On the east side of Mascoutah, Illinois, Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church has gathered the Catholic faithful of the community and surrounding farms and small towns since 1857. The brick and timber church those first parishioners built was replaced in 1882 by the considerably larger building the parish still uses today. Together with St. Liborius Parish of St. Libory, with which it has been linked in formal partnership since April 2, 2013, Holy Childhood serves Catholics across southern St. Clair County under the Diocese of Belleville.
The parish runs a Pre-K through grade 8 school, a long-running family-based faith formation program for public-school families, both an adult choir and a children's choir, and a busy calendar of ministries for men, women, youth, scouts, and recovering Catholics. Holy Childhood offers daily Mass several days a week, two weekly confession times, and a pair of adoration hours. Visitors can register as parishioners online or in the rectory office, and the parish publishes weekly bulletins, an online calendar, and short written reflections from the pastor.
A Parish Rooted in 1857
Holy Childhood traces its beginnings to 1857, when Catholic families in Mascoutah and the surrounding towns pooled their labor and donations to build a brick and timber church with seating for sixty families. Two years later, those same families opened Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic School, beginning a tradition of Catholic education that continues on the parish grounds today.
The first church filled up almost immediately, and in 1882 the parishioners replaced it with the substantially larger building that still stands at 419 East Church Street. In 1932 the parish celebrated two milestones at once, the Diamond Jubilee of its founding and the Golden Jubilee of the present church, by publishing a souvenir booklet that remains an important record of the parish's early decades. A digital copy of that 1932 souvenir book is still available from the parish.
For more than a century and a half, Holy Childhood has served the area under the Diocese of Belleville. The current pastor, Reverend Mark D. Stec, has served the parish since 2023. A Chicago native, he graduated from Loyola University and St. Mary of the Lake - Mundelein Seminary and was ordained in 1988 by Bishop James Keleher. He works alongside Deacon Daniel R. Cozzi, a former Air Force officer with degrees from the United States Air Force Academy, St. Meinrad School of Theology, and Regis University, who has served as the parish's permanent deacon and pastoral minister since his ordination in 2018 by Bishop Edward Braxton.
Mass, Reconciliation, and Adoration
Mass at Holy Childhood follows a regular weekly rhythm that is shared between the two parishes of the partnership. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:00 AM at Holy Childhood. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday Masses are at 8:00 AM in the church. There is no Monday Mass. Wednesday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 AM at St. Liborius in nearby St. Libory. Saturday's evening Mass is at 5:00 PM at Holy Childhood, except on the first Saturday of the month, when it moves to St. Liborius. Masses are livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM and Saturday afternoon from 4:00 to 4:45 PM, or by appointment.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. A third adoration hour is added on the second Saturday of each month, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. Anyone who would like to commit to a specific hour of prayer during these windows can sign up through the rectory.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed on Tuesdays at 11:30 AM and on Fridays immediately after the morning Mass.
The Seven Sacraments
Holy Childhood prepares members for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is offered both after and during Mass, with online and printable registration forms available. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through Faith Family Catechesis in conjunction with Holy Childhood School, with separate Confirmation preparation offered for older students. Reconciliation can be received during the scheduled times listed above or by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick is celebrated communally within Mass once a month, and Father Mark encourages anyone facing grave illness or surgery to call the rectory.
Marriage preparation begins with a Wedding Preparation Overview and includes Pre Cana, the diocesan marriage retreat that helps engaged couples prepare for married life. Funeral Planning resources help families select readings, petitions, and arrange the music and details of a Catholic funeral. Holy Orders information is available for men discerning a call to the priesthood, with a diocesan vocations contact listed, and the parish invites members to pray a Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood each day.
Becoming Catholic Through OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults is the formal path for adults who wish to enter the Catholic Church, return to active practice, or simply learn more about the faith. Holy Childhood's OCIA program typically begins in late September and runs through Easter, meeting every Sunday in the Parish Center at 9:00 AM and finishing around 10:15 AM, just before the 10:00 AM Mass moves into its closing hymn. The classes are free, and Catholics who want a refresher are welcome to attend as well. Father Mark and Deacon Dan both serve as points of contact.
OCIA walks inquirers through the Rite of Acceptance, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Sending, the Rite of Election at St. Peter's Cathedral in Belleville, the Lenten Scrutinies, the Easter Vigil (when the elect receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist), and the period of Mystagogy that follows. The parish is also looking for sponsors and team members to walk alongside inquirers. An OCIA intake form is available online and in printable form.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Faith Family Catechesis, formerly known as PSR, is the parish's family-based religious education program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade who attend public school. Families learn together at home using textbooks and an e-learning platform, with monthly parish gatherings for service projects and faith enrichment. The Coordinator of Religious Education, Wendy Uhl, oversees the program. The sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation are celebrated in conjunction with Holy Childhood School, and continuing formation after Confirmation is offered in the High School program.
Middle schoolers have their own space through Bosco Nights, a monthly social club open to all sixth through eighth graders in the parish, whether they attend Holy Childhood School, Mascoutah Middle School, or homeschool. The group gathers for food, fellowship, and faith, with details shared through the Bosco Nights Facebook group.
High school youth continue their formation in two tracks. Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Parish Center basement at 7:00 PM for teen nights. Decision Point offers a Sunday formation track for teens who want to dig deeper into the meaning of Confirmation, framed around becoming the best version of oneself. Luke 18 rounds out the youth offerings.
The parish also sponsors Cub Scouts for boys in first through fifth grade and Boy Scouts for those in sixth grade through age eighteen. A Vacation Bible School is hosted each summer by three Mascoutah community churches, of which Holy Childhood is one; teachers are always welcome.
