Parish History
The Story of St. Mary Parish (so far)
The Parish of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (commonly known as St. Mary) began in 1858 when Fr. Peter Peters began celebrating Mass with a small group of Catholic families that settled in the coal-mining town of Trenton, Illinois. The people gathered for Mass in the home of Thomas McMahon and in the public school until a church was built in 1864 (with seating capacity of 200), at which time records of funerals and baptisms began to be kept. There was no resident pastor until Fr. Anthony Brefeld arrived in 1868. Before this time priests came from Highland, Aviston, and Breese.
The Catholic people built a small School in 1870 with Fr. Brefeld as the teacher; in 1876 some Religious Sisters, Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, came to teach in the school. The parish continued to grow in membership so that by 1883 the church had to be enlarged and by 1902 parishioners built a new larger school. The 155 families of the parish recognized their need to gather in addition to Sunday Mass and built themselves a Parish Hall in 1914.
Around this time parishioners were organizing themselves in various societies and sodalities. There was the St. Joseph Society for men, the St. Martha Society for women, the St. Aloysius Society for young men, the St. Agatha Sodality for young women, the Children of Mary and the Holy Guardian Angel Society.
During the history of the parish 11 men of the parish were ordained to priesthood. There have been 27 women from the parish that have joined the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (21), Franciscan (5) and Notre Dame (1) religious communities and one man who joined the Society of Mary.
As the Trenton community continued to grow, the Catholic Church grew also. By 1950, while Fr. Gerard Netemeyer was pastor, the parish had once again outgrown their church building and construction of a new one began. The new church was completed in 1953. Parishioners numbered approximately 1500 by 1955.
St. Mary Catholic School had to be enlarged in 1961; enrollment the following year was 314. Six years later the operation of St. Mary School was taken over by the public school district. The Wesclin School District leased the building from the church, some Sisters continued as teachers and Religion was taught each morning before the public school classes began.
The Rev. Clement Dirler was appointed pastor in 1966. Parishioners affectionately called him Fr. Clem. He lead the parish through the reforms of the Second Vatican Council which meant to renew the mission and worship of St. Mary Parish as it did the universal church. The sanctuary and nave of the church underwent a renovation in 1970 to conform it more closely to the form of the liturgy as established by the Council. The life of the parish, especially the celebration of the Eucharist and other liturgies, became even more so the work of the laity along with the clergy. In 1975 one of St. Mary's parishioners, the Rev. Mr. John Dilley, was ordained the first permanent deacon in the Diocese of Belleville and assisted with the leadership and pastoral care of the parish until his retirement and death.
During the mid 20th Century several priests were appointed associate pastor or lived in residence while teaching at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, Illinois.
When Fr. Robert Flannery (Fr. Bob) was appointed pastor in 1990, the laity continued assuming greater responsibility for parish life through the establishment of Pastoral and Financial Councils and various committees.
Because the number of priests in the diocese was beginning to decline, the parish hired its first member of a woman’s religious community St. Cathy
Schwemer, P.H.J.C. as Pastoral Associate in 1991. The elementary religious education program, which was previous held daily before public school hours, switched to a Sunday morning program. The sanctuary of the church was given another renovation in 1998, with the conversion of the communion rail into a new ambo and baptismal font and the addition of the Supper at Emmaus Triptych.
Fr. Flannery hired the first secretary/bookkeeper/administrative assistant for the parish, Mrs. Betsy Horstmann. She retired from the position after 29+ years of service assisting 4 pastors, 3 pastoral associates and the current Coordinator of Religious Formation. She was succeeded in 2019 by Mrs. Holly Toennies.
Fr. Jim Dougherty served the parish as pastor from 1999 to 2008. During his pastorate, Fr. Jim was assisted in the care of the parish by Sister Angela Schage, ASC, who served as Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education. It was during this time that the religious sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ completed their time of ministry at St. Mary. They had served at the parish from 1876 to 2000. With religious sisters no longer residing in the convent building, it was converted to use for the parish offices and meeting space, enabling the rectory to be used as only a residence for the pastor.
After Fr. Dougherty retired from the active ministry, Rev. Albert “Gene” Kreher became pastor in 2008. He hired the first lay woman, who was not a religious sister, to serve the parish as pastoral associate, Ms. Jeanne Thompson. She served the parish for one year from 2010-2011.
In July 2011, after three years, Fr. Kreher retired as pastor due to health concerns. The Rev. Joseph C. Rascher, (Fr. Joe), was appointed to be our pastor. Also, in July 2011, parishioner Mrs. Kim Moss was hired as the coordinator of Religious Formation. For one year, Mrs. Kassie Hund served in this position (2017-18) when Mrs. Moss needed time off for family matters. Mrs. Moss returned to the position in 2018 and continues to serve the parish as Coordinator of Religious Formation.
