A Parish Built on the Site of an Amusement Park
St. Henry Catholic Church stands on the west side of Belleville, Illinois, at 5315 West Main Street, where a carousel once turned and crowds once gathered for an evening at Priester's Amusement Park. The grounds that hosted those entertainments in the early twentieth century were purchased by Bishop Henry Althoff in 1919, and six years later, in 1925, the new parish of St. Henry was established with fifty founding families. The parish took its name from the patron saint of Bishop Althoff himself.
From those modest beginnings, St. Henry grew from a rural congregation of fifty families into a suburban parish that today hosts roughly three hundred Catholic households. The parish is part of the Diocese of Belleville and is in pastoral communion with its new bishop, the Most Reverend Godfrey Mullen, OSB, who was ordained and installed as the tenth Bishop of Belleville on May 1, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Peter. Father Kenneth York serves as pastor.
Mass Schedule and the Sunday Rhythm
The parish gathers for Mass each weekday at 8:00 am, Monday through Friday, with an additional Wednesday Mass at 10:20 am during the school year that welcomes students of Althoff Catholic High School and anyone else who wishes to attend. On Saturdays the morning Mass is celebrated at 8:00 am, and the vigil Mass for Sunday is offered at 4:00 pm. Two Sunday Masses follow at 8:30 am and 10:30 am. The 8:30 am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page for the homebound and for those unable to be present in person.
Before the 10:30 am Sunday Mass, parishioners pray the Rosary together at 10:00 am. The Sunday rosary is part of a broader Parish Rosary Program that began on February 12, 2023, in which parishioners record the number of rosaries they have prayed each week by emailing the parish secretary or dropping a slip into the collection basket. The running total is printed in the church bulletin; the parish has now recorded more than 21,000 rosaries since the program began.
Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation
Eucharistic Exposition is held in the church every Wednesday afternoon from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. At 3:00 pm the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is sung. The devotion is at the heart of St. Henry's prayer life and is described by the parish as one of the most powerful prayers a person can offer to obtain God's mercy.
From September through April, Eucharistic Adoration extends to Thursdays as well, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and adorers signed up to pray before the Lord in the monstrance for one hour or more.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated on Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45 pm, in the half hour before the vigil Mass.
The Liturgical Year and the Sacraments
St. Henry follows the universal liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Sacred Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time structure the life of the parish from year to year. During Lent the parish gathers for Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at 6:30 pm in the chapel, followed by a simple soup supper and sharing in Sacred Heart Hall.
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders. Baptism is celebrated in infancy in most cases and prepares the baptized for the sacramental life. First Communion and Confirmation are typically received through the parish school of religion program, and adult candidates prepare through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Couples preparing for marriage, families arranging the anointing of a sick relative, and Catholics discerning a vocation to the priesthood or diaconate are all accompanied by the parish staff.
Father Ken visits the local hospitals weekly to bring Communion and the Anointing of the Sick to parishioners who are ill, and Communion Calls are arranged for those who cannot easily leave home. Lay Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with both the Mass and these visits to the homebound.
Religious Education and Becoming Catholic
Faith formation for the parish's children is organized through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), supported by a dedicated Facebook page and a Director who also oversees the Giving Tree Christmas collection. Children's Liturgy of the Word is celebrated during the 10:30 am Sunday Mass from September through May for children ages three to eight, who are called forward after the opening prayer to hear the Gospel at their own level. (At present this ministry is suspended until further notice.)
Adults who wish to learn more about the Catholic faith, whether as inquirers, returning Catholics, or those preparing for full initiation, are welcomed through the OCIA process (formerly RCIA). The parish walks alongside candidates through the stages of inquiry, catechumenate, and election, with the Sacraments of Initiation typically received at the Easter Vigil. A weekly prayer for the OCIA class is included in the parish communications.
Adults who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture have several options at St. Henry. The parish holds an Adult Bible Study program and subscribes to Formed.org, a Catholic streaming platform for Bible study, video presentations, and movies. A nearby Cornerstone Scripture Study group meets weekly at St. Clare in O'Fallon, Illinois, on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 am, with childcare provided for children under seven.
