Father Nick Junker (pronounced Yuh-nker)

Fr. Nick is a lifelong Belleville resident. He grew up in St. Peter Cathedral Parish and went to Althoff Catholic High School. After graduation, he spent about the next 10 years in Chicago, both as an undergraduate at DePaul University and as a seminarian at St. Mary of the Lake University, Mundelein Seminary.

After his first year in the Seminary, Fr. Nick was assigned to St. Bruno Parish in Pinckneyville for the summer with Fr. Brian Barker, He enjoyed the summer in Pinckneyville very much. "It was a time that allowed me to see hands on what exactly a priest does, and I can say I liked what I saw. The experience affirmed my vocation."

He also spent time at St. Dominic Parish in Breese, IL during a pastoral internship midway through seminary training. Fr. Nick was ordained a priest on May 10, 2008 and was assigned to St. Teresa Parish in Belleville, where he had been Parochial Vicar before being appointed Administrator of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in July of 2010.

His hobbies include prayer, sports, reading, movies, playing cards, swimming, eating out, and more sports! He has a passion for youth ministry and is happy to be serving God's faithful people here in Du Quoin, Illinois.