in 1868 to serve the small Catholic community of Marion County. It is part of the Diocese of Belleville and today shares pastoral ministry as a partnered cluster with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kinmundy and St. Stephen in Flora, served by the Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM (a Montfort Missionary). The parish is known for its strong tradition of lay involvement, its food pantry and community outreach, and its historical roots tied to the early Catholic settlers who arrived with the Mississippi and Ohio Railroad (later the B&O) in the 1850s.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Theresa of Avila
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jose Jacob, SMM, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Belleville
Why belong here
St. Theresa of Avila is a warm, multi-generational parish of nearly 300 families rooted in Salem for more than 155 years. Worship is offered Saturday evening and on Wednesday and Friday mornings, with weekday Adoration on Wednesday and the Rosary prayed after Friday Mass. The parish is deeply engaged in the wider Salem community through its food pantry, regular blood drives, work with the Ministerial Alliance, the Elks' Hungry Hearts summer food program, and the local pregnancy center, supported by an active Men's Club, Knights of Columbus, and Avila League Ladies. As part of a tri-parish cluster with Kinmundy and Flora, it combines the intimacy of a small-town Catholic community with the resources of a shared pastoral team.
Mass times at St. Theresa of Avila
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:40 a.m.
- By appointment (call 618-548-0899)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (begins with recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
Parish History
St. Theresa of Avila was founded in 1868 on South Washington Street in Salem for the eight Catholic families that made up the tiny parish. Its origins trace to the Catholic settlers who arrived on the Mississippi and Ohio (B&O) Railroad between 1850 and 1855 and originally worshipped at Odin parishes. The original frame church was virtually rebuilt in 1922 with stucco and two new wings, and in 1940 the present church at West Main and Ohio streets was constructed under the parish's first resident pastor, Father A. B. Schomaker. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1968 and now numbers nearly 300 families.
- 1866: Jacob and Emma Chance deed land on South Washington Street
- 1868: First frame church dedicated; parish named St. Theresa of Avila
- 1872–1876: Served by priests from Fayetteville
- 1876–1878: Served by priests from Centralia (first stint)
- 1876–1907: Served by priests from Flora
- 1907–1922: Served by priests from Sandoval
- 1922: Church rebuilt in stucco with two wings added
- 1922–1940: Centralia priests serve again
- 1940: First resident pastor, Rev. A. B. Schomaker; present church built at West Main and Ohio
- 1955: Parish school and convent dedicated (88 students initially)
- 1965: Fourth classroom added
- 1967: Renovation for Vatican II liturgical changes begins
- 1968: 100th anniversary celebrated with 104 registered families
- 1969: School closed after parish loses teaching sisters
- 1977: School reopens as new industry brings Catholic families
- 1997: Full-day kindergarten and latchkey program added
- 2013: Catholic Extension grant brings Sr. Mary Catherine Clark, ASC, as Director of Religious Formation
- 2018: Sr. Mary Catherine's service ends
- 2019: School closes due to low enrollment
Religious Communities Who Served the Parish
A remarkable feature of St. Theresa's history is the succession of women's religious communities who staffed its school and catechetical programs. Their work shaped the parish's faith formation for nearly a century.
- Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ – assisted with vacation schools in 1935 and 1937 from Centralia
- Felician Sisters – took over catechetics in Salem in 1940
- Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) – staffed the school after 1955
- School Sisters of Notre Dame – also served the school in later years
- Sister Mary Catherine Clark, ASC – Director of Religious Formation 2013–2018, supported by a Catholic Extension Society grant
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Theresa of Avila offers weekend Mass on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m., with weekday Mass on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The parish also devotes Wednesday mornings to Eucharistic Adoration and Friday mornings to the Rosary, giving parishioners regular opportunities for prayer beyond the Sunday obligation.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m. (St. Theresa, Salem)
- Wednesday Mass: 9:00 a.m. (St. Theresa, Salem)
- Friday Mass: 9:00 a.m., followed by the Rosary (St. Theresa, Salem)
- Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., opening with the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish operates a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program coordinated by Mandy Buhnerkempe for St. Theresa families and by Brittney Kramer for families of partnered parish St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kinmundy. Recent faith formation leadership has also been supported through a Catholic Extension Society grant, most recently bringing Sister Mary Catherine Clark, ASC, to serve as Director of Religious Formation from 2013 to 2018.
- PSR Coordinator – St. Theresa: Mandy Buhnerkempe (618-531-2369)
- PSR Coordinator – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Brittney Kramer
- Director of Religious Formation (2013–2018): Sister Mary Catherine Clark, ASC
Outreach and Community Service
True to its founding ethos that 'the church is not a building but a people empowered by the Holy Spirit,' St. Theresa is deeply engaged in serving Salem and Marion County. Lay organizations sustain a robust program of social outreach, including a church food pantry, regular blood drives, and partnerships with civic groups.
- Men's Club – parish fundraising and service
- Knights of Columbus – parish fundraising and service
- Avila League (Ladies) – parish fundraising and service
- Church food pantry
- Regular community blood drives
- Partnership with the area Ministerial Alliance for community food pantry work
- Support for the Elks' Club Hungry Hearts summer food program
- Support for the local pregnancy center
School and Convent (Historical)
St. Theresa once operated a parish school and convent dedicated in 1955. The school served the wider Salem community for many years, with religious sisters from the ASC, Felician, and School Sisters of Notre Dame communities teaching successive generations. After closing in 1969 it reopened in 1977, expanded with a full-day kindergarten and latchkey program by 1997, and ultimately closed again in 2019 due to low enrollment.
- 1955: School and convent dedicated under Fr. Schomaker
- 1965: Fourth classroom added
- 1969: School closed
- 1977: School reopens
- 1997: Full-day kindergarten and latchkey program added
- 2019: School closed due to low enrollment
Parish Office and Facilities
The parish office is at 180 North Ohio, Salem, IL 62881, open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; visitors are asked to ring the doorbell. The parish complex includes the present church at the corner of West Main and Ohio streets, a parish center and gymnasium, a rectory, and a remodeled parish office and meeting house.
- Parish office: 180 North Ohio, Salem, IL 62881
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- Phone: 618-548-0899
- Fax: 618-548-0269
- Present church: 812 N. Main St. (corner of West Main and Ohio)
- Buildings: church, parish center/gymnasium, rectory, parish office, meeting house
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 618-548-0899 during office hours (Mon–Thu, 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.) or by fax at 618-548-0269. The parish office mailing address is 812 W. Main St., Salem, IL 62881.
- Phone: 618-548-0899
- Fax: 618-548-0269
- Office: 180 North Ohio, Salem, IL 62881
- Mailing: 812 W. Main St., Salem, IL 62881
- Website: avilaseton.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Priests from Fayetteville1872–1876
Mission priests serving the parish from a neighboring town before it had a resident pastor.
- Priests from Centralia1876–1878
First of two periods when Centralia pastors served St. Theresa.
- Priests from Sandoval1907–1922
During their tenure the original frame church was rebuilt with stucco and wings in 1922.
- Priests from Centralia1922–1940
Second period of service from Centralia; parish grew but still had no resident priest.
- Rev. A. B. Schomaker1940–
First resident pastor of St. Theresa, appointed June 1940; oversaw construction of the present church at West Main and Ohio, the 1954–55 parish school and convent, and decades of growth.