Adult formation includes Adult Education on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, the Cursillo movement, Small Christian Communities, Teams of Our Lady for married couples who meet monthly, and Men's Ministry, which gathers on the second Saturday of each month at 7:00 AM in the Parish Center for fellowship, food, prayer, and discussion of contemporary issues and the Catholic faith.
Music at Holy Childhood
Music is a living part of parish worship. The Adult Choir rehearses every Wednesday at 7:15 PM from September through May in the choir loft, singing at the 10:00 AM Mass on the second, fourth, and occasional fifth Sundays of the month. The choir also sings for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Holy Week, holy day evening services, and Thanksgiving morning. New members are always welcome.
Praising Voices, the children's choir directed by Dr. Steve Gibson, provides music for weekday Masses attended by Holy Childhood School students and for occasional Sundays such as Catholic Schools Week. Boys and girls in fifth through eighth grade who attend the school are invited to join, with practice held during the school day.
Liturgy and Worship Ministries
The Mass at Holy Childhood is supported by a wide circle of lay volunteers. Altar servers begin in fifth grade and commit to about one to two hours per month, with training provided. Lectors proclaim the readings at Mass, typically serving one Mass a month. Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers assist with distribution of Holy Communion and may visit the sick and homebound to bring Communion to those unable to attend Mass. Ushers help with seating, the collection, the Communion procession, and bulletins, committing roughly an hour every two to six months. Greeters welcome parishioners before Mass. Gift Bearers, usually families, bring the gifts to the altar during Mass. Breaking Open the Word gathers adults who help children ages three through third grade engage with the Scripture readings at Mass through music and storytelling, a 25 minute commitment about every other month. On the first Sunday of each month, Welcome Sunday teams serve coffee, donuts, and juice after the 10:00 AM Mass.
Catholic in Recovery
Catholic in Recovery is a weekly fellowship for anyone seeking community and support for recovery from addiction, compulsions, or other unhealthy attachments. The group meets Monday evenings at Holy Childhood and walks through the twelve steps alongside the sacraments and the Word of God. Deacon Dan and the rectory connect anyone interested with the program.
Parish Organizations and Social Life
The Holy Childhood Council of Catholic Women brings together the women of the parish, meeting on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May in the Parish Center. Through fundraising, the council provides the vestments, altar bread, wine, and flowers needed for the parish's liturgical celebrations, and the group belongs to the Belleville Diocesan CCW.
The local Knights of Columbus council meets at 7:30 PM on the second Thursday of each month in the Parish Center. The Quilters gather on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and on Thursdays from 1:00 to 4:00 PM to learn the craft and create quilts, many of which are donated to the parish picnic.
A Prayer Chain carries prayer intentions quietly through the parish. A Bereavement ministry accompanies families through the loss of a loved one and works alongside the parish Funeral Planning resources. A Parish Directory, updated approximately every five years, helps members stay connected across the parish.
Community Outreach
Holy Childhood partners with the wider Mascoutah community through several ongoing outreach efforts. The Mascoutah Food Pantry is operated by Concerned Christians with the assistance of local churches, including Holy Childhood. The parish also partners with the American Red Cross to host quarterly blood drives in the Parish Center. Volunteers collect meals from the Mascoutah Senior Center and deliver them to homebound neighbors through Meals on Wheels. The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides corporal and spiritual works of mercy through donations, helping with food, utilities, prescription drugs, rent, and other urgent needs, and meeting on the second Monday of each month in the Parish Center.
The Parish Partnership with St. Liborius
Since April 2, 2013, Holy Childhood has been formally linked in partnership with St. Liborius Parish of St. Libory under Bishop Edward K. Braxton. The partnership means that the Wednesday morning Mass and the first Saturday evening Mass take place at St. Liborius rather than Holy Childhood, and the two parishes share resources across ministries. Members of either parish are welcome at celebrations in both churches.
Holy Childhood of Jesus School
Holy Childhood of Jesus School offers a Catholic-based education for Pre-K through eighth grade on the parish grounds. The school shares preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation with the parish's Faith Family Catechesis program, and members of its choir, Praising Voices, sing at weekday Masses attended by the students. A School Board provides governance, and the parish celebrates Catholic Schools Week each year as a highlight of the school's role in parish life.
Communications and Resources
The parish publishes weekly bulletins and a current calendar, and short written reflections from Father Mark appear regularly to walk members through the Sunday readings and the feasts of the liturgical year. Communications go out through Flocknote, the parish's email and text messaging system, and parishioners can set up a free Formed account for Catholic films, audio, and study programs. The parish has access to Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire video library, Franciscan at Home for personal and professional development, the online Catechism of the Catholic Church, daily Mass readings from the USCCB, and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Supporting the Parish
Holy Childhood offers online giving through a dedicated donation portal, accepts payments for Faith Family Catechesis and Pre Cana, and provides information for parishioners considering charitable bequests, charitable gift annuities, and beneficiary designations through retirement plans, life insurance, and other financial accounts. A short history of the parish and a 1932 Double Jubilee souvenir book are also available to read online.
Pastoral Leadership
Father Mark Stec, a Chicago native who graduated from Loyola University and St. Mary of the Lake - Mundelein Seminary, has served as pastor since 2023. Deacon Dan Cozzi, a former Air Force officer with degrees from the United States Air Force Academy, St. Meinrad School of Theology, and Regis University, has served the parish as pastoral minister since his ordination in 2018. Together with the parish staff, the Pastoral and Finance Councils, the school board, and the many ministries that keep the parish running week to week, they tend the parish that the founders of 1857 first brought to life in Mascoutah.