Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Welcome to this new website for the Parish communities of St. Theresa of Avila in Salem & St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kinmundy. We look forward to reaching more people who access the internet with the potential to make available some of the latest tools in communication and universal access to resources. We are grateful to the Catholic Website Experts at Solutio who designed the website and trained our staff to do regular updates.

These three parishes in the North Central Vicariate in the Diocese of Belleville serve communities that have been settled here for more than a century. The Catholics of this Southern Illinois area nicknamed “Little Egypt” have faithfully belonged to their church communities. They have worked hard, through some very trying times, to sustain and improve the facilities that they, and generations before them, have built with their sacrifices and generosity. They have kept their faith and belonged the church through challenging times in the past and the negative publicity calling them to shun traditional values and family structures our young face today. As their pastor, I am edified at the simplicity of their faith and constancy in commitment.

Having worked in other parts of the world such as Papua New Guinea and India, I recognize the hard work they have put into maintaining their church facilities. The two churches in my care here in Salem and Kinmundy are well kept and welcoming. The parishioners take pride in what they have inherited, built and maintained. They come together whenever needed to improve and work on their structures and grounds. There are times when such work calls to give multiple days and hours of work and, the ones who volunteer, do so without complaining or expecting public praise. It is no wonder that the results show in various ways in the community such as in the faith formation of our children, the accomplishments of our youth, the quality of our liturgy, the enhancement of our worship environment, feeding the hungry and providing for those in need.

The Ladies of the Avila League and the men of Knights of Columbus in our parish have been pillars of service and dedication. Their committed members are citizens of integrity, dependable leaders and stalwarts in the larger arena of the society. They work with the Salem Ministerial Alliance and philanthropic organizations of their communities to make a difference for the people of their communities. Many of our members have been and are dependable leaders and stalwarts in the larger arena of the society such as in education, art, medical care, small business, defense and civil service.

Welcome to our new website and our faith community, rooted in our past and looking to the future with hope, trusting in the promise of Jesus who assured us that He is with us wherever we gather in His name.

Father Jose Jacob, SMM