Fr. Rascher initiated a strategic planning process in the autumn of 2011 with the assistance of the Pastoral Council to help invigorate parish life and community in conjunction with the Diocese of Belleville Pastoral Plan for Parish Renewal and Restructuring mandated by the bishop that year. During his tenure as pastor, the Wesclin School District discontinued its use of the parish’s school building and it was repurposed into a catechetical center. One room was renovated for use as the council chambers for the parish’s K of C council.
In addition to addressing pastoral concerns, Fr. Rascher has overseen the tuck pointing and waterproofing of the church building and construction of new driveways and sidewalks around the church during the 60th anniversary year of its dedication. Using this anniversary of the buildings dedication, the parishioners observed the months between its Patronal feast day (February 2, 2013) and the anniversary date of dedication of the Church Building, December 8, 2013 (The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) as a time of “re-dedicating” themselves to be the Living Stones that build up the church as described in the First Letter of St. Peter with the theme “Then: Dedicating Sandstones – Now: Rededicating Living Stones.” A parish mission lead by the Rev. Peter Schavitz CSSR was held to mark the anniversary and “re-dedication of parishioners to their mission.
As part of The Pastoral Plan for Parish Renewal and Restructuring instituted by Bishop Edward Braxton in the Diocese of Belleville, St. Mary parishioners and its pastor began meeting in 2013 to discuss with St. George Parish in New Baden, IL, it’s “partner parish” how the two parishes would implement the plan. It is the goal of the two pastors, parish deacons and the lay leadership to discern how the two parishes can collaborate in “partnership” preparing for the day when they may have to share one priest as pastor of both parishes. Another goal of the Pastoral Plan is to wok for the renewal each of the parishes in their mission of proclaiming the Gospel in the area and sharing resources that will foster the mission of each parishes. The parishes continue to collaborate as they have for many years with other nearby parishes in various pastoral concerns such as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Sacrament of Confirmation celebrations, Youth Ministry and other activities.
On May 19, 2018, the Rev. Mr. John Mote (wife Jodi), a member of the parish, was ordained to the permanent Diaconate by the Belleville Diocese’s Bishop Edward K. Braxton. He was assigned to assist the pastor and laity of St. Mary parish in parish leadership, liturgy and witness to the mission of service. He shares this ministry with the Rev. Mr. John Fridley (wife Marlene) of St. George Catholic Church who was also assigned in 2018 by the bishop to assist both parishes as part of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for Parish Renewal and Restructuring. Deacon Mote also assists at St. George Parish, New Baden, as part of the plan. At the time of posting this parish history on our web-site, another member of the laity of St. Mary is in formation for the Diaconate, Mr. Tom Ritzheimer (wife Patti). If called to Holy Orders he will be ordained a Deacon in 2023.
In 2020, the parish began a Capital Campaign to raise funds for various repair and restoration projects. This campaign will finance the replacement of roofs on the office building and parish center, It will also provide for the restoration and repair of the stained glass windows in the church, improvement of the Chapel for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and hopefully the repainting of the interior of the church.
As the heart of our parish, the parishioners are committed to continue to carry on the mission of the parish throughout the many years to come as they have throughout its history. Come, be a disciple of Jesus with us!
| Years | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1858-September 1865 | Rev. Peter Peters | |
| September 1865 - March 15, 1868 | Rev. Henry Boecker | |
| March 15, 1868 - August 25, 1879 | Rev. Anthony Brefeld | First resident pastor |
| August 25, 1879 - September 1913 | Rev. Francis Bonsel | |
| September 1913 - April 1914 | Rev. Felix Ferbers | First priest buried in our cemetary |
| April 1914 - August 22, 1922 | Rev. Peter Goelzhauser | |
| August 22, 1922 - October 10, 1928 | Rev. Nicolaus Dietrich | |
| October 10, 1928 - April 10, 1943 | Rev. Anthony Kuhls | |
| April 10, 1943 - September 1966 | Rev. Gerard Netemeyer | Built our current church |
| September 1966 - July 17, 1990 | Rev. Clement "Clem" Dirler | |
| July 17, 1990 - July 1999 | Rev. Robert "Bob" Flannery | |
| July 1999 - July 2008 | Rev. James "Jim" Dougherty | |
| July 2008 - July 2011 | Rev. Albert "Gene" Kreher | |
| July 2011 - June 2022 | Rev. Joseph "Joe" Rascher | |
| June 2022 - October 2022 | Fr. Eugene "Gene" Neff | temporary administrator |
| October 2022 - June 2023 | Fr. Steven Beatty | administrator |
| July 2023 - | Fr. George Zieba |
Our Pastors Through the Years
