At 155 N Main Street in Glen Carbon, Illinois, St. Cecilia Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish known for joining worship with formation for every age and practical service to neighbors. The parish names the center of its work with four words: Formation, Prayer, Hospitality and Service. Its stated mission is to build a fervent community of intentional missionary disciples and steadfast stewards of God's creation by practicing those four pillars. Parish life moves from the church and Family Life Center into homes, classrooms, the food pantry, volunteer groups and a continuing relationship with a sister parish in Haiti.
From the Frame Schoolhouse to Glen Carbon Road
In 1925, Father Charles A. Meagher, a young Irish priest, was assigned to work with his uncle, Father Charles A. O'Reilly, who was then pastor of St. Mary's Church in Edwardsville. Filled with enthusiasm to spread God's word, Fr. Meagher began offering Mass on Sunday mornings in an old frame schoolhouse in Glen Carbon. He envisioned a dedicated Catholic church for the community, took a census of the Catholic population and used the resulting figures to demonstrate both sufficient need and financial support for a parish. He petitioned Bishop James A. Griffin for permission to establish it, and in January 1926 the bishop granted approval.
The location chosen for the new parish was on the highest spot at the southern entrance to the village. A small Spanish-style church was completed and dedicated on June 24, 1927, when the parish consisted of 62 families. According to the story of the parish's name, Fr. Meagher suggested St. Cecilia after hearing the first choir perform. The choice was especially fitting because St. Cecilia is the patroness of liturgical music.
St. Cecilia marked its 50th anniversary as a parish in 1976. Working with the parish advisory board, leaders acquired a 14.5-acre tract along Glen Carbon Road just north of I-270. Fr. William J. Stanley, the fifth resident pastor, offered the first Mass in the new church on May 24, 1980. Bishop McNicholas served as celebrant at the formal dedication on May 31, 1981. The original church building, which had served the parish for more than five decades, was dismantled in December 1980.
Mass, Reconciliation and Hours of Prayer
The sacred liturgy and the celebration of the sacraments stand at the center of St. Cecilia's parish life. The regular weekly worship schedule includes:
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
- Monday Mass: 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday through Friday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
On the third weekend of each month, the Rosary is prayed for 30 minutes before each Mass. Confession is offered Monday from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by appointment.
First Friday devotion includes visits to homebound parishioners from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by an evening hour from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. combining the Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer and adoration. First Saturday devotion begins with Confession and the Rosary at 7:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 8:00 a.m., Exposition and Benediction at 8:30 a.m., and adoration from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During Lent, Confession is offered at 5:30 p.m. before Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m.
Music gives the liturgy a central role, reflecting St. Cecilia's patronage of musicians. Cantors, choir members and instrumentalists contribute to worship, while altar servers, greeters, lectors, gift bearers, ushers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion assist in other liturgical roles. The Art and Environment ministry uses flowers, fabric, statuary, color and design to prepare the church for the liturgical year and particular celebrations. Children's worship aids are available in the vestibule, giving younger worshippers ways to participate alongside their families.
The parish office at 155 N Main Street is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Its telephone number is 618-288-3200.
Formation for Children, Parents and Adults
St. Cecilia presents religious education as a personal obligation that continues after the reception of the sacraments and throughout adulthood. Its formation programs encourage people to study the Bible in light of the Catholic faith, learn the teachings of the Church, use Catholic media and retreats, and deepen their relationship with God. Intergenerational programs bring together children, teens, young adults, parents, adults, seniors, grandparents and older adults for shared learning and fellowship.
Family Faith Formation welcomes families with children from birth through 12th grade, whether children attend public, parochial or home schools. Sunday classes meet between the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Masses, from 9:35 to 10:45 a.m. in the Family Life Center, from September through early May. Seven age-based groups meet there: birth to pre-K, K-1, grades 2-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-8, high school and parents. Parent classes also meet Monday at 7:00 p.m. or Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
The family program is intentionally inclusive rather than a drop-off model. On approximately one-fourth of the Sundays, parents teach at home. On several others, the parish gathers in the Parish Hall for an intergenerational event combining faith, fun and fellowship. Parent participation is treated as essential because parents are the primary witnesses in the faith lives of their children. Catechists and adult volunteers support the classes, with the Diocese of Springfield providing ongoing training and materials.
Parishioners also have access to FORMED, a subscription service offering Catholic movies, audio books, podcasts, radio talks and studies. Access was made possible through a grant from the Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope Capital Campaign. The parish supplements it with resources for Sunday worship, family prayer, parent formation, marriage, parenting, online safety, confession and Catholic life at different ages.
A Sacramental Life with Preparation
St. Cecilia provides catechetical preparation for each of the sacraments. Baptismal preparation includes special instruction for parents, with an appointment arranged before a child's birth. The parish prepares couples for Holy Matrimony, arranges the Anointing of the Sick and provides a preparation meeting with the priest when an Order of Christian Funerals is scheduled. Families preparing for Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion follow parish and diocesan requirements.
In the Diocese of Springfield's restored order, the sacraments of Christian initiation for children follow the sequence of Baptism, Confirmation and Communion. Second-grade students prepare for and receive their First Reconciliation at St. Cecilia. Third-grade students receive Confirmation and First Eucharist together from the bishop at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Students prepare together regardless of whether they attend a parochial, public or home school.
