Why a St. Mary's Education?
10 Reasons
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You want the best for your children. Every parent wants the best for their children. We do, too! We guarantee that we will do everything in our power to provide the best educational experience for your child.
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We have a strong sense of community. Each member of the St. Mary’s School family is respected and valued. A supportive partnership teaches respect, admiration, care, and concern for all.
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We have the most dedicated faculty and staff working for and with you. You will not find a more concerned, caring, and generous group of teachers and staff than the individuals you find at St. Mary’s School. They work to ensure that each child receives the best education possible and invest countless hours perfecting their lessons.
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Our Catholic identity is evident in our building and how we live. We provide our students with a quality Catholic education where we strive to live out the message of Jesus Christ. Students of all faith traditions are welcomed and respected. Faith-filled experiences assist in creating a strong Christ-centered community that seeks knowledge, loves God, and serves others.
A Message from our Principal
On behalf of our Pastor, Father Sebastian Ukoh, and all our faculty, staff, students, and families, I welcome you to St. Mary's Catholic School in Chester, Illinois!
Our school is a ministry of Mary, Help of Christians Catholic parish which seeks to be a place of holy worship, generous service, vibrant community, and authentic formation in the Catholic Faith. The ministry of our school finds its source in God's grace in our Lord Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church to be shared with all. Our goal is to assist young disciples to be leaders in their communities through a well-rounded educational experience fostered by a faculty and staff who desire their happiness and success. Partnering with parents and families is crucial for us to accomplish this goal. For almost 160 years, St. Mary's School has existed to encourage faith and provide a solid educational foundation for its students.
We invite you to explore our school website and hope that you find it a helpful resource of information about St. Mary's. We thank you for your prayers for our school family and look forward to sharing in the adventure that God has planned for all of us! If you have any questions, please let us know!
Yours, in Christ,
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Mr. Brad Colvis, Principal
Father Sebastian Ukoh
Message from
Father Sebastian
Reflections As We Get Set For Lent
In few days' time, precisely on Ash Wednesday, we will begin our Lenten journey. It is an exciting time for us to renew our faith, recharge our commitment, and get set to walk with our best friend, Jesus Christ, on a 40-day "faith-hike." Lent is not a sad, unhappy, or depressing period. Lent is a season to look forward to, because it is a time to grow.
The pillars of Lent are Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. These pillars serve as a guide to us in this faith-strengthening-expedition. Through deeper prayer, we reconnect back to our creator and best friend. By fasting we elevate our spirits and say "no" to the desires of the flesh. When we give alms, we put God's commandment to love at the center of our lives.
These pillars of Lent don't run in isolation. They compliment each other and are best viewed as a unit. Ash Wednesday begins on a "high note" and is declared a day of fasting. NB: Those who are age 14 and below are not expected to fast. However, they are expected to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. The aim of this exercise is to help us practice self-control and get closer to God in penitence.
Finally, it will also be great to give up candies (if we can) and embark on additional spiritual exercises such as attending Mass every Sunday, joining in the Stations of the Cross and developing a deeper appreciation of the Sacraments. May this be a blessed time for us and our families. Amen
Father Sebastian Ukoh
Tuesday Times
Keep current on all of the news and events at St. Mary's. Download and read a copy of our Tuesday Times Newsletter. Inside you'll find information including important dates, sports schedules, information on current and upcoming fundraising opportunities, etc. Click below to access your copy.
Employment Opportunities
St. Mary’s currently has several employment opportunities available for suitable candidates. We seek dedicated individuals for our volunteer, support, and teaching staffs. If you are interested in helping us realize our vision of providing a faith-based education devoted to academic excellence, please contact the office at (618) 826-3120 and ask for Mrs. McDonald. Check out the "Employment Opportunities" tab under "More" at the top of this page for specific listings.
2025 Jubilee Year
2025 is a Jubilee Year - a time of grace that happens every 25 years and features a special theme. This year's theme is "Pilgrims of Hope." St. Mary's parish has been chosen by Bishop McGovern to be a "sacred pilgrimage site" for the diocese. In addition to other events throughout the year, Bishop McGovern will be at our parish all day on Sunday, April 6, for the following events:
10:00 A.M. Mass
2:00-4:00 P.M. Adoration and Reconciliation
3:30 P.M. The Bishop will speak about the Jubilee
4:00 P.M. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
5:00 P.M. Mass En Espanol
