The actual name of St. Mary’s is The Church of the Immaculate Conception. (This is the same title that the Blessed Virgin Mary used to identify herself to St. Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”)  The first St. Mary’s was built for the German Catholic community in Alton in May 1859. This two-story brick structure was unfortunately destroyed by a tornado in June 1860.

This present building is actually the third church of St. Mary’s. It was completed in the summer of 1895. It measures approximately 150’ in length and 65’ in width. The tower is about 96’ high. Candles in sconces along the side walls and crosses inscribed in the marble on either side of the entranceway signify it as being a consecrated church. The four “Bells of St. Mary’s” were cast in St. Louis in the early 1880s and are dedicated, in ascending order of size, to St. Joseph, the Immaculate Conception, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. John the Apostle.

Church altars normally contain a relic(s) of one of the martyrs of the Church.  Our high altar contains the relics of the holy martyrs Boniface (he is Patron Saint of Germany) and Maria Anna Jesus de Paradis.  The high altar also includes a statue of St. Aloysius Gonzaga on the left and of St. Clare on the right.  St. Aloysius is patron saint of youths and therefore was likely installed as a tribute to the young people of the parish. St. Clare is displayed on our altar because of her great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  She is shown holding a monstrance (an ornate receptacle for displaying the Holy Eucharist).

St. Mary’s has long been blessed with faithful and dedicated pastoral leadership. Many parishioners still speak with deep affection for Monsignor James A. Suddes, who served as pastor from 1954 to 1987, and earlier as assistant pastor from 1938 to 1947. For over three decades, Monsignor Suddes ministered selflessly to the spiritual and educational needs of his parishioners—knowing each of them by name. He left a lasting legacy of personal care and commitment to the faith community before his passing in 1997.

Until 1987, St. Mary’s was served exclusively by diocesan priests. That year marked a new chapter as the parish welcomed the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (O.M.V.), a religious community headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Since then, several Oblate priests have guided the parish with the same devotion and care. Fr. Jim Walther, O.M.V., served as St. Mary’s 11th pastor from January 2002 to December 2015. Fr. Jeremy Paulin, O.M.V., became the 13th pastor in August 2017 and served until July 2022.

Fr. Chris Uhl

In July 2022, Fr. Christopher Uhl, O.M.V., returned to St. Mary’s to serve as pastor, becoming the 14th in the parish’s long history. Fr. Uhl previously served as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary’s from 2003 to 2010 before leading Holy Ghost Church in Denver for eleven years and directing St. Francis Chapel in Boston. He is joined in ministry by Fr. John Wykes, O.M.V., and Fr. Jorge Sanchez, O.M.V., who currently serve as Parochial Vicars.

The pastoral team continues to uphold St. Mary’s mission of faith, service, and community—remaining a spiritual home to generations of parishioners in the Alton area.

Music has always been integral to the history of St. Mary’s. At no time throughout its history has St. Mary’s been without a choir. At some points in time, it boasted several choirs. In 1923, St. Mary’s was most fortunate in securing the services of Professor Max Hiendlmayr upon his arrival from Germany. He served in this position throughout the rest of his life. For many years, he was not only the organist but also the choir director and composer of much of its music. Most noted among his compositions was his “Mass of the Immaculate Conception,” based on the theme of Schubert’s Ave Maria. He died in 1972. Ken and Jean Conrady then served for 33 years as organist and choir director, followed by Mrs. Anna Haine and Ron Abraham.

St. Mary’s continues to maintain a vibrant tradition of sacred music, carried forward by dedicated musicians and vocalists. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve remains a glorious experience, enriched by the harmonious contributions of our choir and instrumentalists.

Located directly outside and behind our church is a small replica of the Grotto in Lourdes, France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. Our grotto was built and dedicated to all those in the parish who served in World War II. At certain times of the year, St. Mary’s holds communal rosary services at the Grotto, and each May, the children of St. Mary’s “crown” this statue of our Mother at the grotto.