A Catholic Parish at the Heart of Smithton
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church stands at 10 South Lincoln in Smithton, Illinois. Father Evaristus Akabueze serves as pastor of a parish that has kept a faithful rhythm of Mass and sacramental life for well over a century. Out of that long commitment grew St. John the Baptist Catholic School, a Preschool through eighth grade ministry of the parish that has been forming young Catholics in this community for over 130 years. The parish church and the parish school together make up a single faith family rooted in Smithton, sustained by a long line of families who have carried the tradition from one generation to the next.
Mass Times and Worship
Mass is offered four times each week at St. John the Baptist:
- Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:30 PM
- Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM
- Tuesday at 8:20 AM
- Thursday at 11:30 AM
Worship follows the traditional Roman Catholic liturgy. Children from the parish school attend Mass weekly and share in the service as altar servers, lectors, gift bearers, and choir members. Second graders prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion through classroom instruction and retreats. Seventh and eighth graders prepare for Confirmation in the same way. The school observes the seasons of the Liturgical Year and tests religious knowledge each year through the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education.
The Pastor and the Parish Office
Father Evaristus Akabueze is the pastor of St. John the Baptist, ministering to the parish and overseeing its school and ministries. The parish side of operations is supported by Mrs. Pat Ohlendorf, the parish business manager. Mrs. Linda Bagsby serves as the church secretary. The rectory office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with summer hours that vary by season.
A Parish Ministry: The Catholic School
St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Preschool through eighth grade, is one of the most visible ministries of the parish. Dr. Tamara Leib leads the school as principal. The school's mission statement describes it as a ministry of the parish church preparing children as disciples of Christ through spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth in a faith based learning community. The school nurtures faith, fosters academic excellence, and prepares children to become loving, service oriented, and responsible Christian members of society.
Smaller class sizes let teachers give each child personal attention. The curriculum integrates Catholic values throughout daily learning, and a rigorous core program readies students for the next grade level or for high school. Service projects connect students with the local community and with missions beyond Smithton, instilling responsibility and compassion as habits that carry into adult life. The school intentionally prepares students for success both in school and in life beyond the classroom.
The Youngest Jaguars: Preschool and Junior Kindergarten
The early years at St. John's revolve around two programs designed for the parish's youngest learners. The Jaguar Cubs program serves 3- and 4-year-olds. The Junior Kindergarten welcomes 4- and 5-year-olds preparing for Kindergarten the following year. Both programs run as full days from 7:55 AM to 2:55 PM, with a half-day option ending at 12:30 PM. Both run Monday through Friday.
Mrs. Haleigh Putnam teaches the Jaguar Cubs, leading children through their ABCs and 123s, name writing, colors, shapes, fine and gross motor skills, and introductory Spanish and Sign Language. Her goal is that children not only master the basics but also learn what it means to be a kind and caring friend every day. Ms. Kate Frerking teaches Junior Kindergarten, where 4- and 5-year-olds sing through the alphabet, identify shapes and colors, recognize simple sight words, and gather around for story time drawn from the Bible.
The early childhood building has recently been transformed with fresh paint, modern flooring, and fully renovated bathrooms designed for comfort and accessibility. After-school Jag Care runs from 2:55 PM to 6:00 PM each weekday. The care program is free for preschool students and costs ten dollars a day for other students.
A Day in the Life: Faculty and Curriculum
Teachers at St. John the Baptist are organized around two-grade pairings at the elementary level: a Kindergarten and first grade class with Ms. Jessica Hurst, a second grade class with Mrs. Mary Jo Ganey, a third and fourth grade class with Mrs. Sara Renneker, a fifth and sixth grade class with Mrs. Jennifer Winkeler, and a seventh and eighth grade class with Mrs. Heather Slocomb. Mrs. Lori Dlouhy serves as the RTI (Response to Intervention) teacher, supporting students who need extra help. Mrs. Emily Schilling teaches Physical Education and also serves as PTF president. Mrs. Leslie Grah serves as a teacher assistant in the early grades, and the school secretary is Mrs. Jan Dudkowski.
The Munier Center, the school's activity and locker room space, has been recently renovated with new flooring, fresh paint, and updated facilities, a project completed with broad support from school families. Enrichment programs in art, music, library, and physical education are woven into the school day, and prayer, song, and discovery-based hands on learning shape the rhythm of the early childhood classrooms.
The Jaguar Spirit: Athletics and Student Life
Athletics are open to every student at St. John the Baptist. The school's policy is that no student is cut from a team. Mr. John Roustio serves as Athletic Director. Fall offerings include baseball, preschool soccer, girls' soccer, and boys' soccer. Winter brings boys' and girls' basketball. Spring adds track, boys' and girls' volleyball, and coed golf. Sports run from preschool through eighth grade.
Beyond the playing fields, students can join the Craftin Club, Chess Club, Drama Club, Read Right Run, a quarterly rotating club chosen by student interest, and a Hiking Club. The school choir, drawn from students in second through eighth grade, sings at weekly Mass, an extension of parish worship into school life. Each summer, CampJags Summer Camp keeps the Jaguars engaged even when classes are out, and an After School Jag Care program offers a safe place to finish out the afternoon on school days.
Parents as Partners: PIP and PTF
The Parent Involvement Program (PIP) is the formal name for family volunteer service at St. John the Baptist. Each family pledges ten volunteer service points during the school year, a goal that can be met through the efforts of multiple family members, from parents to fifth-graders and older students, grandparents, and adult siblings. Adult volunteers who interact with children more than one hour per month are required to complete Child Protection Policy classes mandated by the Diocese of Belleville. Families can earn fifty dollars in tuition credit, up to one hundred dollars maximum, for every ten hours completed. Volunteer opportunities are shared through the Jag Journal newsletter, at PTF meetings, and in the family blue communication folder.
The Parent Teacher Friends (PTF) is the parish school's parent organization and meets on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 PM, with free babysitting provided by alumni and upper grade students so that parents can attend. The PTF supports the school by funding classroom resource materials, music supplies and the PreK music teacher salary, textbooks, field trip bus transportation, summer maintenance, and special staff luncheons. At Christmas, the PTF sponsors Santa's Kottage, a low-cost gift shop where children can pick out small presents for family members. PTF officers are President Emily Schilling, Vice President Maria Jaster, Secretary Stephanie Rolfe, and Treasurer Andi Dehler.
The Annual Dinner Auction and the Annual Fund
Two annual fundraisers carry the parish's long commitment to Catholic education. The Annual Dinner Auction is the PTF's largest event of the year, with families donating auction items, sponsoring tickets, and gathering for an evening of silent and oral bidding that supports tuition and academic needs. The Annual Fund, by contrast, is a year-round appeal for monetary and prayer gifts that has kept Catholic education in Smithton alive for over 130 years. Donations may be made online through the parish's giving portal or through Venmo at @stjohnsmithton. Families can also earn tuition credit through a Scrip gift card program in which everyday purchases return a percentage to the school, and grandparents, extended family, and friends can participate by designating tuition credit to specific students.
Welcome, Tuition Help, and Practical Details
Smithton families interested in the school are invited to call the school office at 618-233-0581 or email the principal to schedule a personal tour. The school office is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM. The rectory office, serving parish matters, is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with summer hours that vary. Parents are asked to call the school office by 8:30 AM if their child will be absent or late. For parish matters, the church office can be reached at 618-234-2068.
The parish does not turn any family away because of finances. After completing additional forms and meeting with the principal and pastor, confidential tuition assistance can be arranged. Alumni, whether they graduated in 1971 or just last year, are welcome back any time and stay connected through the school's active alumni network, class reunion events, and updates shared on social media.