About Church of the Risen Savior · Rhineland, Missouri
Church of the Risen Savior is a Roman Catholic parish in the tiny river town of Rhineland, Missouri, in the Diocese of Jefferson City. It was formed in 1979 by merging the former St. Joseph's Church in Rhineland with St. Martin's in nearby Starkenburg, and takes its name from Christ's resurrection. The parish also oversees the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg, one of Missouri's oldest Catholic devotional sites, and welcomes thousands of visitors each year for Mass, pilgrimages, and concerts. Father Philip Niekamp currently serves as pastor.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- The Risen Savior (Jesus Christ, risen from the dead)
- Rector
- Father Philip (Phil) Niekamp
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Church of the Risen Savior is a small but active river-valley parish where Catholics and visitors alike are warmly welcomed by Father Phil Niekamp and the parishioners. Membership means joining a community that keeps alive the historic devotion of the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg and supports Catholic education through events like the annual Whitetail Dinner & Auction. Visitors can take part in the Spring and Fall Pilgrimages, the Annual Fall Dinner, and the Sounds of Starkenburg pipe-organ concerts at St. Martin Church.
Mass times at Church of the Risen Savior
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass or by appointment
- Second Tuesday of the month (March–November) at 11:15 a.m. (or 11:00 a.m. per 2026 schedule) at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Starkenburg
About Church of the Risen Savior
Church of the Risen Savior is a Roman Catholic parish in Rhineland, Missouri, part of the Diocese of Jefferson City. It was created in 1979 by merging the former St. Joseph's Church in Rhineland with St. Martin's in Starkenburg, and was named after Christ's Resurrection. The parish also ministers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg and welcomes thousands of pilgrims and visitors each year.
- Parish Office: 605 Bluff Street, Rhineland, MO 65069
- Phone: (573) 236-4390
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Father Philip (Phil) Niekamp
History of the Parish
Before 1979, Rhineland's Catholics worshipped at St. Joseph's Church while Starkenburg Catholics gathered at St. Martin's. In 1979 the two congregations were united into a single parish named the Church of the Risen Savior. The historic Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg, long a destination for Marian pilgrims, came under the care of the new parish and remains central to its identity.
- 1979: St. Joseph's (Rhineland) and St. Martin's (Starkenburg) merged to form Church of the Risen Savior
- Parish name chosen to honor the Resurrection of Christ
- Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg is associated with the parish
Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Starkenburg
The Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg is one of Missouri's historic Catholic devotion sites and is associated with Church of the Risen Savior. It is the setting for the Second Tuesday Masses from March through November, as well as the parish's two annual pilgrimages.
- Site of Second Tuesday noon Masses (March–November)
- Site of the Spring and Fall Pilgrimages
- Reconciliation offered before the Second Tuesday Mass
Parish Events & Fundraisers
The parish runs a busy calendar of pilgrimages, fundraisers, and community meals throughout the year. The Whitetail Dinner & Auction benefits Catholic education, Brunch & Blooms supports grounds maintenance, and the Annual Fall Dinner in early November is a beloved country-style meal. The Sounds of Starkenburg pipe-organ concerts at St. Martin Church close out the year in late November.
- Whitetail Dinner & Auction (February) – fundraiser for Catholic Education
- Brunch & Blooms (March) – fundraiser for grounds maintenance
- Annual Fall Dinner – first Sunday in November; country-fried chicken, whole-hog sausage, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, sauerkraut, green beans, Missouri baked apples, dinner rolls, salads, and pie; served 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Sounds of Starkenburg – Pfeffer pipe-organ concert at St. Martin Church, Saturday after Thanksgiving, 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Pilgrimages
Each year the parish hosts a Spring Pilgrimage on the third Sunday in May and a Fall Pilgrimage on the second Sunday in September. Both begin at 10:00 a.m. with a Rosary Procession followed by outdoor Stations of the Cross, a shared dinner, Reconciliation, Benediction, and Mass.
- Spring Pilgrimage – 3rd Sunday in May
- Fall Pilgrimage – 2nd Sunday in September
- Schedule: 10:00 a.m. Rosary Procession, outdoor Stations of the Cross, dinner, Reconciliation, Benediction, and Mass
Pastor & Contact
Father Philip (Phil) Niekamp is the current pastor of Church of the Risen Savior. The parish office is located at 605 Bluff Street in Rhineland and can be reached by phone at (573) 236-4390 or by email at [email protected]. In his welcome message, Father Phil extends an open invitation to both Catholics and non-Catholics to visit the parish and the Shrine.
- Pastor: Father Philip (Phil) Niekamp
- Parish Office: 605 Bluff St., Rhineland, MO 65069
- Phone: (573) 236-4390
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese of Jefferson City Chancery: (573) 635-9127
Surrounding Catholic Community
Within a short drive of Rhineland are several neighboring Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Jefferson City, including St. George in Hermann, St. Paul in Berger, the Church of the Assumption in Morrison, the Church of the Most Pure Heart of Mary in Chamois, and St. Patrick in Jonesburg, among others.
- Church of St. George, Hermann (~7.4 km east)
- Church of the Assumption, Morrison (~11 km southwest)
- Church of St. Martin & Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Starkenburg (~3 km northwest)
- Church of St. Patrick, Jonesburg (~24 km northeast)