Music, Lectors, and the Liturgical Team
Music at St. Henry is led by Organist and Choir Director Robert Wojcik. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Choir Loft, and choir members sing at the 11:30 am Sunday Mass as their schedules allow (in addition to other Masses). The Music Ministry welcomes new voices throughout the year. A separate Cantors ministry supports the sung parts of the liturgy.
The Worship and Spiritual Life Committee recruits, trains, and schedules the many laypeople who serve at Mass: Cantors, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Gift Bearers, Greeters, Lectors, the Children's Liturgy leaders, members of the Prayer Chain, those who lead prayer for vocations, Retreat leaders, those who pray the Rosary together, Altar Servers, and Ushers. Servers are welcomed from third grade and above, including high school teens, married couples, and adults returning to the ministry; training is provided and a commitment of once or twice a month is requested.
Prayer Groups and Devotions
Beyond the Sunday rosary and the Wednesday and Thursday adoration hours, several smaller prayer gatherings meet through the week. The Monday Night Prayer Group gathers at 7:00 pm in the Convent Chapel to read and reflect upon the upcoming Sunday's Gospel, share in the Liturgy of the Hours, and pray intercessory prayers along with an alternating rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. A Pro-Life Rosary brings the community together to pray for the sanctity of all human life from conception until natural death, with meditative hymns sung alongside the recitation. The parish also prays for vocations and maintains a Prayer Chain for personal intentions.
Parish Ministries and Service
St. Henry's ministries are organized into a wide network that touches nearly every aspect of parish life. Parish ministries include an Adult Bible Study, Cantors, Catholic Authors Book Club, Children's Liturgy, Communion Calls, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Funeral Luncheon Groups, Gift Bearers, the Giving Tree, Lectors, Ministers of Hospitality, the Parish School of Religion, Pro-Life activities, Retreats, the Rosary, Servers, St. Vincent de Paul, Visiting the Sick, Vacation Bible School, and a Welcoming Committee.
Pastoral care is offered to families through Funeral Luncheon Groups, whose volunteers prepare a meal in the parish center after a parishioner's funeral when requested by the family. The Servers and Senior Altar Server ministries assist at both Sunday and funeral Masses. A Liturgical Linen Service cares for the altar cloths and purificators.
The Pro-Life ministry carries the parish's witness beyond the church doors, with resources shared in the parish bulletin and online about restorative reproductive medicine, post-abortion healing through Project Rachel, and prayer for life from conception to natural death.
St. Vincent de Paul, the Soup Kitchen, and Outreach
Charitable outreach is a long-standing part of the parish's identity. The local St. Vincent de Paul Society maintains a confidential help line (618-463-2411) for anyone in need of services not listed elsewhere and coordinates with the parish Giving Tree each Christmas to supply a local shelter with needed items.
The parish Soup Kitchen ministry prepares and serves hot meals on a monthly basis to the homeless. The Ladies Club also participates in Cross Catholic Outreach's Box of Joy ministry each year, filling shoeboxes with small gifts for children in need and returning them in the fall for international shipment.
A Help Services Directory kept by the parish gathers contact information for emergency lines, food pantries, bereavement support, pregnancy centers, senior services, mental health crisis hotlines, and transportation assistance throughout St. Clair County, including local Catholic Charities services for pro-life support, suicide prevention, and counseling.
The Creative Learning Center
On the parish grounds, St. Henry's Creative Learning Center (CLC) provides early childhood education for the wider community. Operated under its own Board of Directors with a representative on the Parish Pastoral Council, the CLC has been part of the parish's educational mission since the grade school era of 1925 and now serves preschool-age children and their families.
The Ladies Club and Men's Club
The St. Henry Ladies Club gathers the women of the parish for fellowship, service, and fundraising. The club participates annually in the Box of Joy program and co-sponsors the Lenten Fish Fry with the Men's Club. Meetings are held in the Msgr. Voss Center.
