A Parish Rooted in Millstadt Since 1851
St. James Catholic Church sits at 405 West Madison Street in the small town of Millstadt, Illinois, just southeast of St. Louis. The parish has served the local Catholic community since 1851, when the first members built a small log church on the site. The current brick church building, completed in 1888, still rises above the rectory and school grounds at the heart of the campus, and three generations of families have walked its aisles. From those humble beginnings the parish has grown into a campus that includes the historic church, a rectory, an annex, a parish center, and a K-8 parish school, all cared for and used by the same families who call Millstadt home.
St. James belongs to the Diocese of Belleville and is led today by Father Evaristus Akabueze as Parish Administrator and Father Andy Knopik as Associate Administrator. The school across the way is led by Co-Principals Mrs. Laura Diak and Mrs. Judy Glaeser, who together guide the faculty, students, and families of the parish school. The parish and school share a common mission: to "proclaim the love of God by word and action through teaching, prayer and community service."
Masses Through the Week
Weekend Masses are offered on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Weekday Masses follow a Tuesday-through-Friday rhythm: Tuesday at 12:10 p.m., Wednesday at 8:20 a.m., and Friday at 8:20 a.m. There is no Mass on Monday or Thursday. The Saturday Vigil Mass is preceded by the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. in the church; confessions can also be arranged by appointment with the pastor. During Advent and Lent the parish offers additional Penance Services.
Rectory hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, when staff can be reached at 618-476-3513 for questions about sacramental preparation, scheduling, or visiting the sick.
A Campaign to Save the 1888 Church Building
St. James is in the middle of a major capital campaign titled Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future. The parish has set a goal of $500,000 to address a series of urgent repairs to its aging facilities. The largest line item is $200,000 in repairs from a sewer backup that destroyed the 60-year-old boilers in the school and rectory and flooded portions of the basement. The 1888 church building itself needs steeple repairs, tuck-pointing, and brick sealing, an estimated $175,000 project to prevent further deterioration of the plaster and masonry.
The campaign also covers a recently completed $20,000 school chimney repair and reserves additional funds for projects that can be tackled as money allows: new HVAC for the church ($35,000-$40,000), window repairs ($30,000-$35,000), new church carpet ($23,000-$30,000), and repaving the cracked parking lot ($17,000-$25,000). Pledges are made in addition to regular Sunday offerings and can be paid over time, with options including online giving, IRA distributions, and stock or real estate gifts. Many employers also offer matching gift programs for charitable donations, and both current and retired employees may be eligible. The campaign leadership team includes Father Akabueze and Father Knopik, with Kathy Mueller as chairperson and Mike Romano and Kristin Laws as co-chairs. The parish's campaign prayer asks God to "guide us to be faithful stewards of the gifts You have entrusted to us" and to help the parish "continue to bring people to Christ for generations to come."
The Sacraments at St. James
St. James prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments, beginning with Baptism. Parents seeking to baptize an infant contact the pastor, and first-time parents are required to take part in a preparation session. Adults interested in joining the Church are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), which meets on Sunday mornings, generally beginning in September and culminating at the Easter Vigil.
Children typically make their First Communion in second grade, after a year of preparation in the parish school or the Parish School of Religion that includes the Sacrament of Reconciliation. First Communion is celebrated on the Sunday following Easter. Confirmation is usually received in eighth grade, with preparation involving service hours and a Confirmation retreat; the Bishop sets the date, which ordinarily falls during the Easter season.
Couples planning a wedding at St. James are asked to contact the rectory at least six months in advance and to participate in a Pre-Cana program and the PREPARE/ENRICH relationship inventory. The Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone who is ill or suffering from the ailments of aging by calling the rectory; the sacrament is also offered communally each October at a designated Sunday Mass.
A Parish School from Pre-K Through Eighth Grade
Just up the street at 412 West Washington Street, St. James Catholic School has been educating students in Millstadt and the surrounding area since 1941. The school's tagline, "Where faith and education unite," captures the rhythm of the day for its students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school's stated mission is to "provide a superior educational program for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade," proclaiming the love of God through teaching, prayer, and community service while meeting the spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, moral, emotional, and technological needs of each student.
