Please contact the main office at 618-465-4284 or email Carolyn Simansky or Marci Wendle.
Fr. Christopher Uhl, OMV |
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Pastor |
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Email Fr. Chris |
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Fr. Chris Uhl, OMV was born in Cleveland, OH and comes from a family of eight. He entered the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Seminary in 1994 and was ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Mary's in Alton in 2003. Immediately after his September ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Chris began serving St. Mary's as Parochial Vicar until 2010. He spent some time in Boston as Director of the St. Francis Chapel before his assignment to Holy Ghost Church in Denver, CO in 2011. Fr. Chris returned to St. Mary's as Pastor in July 2022. |
Fr. Benjamin Unachukwu, OMV |
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Parochial Vicar |
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Office Extension: 224 |
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Fr. Benjamin was born in Nigeria, into a large and deeply Christian family. In 2005, he joined the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 2014. He is committed to his pastoral ministry, and he has worked in different parishes in Nigeria before his transfer to the United States. He enjoys Soccer, Table tennis, listening to music, traveling, and meeting people. |
Fr. Leland Thorpe, OMV |
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Parochial Vicar |
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Office Extension: 225Email Fr. Leland |
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Fr. Leland was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied Computer Science and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon. He began formation with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in 2014. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary's on August 13, 2022. He enjoys running, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and reading.
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Fr. David Beauregard, OMV |
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Retired Priest in Residence |
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Please inquire with the parish office to contact Fr. David. |
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Fr. David was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and is a big Packer and Patriots fan. He has one brother and two sisters. He professed his vows with the Oblates in 1975 and was ordained a priest on June 14th, 1980. He was a professor of English literature at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for six years and a professor of Church History at St. John's Seminary in Boston, MA for seven years. He has written two books and numerous articles on Shakespeare. He enjoys teaching classes right here at St. Mary's on a regular basis. Classes include such topics as Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Church History. |
Deacon Jim Schwartzkopf |
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Permanent Deacon |
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Please inquire with the parish office to contact Deacon Jim |
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Deacon Jim was born in the Alton area and has been involved in St. Mary's Parish most of his life. He has been married to Donna since December of 1979. They have two daughters, Monica and Laura, both of whom are married, and six grandchildren. Jim was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Springfield Illinois on June 16th, 2012, and is assigned to St. Mary's. Jim and Donna own their own printing business and also keep busy serving the needs of the parish. |
Carolyn Simansky |
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Parish Secretary (T, Th, F) |
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Email Carolyn; phone ext. 222 |
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Carolyn has been a part of our office staff since January 2023. She has been a member of the parish since 1998 and she and her husband, Joel, were married here in 1997. She is mother to one son, Benjamin, who graduated from St. Mary's School in 2014. |
Marci Wendle |
Parish Secretary (M, W) |
Email Marci, phone ext. 221 |
Marci has been a member of our office staff since March 2023. Her normal days in the office are Monday and Wednesday. She is the one to contact for SCRIP purchases, the parish weekend email, and questions on arranging for the Sacrament of Matrimony. |
Laurie Horn |
Cemetery Director |
Laurie is the one to contact for all questions about St. Joseph's Cemetery! She is a long time parishioner and was formerly parish secretary at St. Mary's for many years. She is continuing her service to St. Mary's by being the one to contact for questions about St. Joseph Cemetery. She and her husband Matt live in Godfrey and are the parents of 4 children and have 4 grandchildren. |