top of page

Why a St. Mary's Education?
10 Reasons

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Image by Autumn Studio

A Message from our Principal

Mr_edited_edited_edited.jpg

     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,

​

Mr. Brad Colvis, Principal

bradcolvis@stmaryscatholicchester.org

Father Sebastian.jpg

Father Sebastian Ukoh

cross option 1_edited_edited.png

Message from
Father Sebastian

Reflections For Easter

     It has been an eventful summer holiday season, so far. I believe we have all had refreshing times with our loved ones during this summer. Some of us have traveled to fun places, family events and reunions, etc. But these, like all things in life, come to an end. We are now set to return. But as we all know, the classes to which we are returning are quite different from the ones we left in May. We even have new faculty members! The year promises to offer lots of fresh, novel events and activities.

      Also, during this past summer holiday, some of us received the Sacraments, served masses, did service hours, and engaged in other charitable works. These are great signs, and we encourage more of such. The new classes will come with their measure of anticipation and demands. It means that we are growing and headed in the right direction. You may have some questions or require clarification. However, just know that your teachers and faculty are here for you. Most importantly, God is here!

      So, once again, I welcome you to a new School Year!

Father Sebastian Ukoh

Download Our Academic Calendar
2024-2025
lamp of knowledge_edited.png
Tuesday Times Pic.jpg
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
Jubilee Eng.jpg

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.

ALUMNI

Help us stay in touch by submitting the following information. Thank You

Thanks for submitting!

Student Body.jpg
bottom of page