About Church of the Resurrection · Wellsville, Missouri
Church of the Resurrection is a small Roman Catholic parish in Wellsville, Missouri, part of the Diocese of Jefferson City and the Central Deanery of Montgomery County. The parish was formed around 1873 by Catholics in the Wellsville area, who first gathered for Mass in one another's homes and in the local town hall before constructing a frame church whose cornerstone was laid on Easter 1881 — the occasion that gave the parish its name. Today the parish is closely associated with Immaculate Conception Parish in Montgomery City and St. Patrick Parish in Jonesburg, sharing pastoral care between the three small rural communities. Its mailing address and email are administered through nearby St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord
- Rector
- Fr. Ernest Dike (modified temporary Parochial Administrator of the cluster, appointed by Bishop W. Shawn McKnight effective December 30, 2021, covering Immaculate Conception–Montgomery City, St. Patrick–Jonesburg, and Church of the Resurrection–Wellsville)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Resurrection is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Montgomery County, with roots stretching back to 1873 and a devotion — the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto — that honors the sacrifices of its WWII parishioners. For Catholics in the Wellsville area, it offers an intimate, small-town parish in the rural Central Deanery, with weekday Mass celebrated on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, confession before Mass or by appointment, and a permanent deacon (Deacon Ronald Deimeke) who assists the priest cluster. It is a place for those who value tradition, neighborliness, and being part of a parish family that has worshipped, schooled, and gathered in this corner of Missouri for more than 150 years.
Mass times at Church of the Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:15 PM (or by appointment) — with Deacon Ron Deimeke
Parish History
Church of the Resurrection traces its roots to about 1873, when Catholics in the Wellsville area began gathering for Mass in private homes and in the local town hall. As the community grew, a building site was purchased and a frame church was erected; because its cornerstone was laid on Easter 1881, the church was named for the Resurrection — a name it retains today. A parish school was added in 1922 and operated until 1935; that school building was later converted into a parish hall in 1949.
- Parish formed about 1873.
- Original frame church cornerstone laid on Easter 1881 — gave the parish its name.
- Parish school opened 1922, closed 1935.
- Parish hall (former school) converted into church February 1954; original frame church torn down.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
One of the most distinctive features of Resurrection Parish is its Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, donated by longtime pastor Fr. Joseph Murray (1928–1953) in honor of the parishioners of Wellsville who served during World War II. The grotto remains a quiet devotional landmark on the parish grounds and a tangible link to the parish's mid-20th-century community.
- Donated by Fr. Joseph Murray.
- Dedicated to parishioners who served in World War II.
- A devotional landmark on the parish property in Wellsville.
Cluster Parishes
Resurrection is one of three parishes in the Central Deanery of the Diocese of Jefferson City that share pastoral care. The cluster is associated with Immaculate Conception Parish in Montgomery County seat Montgomery City and St. Patrick Parish in Jonesburg. Administrative phone and email for Resurrection are routed through neighboring St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg.
- Immaculate Conception Parish — Montgomery City.
- St. Patrick Parish — Jonesburg.
- Administrative contact: St. Joseph Parish, Martinsburg (phone and email shared).
Diocese of Jefferson City
Church of the Resurrection belongs to the Diocese of Jefferson City, a suffragan see of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of St. Louis established by Pope Pius XII on November 27, 1956. The diocese covers the central portion of Missouri, and Resurrection sits within its Central Deanery in Montgomery County. The current diocesan bishop is the Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, who has overseen recent clergy appointments involving Resurrection.
- Diocese established by Pope Pius XII on November 27, 1956.
- Resurrection is in the Central Deanery, Montgomery County.
- Current diocesan bishop: Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight.
Visiting and Contact
Church of the Resurrection is located at 409 East Bates Street in Wellsville, Missouri 63384, in rural Montgomery County between Montgomery City and Mexico, Missouri. The parish mailing address is 408 E Kellet Street, Martinsburg, MO 65264. Telephone (573-492-6595), fax (573-492-6105), and email ([email protected]) are all shared with neighboring St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg. Visitors and parishioners seeking current Mass, confession, or event information are encouraged to call the parish office, as the diocesan web page notes that weekend Mass offerings at the Wellsville church itself are presently suspended.
- Physical address: 409 E Bates, Wellsville, MO 63384.
- Mailing address: 408 E Kellet St, Martinsburg, MO 65264.
- Phone: 573-492-6595 | Fax: 573-492-6105.
- Email: [email protected].
- Official webpage: diojeffcity.org/church-resurrction-wellsville/.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Murray1928–1953
Long-serving pastor who donated the parish's Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto honoring parishioners who served in World War II.
- Fr. Augustine A. Okoli
Returned to priestly service in the Diocese of Aba, Nigeria (announced in diocesan decree of appointments).
- Fr. Paul M. HartleyJanuary 2021 – January 12, 2022
Appointed pastor of Resurrection alongside Immaculate Conception (Montgomery City) and St. Patrick (Jonesburg) in January 2021; died January 12, 2022 at age 66 at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia after a battle with cancer. Previously ordained May 30, 1981 by Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe.
- Fr. Ernest Dikeeffective December 30, 2021
Modified temporary Parochial Administrator of the three-parish cluster after Fr. Hartley's death.