Technology is woven into daily learning. Every student from age two through eighth grade has access to a personal Chromebook or tablet, every classroom is equipped with a Smartboard, and Google Apps for Education, IXL, and FACTS form the backbone of the school's digital learning environment. Beyond the core curriculum, students can take part in the MCS Band cooperative program with the local public school, run for student council, compete in speech meets, serve on Safety Patrol, take part in the D.A.R.E. program, or join the annual book fair. The school describes itself as "a progressive school" where teachers are encouraged to research and test new technology in the classroom. Students in grades four through eight are encouraged to serve at the altar as Knights of the Altar Servers.
Before- and after-school extended care is held at the Parish Center, and the school offers a resource teacher and an Advanced Algebra program for eighth graders recommended by their math teachers. Tuition assistance is available through the Adopt a Student program, which invites parishioners, alumni, and friends to support students whose families face financial hardship. A full-year sponsorship covers tuition of $5,260, half-year at $2,630, or books and technology at $475. The school operates under a non-discrimination policy and welcomes students and families of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs.
Lay Ministries and Parish Organizations
St. James runs an extensive roster of lay-led ministries that make the parish's liturgical and pastoral life work week in and week out. At Mass, Gift Bearers carry the bread, wine, and monetary offerings to the altar; Greeters welcome people at the door; Ushers assist with seating, collections, and the dismissal; Lectors proclaim the readings and lead the petitions; and Liturgical Ministers distribute Holy Communion. Schedules for each role are made for a two-month period and posted in the back of church.
Outside Mass, the Divine Mercy to the Sick ministry visits seriously ill parishioners to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with them and for them. A Prayer Chain, organized since 2001, lifts up intentions and offers a way to share prayer requests. Eucharistic Adoration is offered on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., preceded by a rosary at 7:30 p.m. The Decor team dresses the sanctuary for Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, and an Adult Choir, directed by Adrienne LaCroix, enhances holiday liturgies with rehearsals on Thursday evenings. OCIA volunteers walk with adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church, teaching as a team of two on Sunday mornings. The Liturgy Committee, working with the pastors, plans and carries out the major liturgical seasons: Lent, Advent, Christmas, Easter, and All Souls Day.
The parish is also home to several long-standing organizations. The Council of Catholic Women meets the first Monday of each month and provides funeral luncheons, RCIA receptions, cookies and pies for diocesan outreach, sewn Baptismal gowns, and quilts for fundraisers. The St. Vincent de Paul Society meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. to organize aid for neighbors in need. The Quilters meet Tuesday evenings (4:30-9:30 p.m.) and Wednesday mornings (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) to make quilts for raffles, fundraisers, and the Summer Festival; all skill levels are welcome. The Knights of Columbus gather the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 p.m. at the Columbus Club. The "J" Team takes care of parish buildings and grounds. A Welcome Committee reaches out to new parishioners with information about St. James and the wider community, and Scout Troop 622 meets Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for boys ages 11-18.
First Wednesdays and the Parish Prayer Calendar
First Wednesdays are the anchor of the parish prayer calendar. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. and a closing at 8:00 p.m. The Parish School of Religion meets every Tuesday from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m. September through April, with volunteers sharing the Catholic faith with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The parish also offers a day retreat each autumn to help parishioners step back from busy schedules and spend focused time in prayer.
Parish Life and Fundraising
Throughout the year, the parish and its organizations host a range of fundraisers to support operations, the school, and the capital campaign. The St. James quilters run a monthly Quilt-A-Rama drawing at $25 per ticket, with the winner's name going back into the pot for future drawings. The Adopt a Student program provides ongoing tuition assistance for parish school families, and the parish's biggest annual event is a dinner auction each fall. Proceeds from these efforts flow to either the school, the church repair fund, or outreach to those in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Getting Connected at St. James
Parishioners looking to plug into parish life can join one of the long-standing organizations, sign up for a liturgical ministry such as Greeter, Lector, or Eucharistic Minister, or volunteer for the Parish School of Religion, OCIA, Divine Mercy to the Sick, or the Welcome Committee. The J Team welcomes anyone with a hammer or a green thumb, and the Quilters group is open to all skill levels. New families can register children for the parish school or PSR through the rectory.