Meet the Pastor
Fr. Mark Reyling grew up in the Fairfield, IL area. He is an only child – the son of the late Richard and Sharon Reyling. He graduated high school and went to SIU-Carbondale, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He holds two IL Teaching Certificates [K-9 and 6-12].
After graduating from college, he taught in the elementary/junior high area until 1992, when he entered the seminary.
He attended Saint Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and received a Master of Arts Degree in Catholic Life and Thought. He then was sent to the University of St Mary of the Lake - Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, IL, and received a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a Transitional Deacon on 1 November 1997, by Francis Cardinal George at Immaculate Conception Chapel at Mundelein Seminary. He served as Deacon at St Cletus Parish in La Grange, IL. Fr. Mark was ordained to the Priesthood on 6 June 1998 by Bishop Wilton Gregory at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Piopolis, IL.
His first assignment as a priest was to serve at the Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Herrin, IL and Holy Spirit Church in Carterville, IL. He also served as the Chaplain for the Herrin and Energy Police departments.
In July 2000, he was assigned as the Pastor of St. Catherine Laboure in Cahokia, IL and Immaculate Conception Church in Centreville, IL. He served as the Chaplain for the Cahokia Police Department and Cahokia Fire Department. He was a volunteer fire-fighter on the Cahokia Fire Department as well. He served on various diocesan committees (Presbyteral Council, Diocesan Board of Education, Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Tribunal, and Vicar Forane for the East St. Louis Deanery). He also served as Temporary Administrator of Holy Family Church in Cahokia and Sacred Heart Church in Dupo.
In July 2006, Fr. Mark was assigned as the Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Freeburg, IL. He also served as the Chaplain for the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Freeburg Fire Department, Smithton Fire Department and New Athens Fire Department. He served for a year as the Administrator of St. Liborius Church in St. Libory and St. Anthony Church in Lively Grove. In 2017, he was given the additional assignment of St. Agatha Church in New Athens, IL.
In August 2020, Fr. Mark was assigned as the Pastor for Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Herrin and Holy Spirit Church in Carterville. He has family residing in the Hamilton County area (McLeansboro, Dahlgren, and Pioplois).
Fr. Mark is the chaplain for Herrin and Energy Police Departments. Additionally, he serves as the Vicar Forane for the South Vicariate of the Belleville Diocese, a member of both the Priest Personnel Board and the Diocesan Board of Education, and President of the Parish & Agency Resource Fund Board.