The Men's Club is open to all adult men of the parish aged eighteen and older, with a yearly membership donation of five dollars. The club promotes the spiritual welfare and social camaraderie of the men of the parish and takes on special works assigned by the pastor. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm in the Knights of Columbus Hall, are casual in dress, and are followed by a social time with snacks and drinks. The current president is Jerry Ahrens, with Nick Kujawa as vice president and Dave Bollman as treasurer.
A Men's Group, Women's Group, and Other Small Communities
In addition to the Men's and Ladies Clubs, a smaller Men's Group meets every other Saturday morning from 7:30 to 8:50 am for coffee, a light breakfast, and conversation about faith in a relaxed setting. A Women's Group gathers on occasion with dates announced in the bulletin; babysitting is available. A Fellowship Committee coordinates social gatherings of parishioners throughout the year.
Vacation Bible School and Family Faith
St. Henry partners with two neighboring parishes, Our Lady Queen of Peace and Blessed Sacrament, to plan and run a one-week Vacation Bible School each summer. The program rotates between Queen of Peace and Blessed Sacrament on alternating years, usually in July, and draws on volunteers from all three parishes to coordinate registration, snacks, and classroom leadership.
Parish Governance and Pastoral Council
The parish is led by Pastor Father Kenneth York with the assistance of a Parish Pastoral Council and a Parish Finance Council. Trustees are Susan O'Malley and Kevin Effinger. The Parish Finance Council is chaired by Dave Bollman, with members including Ransom Wuller, Curt Regensberger, Joyce Dierkes, Janet Visintine, Ivan Tepen, and Susan O'Malley.
The Parish Pastoral Council, established in March 1983, consists of seven members-at-large elected from the parish, the pastor, two trustees, and a representative from each of the five parish organizations. The council meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. Current council members include Chris Knee (Chair), Kim Ahrens (Secretary), Dan Broeckling, Kathleen DuMontier, Bobby Elam, Marilyn Elam, Kevin Effinger, Pat King, Donna Martin, and Deacon Jim Law.
Six committees serve the council: Administrative, Building and Grounds, Faith Formation and Religious Education, Parish Life, Social Justice and Peace, and Worship and Spiritual Life. Five parish organizations report through the council as well: the Communications Committee, the Creative Learning Center Board of Directors, the Ladies Club, the Men's Club, and Stewardship.
A Centennial Year
On November 24, 2024, the parish opened a year of centennial celebrations marking one hundred years since its 1925 founding. The centennial year closed with a Centennial Celebration Weekend in July 2025, anchored by a Centennial Sunday Mass on July 13, 2025. Throughout the year the parish hosted a talk by Dr. Mary Healy, a pro-life event in January, a performance by Maria Vargo, a Lenten Parish Mission, and a Name Tag Sunday in June to help parishioners get to know one another across the generations.
Homilies Online and the Parish in the Digital World
Weekly homilies preached at St. Henry are recorded and posted online, with archives going back to 2021 and a current year of homilies refreshed each Sunday. The parish also livestreams the 8:30 am Sunday Mass on its Facebook page, publishes weekly bulletins in PDF form by year, and offers online giving through Our Sunday Visitor's giving platform, replacing an earlier vendor in April 2026. A parish Facebook page for the school of religion supports family faith formation at home.
Visiting St. Henry
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at St. Henry, whether they are visiting briefly, looking for a new parish home, returning to the practice of the faith, or interested in learning more about the Catholic Church. A downloadable Parish Registration form is available, and the Newcomers page gathers answers to frequently asked questions about Mass schedules, becoming Catholic, and finding the church.
The parish office is open during the week and can be reached by phone at 618-233-2423 or by email at sthenryc@peaknet.net. The church itself is at 5315 West Main Street in Belleville, just north of the historic Rock Road corridor and a short drive from the rest of the Diocese of Belleville's West End cluster of parishes. Father Ken, the parish secretary Dawn Partington, organist Robert Wojcik, and web master Kathleen DuMontier, along with Deacon Jim Law and the many lay ministers of the parish, look forward to welcoming new faces into a community that, a century after it began on an old amusement park, continues to gather around the table of the Lord.