The first church, was founded in 1857 through the zeal, hard work, sweat and generous donations of the Catholic citizens of Mascoutah and the surrounding towns, the first church, made of brick and timber, had a capacity of 60 families. The parishioners began the education of the children two years after the founding of the church. With the growing Catholic communities in the area, this first church was quickly outgrown and replaced in 1882 by the considerably large, beautiful church we still use today.