Adults seeking full membership in the Church can participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, which meets Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. The process moves from asking questions and seeking the faith through involvement with Catholic people, hearing the Gospel, study, discussion, prayer and discernment toward commitment and the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. It welcomes adults who have not been baptized, baptized Catholics who have not received Eucharist or Confirmation, and people married to Catholics who are considering full membership.
Adult Studies meet Monday at 7:00 p.m. or Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and include Bible studies and topics such as the Mass, Mary, Church history and the Creed. RENEW, a Wednesday morning group meeting at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center, centers its discussion on the coming Sunday's Gospel. The parish also offers Christ Renews His Parish, a personal and parish spiritual-renewal process for Catholics to share faith and grow in understanding of God's work.
Young people have dedicated opportunities at St. Cecilia. IGNITE serves students in grades 9 through 12 on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., while FUEL gathers middle-school students in grades 6 through 8 for social and spiritual activities. Totus Tuus is a week-long summer parish-mission program for students in grades 1 through 12. The parish's Catholic school connections include Saint John Neumann Catholic School for pre-K through grade 8 and Father McGivney Catholic High School for grades 9 through 12.
Pastor Rev. Donald Patrick Gibbons was ordained on December 7, 1991. He is described as passionate about reaching people through God's love, attentive to the Lord in all aspects of life and especially committed to Scripture in sermons, classes and action. Jenifer Lohmann serves as parish catechetical leader, Joseph Zagorski serves as deacon and leads the Vocations Team's outreach, and Andrea Bakos directs music ministry.
Four Pillars at Work
Formation and Prayer
The Formation Ministry seeks to deepen conversion by studying the Bible and learning more about Jesus and the Catholic faith. Its four branches are intergenerational, adult, family and youth formation. These programs are supported by catechists, prayer ministries and a wide collection of Catholic media and study resources.
The Prayer Ministry prepares the celebrations of the sacraments and other occasions for prayer as signs of hope and paths of grace. The Mary and Martha Team prepares liturgies, devotions and sacraments with care. Prayer Warriors pray for requests brought to the parish, while the Vocations Team encourages prayer for priestly, religious and married life. A Pro-Life Team leads the parish in prayer for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
Hospitality
Hospitality is expressed through welcome, fellowship and care at moments of joy and sorrow. The Welcome Committee works to give visitors a friendly, inviting experience and also sends cards to parishioners during times of welcome, joy or sorrow. The Fellowship Team plans social events for the parish and small groups. On the first Sunday of each month except during Lent, coffee and donuts are served in the Parish Hall after the morning liturgies.
The Funeral Luncheon Team prepares, serves and cleans up after meals for bereaved families, while the annual chicken dinner is organized by its own committee. Together these groups make food, conversation and shared time part of the parish's welcome. Giving is also available through secure online giving, with one-time or recurring gifts and the ability to direct donations to a chosen fund.
Service
Service begins close to home. The food pantry provides free groceries to people who live locally. It is located downstairs in St. Cecilia's Parish Hall, and volunteers serve every Wednesday, shopping for and stocking the shelves before distributing bags of food. Local groups and individuals support the pantry through food and monetary donations. The pantry's presence in the church makes charity a visible part of parish life rather than a separate activity.
Other service ministries focus on practical work and fellowship. Campus Care volunteers help maintain the church grounds. Quilters meet every week in the Family Life Center to make quilts that are raffled for fundraising or offered for sale; those who can hand-sew can learn the craft, and no previous experience is required. Rosary Makers meet monthly for the same purpose and share a potluck lunch. The first Friday homebound-visitation ministry brings the Church's care directly to parishioners who cannot come to the church.
Service also extends through the Knights of Columbus Council 13216, a Catholic family organization centered on charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Its volunteer commitments support the church, youth, families and the wider community. The Building and Grounds Committee works with the maintenance director to care for the campus and recommend needed repairs.
All adult volunteers and employees complete Safe Environment Training for Adults in the Diocese of Springfield. The training addresses the warning signs and effects of child sexual abuse, diocesan standards of conduct, policies for working with minors, prevention strategies and how to communicate concerns. Supplemental instruction covers online safety, youth trends, intervention, prevention, cyberbullying and sexting. This work is presented as part of the parish's mission to defend human life and keep children safe.
A Sister Parish in Haiti
St. Cecilia adopted a sister parish in Haiti through the Diocese of Springfield's parish-twinning program in the 1990s. Priests, parishioners and the parish deacon have traveled there to be with the community as it grows in faith and shares its life. In 2015, the sister parish's pastor was able to travel to Glen Carbon and visit St. Cecilia.
Financial and material support has helped the Haitian community build a sanctuary and school, pay teachers, purchase books and supplies and, in some cases, provide the children's only hot meal of the day. This continuing bond allows the mission of service at St. Cecilia to reach beyond its own neighborhood. It also joins the Glen Carbon parish in practical solidarity with another Catholic community.
A Parish Built on Four Pillars
St. Cecilia Catholic Church continues the work begun in the old frame schoolhouse: Sunday and weekday Mass at the center, formation across generations, hospitality through meals and cards, service in the food pantry and volunteer teams, and prayer expressed through devotions, sacraments and ministry. The parish that began with 62 families now sustains these traditions through worship, the Family Life Center, school partnerships, community outreach and its sister-parish relationship in Haiti.