| THE PASTORS THAT HAVE SERVED MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PARISH |
Fr. Nicholas Perrin (1847) - said first Mass in Lakenan Home.
Rev. Wenceslaus Repis (1859 - 1860) - the first resident pastor.
Rev. J. Kramer (1860 - 1863) - opened first school in January, 1863.
Rev. Frederick Chmelicek (1863 - 1864) - native of Austria.
Rev. Francis Tojan (1864-1865) - native of Bohemia.
Rev. Gerald Lukin (1865 - 1867)
Rev. Louis Pommer (1867 1871) - native of Germany, began construction of present church.
Rev. Pommer
Rev. Vincent Nagler (1871 - 1873) - oversaw completion of church building.
Rev. Clemens Rhode (1873 - 1876) - celebrated first Mass in present church.
Rev. Carl Roesner (1876 - 1879) - native of Schleswig.
Rev. Herman Hegemann (1879 - 1890; 1891 - 1892) - native of Germany.
Rev. Hegemann
Rev. Charles J. Eckert (1892 - 1925) - native of Germany, ordained in Belgium in 1880. Was
responsible for many innovations and improvements necessitated by the growth of the parish. Became
Dean of Randolph County in 1917. Died in 1925 as a result of a car accident. Is buried in the church
cemetery.
Rev. Eckert
Rev. Anthony B. Lehmen (1926 - 1963) - born in Rich Fountain, MO in 1893, ordained in 1919.
Oversaw many building and renovation projects. A section of Highway Route 3 is named in his honor.
Died in 1963. Is buried in the church cemetery.
Rev. Lehmen
Rev. James R. McCormick (1963 - 1970) - born in St. Louis, MO in 1913, ordained in 1939. Began
many activities for the youth of the parish and oversaw many building and renovation projects. Was rector
of the Cathedral from 1971 - 1988. Died in 1999.
Msgr. McCormick
Rev. Charles R. Kribs (1970 - 1986) - born in Shawneetown, IL in 1925, ordained in 1951. Revived
school board in 1971. Oversaw church renovation in 1977-78 which included remodeling, painting,
installation of new pews and renovation of organ. Currently resides at Hincke Home for Retired Clergy in
Belleville.
Rev. Kribs
Msgr. Dennis R. Schaefer (1986 - 2004) - born in Belleville, IL in 1949, ordained in 1975. Established
our Parish Council and PSR program. School began to offer preschool and kindergarten in 1987. Has
deep love for music and singing. Was honored with the title of Monsignor in 2002. Currently pastor of St.
John the Baptist Parish in Red Bud and St. Patrick Parish in Ruma.
Msgr. Schaefer
Rev. Eugene H. Wojcik (2004 - present) - born in 1947, raised in Fairview Heights, IL, ordained in
1974. Has served the diocese in many capacities, including principal of Assumption High School, Director
of the Newman Center, Rector of the Cathedral, and Vocation Director. Currently also serves as Deacon
Formation Director. Is deeply committed to Catholic education. Keeps the parish in stitches with his vast
library of jokes. St. Mary's #1 Cardinal fan!
Rev. Wojcik
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Rev. Wenceslaus Repis (1859 - 1860) - the first resident pastor.
Rev. J. Kramer (1860 - 1863) - opened first school in January, 1863.
Rev. Frederick Chmelicek (1863 - 1864) - native of Austria.
Rev. Francis Tojan (1864-1865) - native of Bohemia.
Rev. Gerald Lukin (1865 - 1867)
Rev. Louis Pommer (1867 1871) - native of Germany, began construction of present church.
Rev. Pommer
Rev. Vincent Nagler (1871 - 1873) - oversaw completion of church building.
Rev. Clemens Rhode (1873 - 1876) - celebrated first Mass in present church.
Rev. Carl Roesner (1876 - 1879) - native of Schleswig.
Rev. Herman Hegemann (1879 - 1890; 1891 - 1892) - native of Germany.
Rev. Hegemann
Rev. Charles J. Eckert (1892 - 1925) - native of Germany, ordained in Belgium in 1880. Was
responsible for many innovations and improvements necessitated by the growth of the parish. Became
Dean of Randolph County in 1917. Died in 1925 as a result of a car accident. Is buried in the church
cemetery.
Rev. Eckert
Rev. Anthony B. Lehmen (1926 - 1963) - born in Rich Fountain, MO in 1893, ordained in 1919.
Oversaw many building and renovation projects. A section of Highway Route 3 is named in his honor.
Died in 1963. Is buried in the church cemetery.
Rev. Lehmen
Rev. James R. McCormick (1963 - 1970) - born in St. Louis, MO in 1913, ordained in 1939. Began
many activities for the youth of the parish and oversaw many building and renovation projects. Was rector
of the Cathedral from 1971 - 1988. Died in 1999.
Msgr. McCormick
Rev. Charles R. Kribs (1970 - 1986) - born in Shawneetown, IL in 1925, ordained in 1951. Revived
school board in 1971. Oversaw church renovation in 1977-78 which included remodeling, painting,
installation of new pews and renovation of organ. Currently resides at Hincke Home for Retired Clergy in
Belleville.
Rev. Kribs
Msgr. Dennis R. Schaefer (1986 - 2004) - born in Belleville, IL in 1949, ordained in 1975. Established
our Parish Council and PSR program. School began to offer preschool and kindergarten in 1987. Has
deep love for music and singing. Was honored with the title of Monsignor in 2002. Currently pastor of St.
John the Baptist Parish in Red Bud and St. Patrick Parish in Ruma.
Msgr. Schaefer
Rev. Eugene H. Wojcik (2004 - present) - born in 1947, raised in Fairview Heights, IL, ordained in
1974. Has served the diocese in many capacities, including principal of Assumption High School, Director
of the Newman Center, Rector of the Cathedral, and Vocation Director. Currently also serves as Deacon
Formation Director. Is deeply committed to Catholic education. Keeps the parish in stitches with his vast
library of jokes. St. Mary's #1 Cardinal fan!
Rev. Wojcik
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO HISTORY PAGE
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