About Holy Family · Freeburg, Missouri
Holy Family Parish is a small Catholic community at the southern end of Osage County in Freeburg, Missouri, where the parish church is locally nicknamed the "Cathedral of the Ozarks" because of its twin 96-foot steeples. Founded in 1904 by German-settler farming families and tended since 1921 by generations of priests and sisters, the parish and its attached Catholic school remain the heart of village life, drawing families from across the rural region.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. William D. Debo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a warm, century-old rural Catholic community where the Eucharist, parish life, and its Pre-K through 8th-grade school are inseparable. Visitors can worship in a small but genuinely striking Romanesque church — the so-called "Cathedral of the Ozark" — with daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and Sunday liturgy, First Friday Adoration, and regular Confession. Active stewardship, youth ministry, social concerns, liturgy, finance, and parish-pastoral councils give parishioners many ways to share their time and talent, and the parish welcomes people of all backgrounds to "visit our community and our beautiful Church in the great village of Freeburg."
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:00 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday: 9:00 AM (before Mass)
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — First Friday of the month
Parish Identity & the 'Cathedral of the Ozarks'
Holy Family Parish sits at the southern end of Osage County in Freeburg, Missouri, and its striking Romanesque church is the visual and spiritual landmark of the village. Because of the church's twin 96-foot steeples topped with gilded crosses — unusual in such a small rural community — locals call it the "Cathedral of the Ozark" (and "Cathedral of the Ozarks"). The parish and its attached school are described on the parish website as the "integral connection binding this faith community to the greater world" for more than a century, where parish, school, and church together form the living Body of Christ centered on the Eucharist.
- Nickname: 'Cathedral of the Ozark' / 'Cathedral of the Ozarks'
- Romanesque architecture with twin 96-foot steeples and gilded crosses
- Solid-rock foundation begun spring 1920; church dedicated August 8, 1921
- Diocese of Jefferson City, Southeast Deanery, associated with Rich Fountain
Parish History
Holy Family Parish traces its origin to December 1903, when Archbishop John J. Glennon of St. Louis sent Rev. Gerhard Fick — a native of nearby Rich Fountain — to Freeburg. Of the 15 families then living in the village, 10 were Catholic; by 1904 the new parish numbered 46 farming families, and the first Solemn Mass was celebrated on Palm Sunday that year in a small wooden chapel. The current text is drawn from "Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri" by Loretta Pastva, SND.
- December 1903: Rev. Gerhard Fick sent by Archbishop John J. Glennon to Freeburg.
- 1904: Parish founded; first Solemn Mass on Palm Sunday in a small wooden chapel.
- 1904–1921: Ursuline Sisters from St. Louis staff the new school.
- Spring 1920: Ground broken for the present church on a foundation of solid rock.
- August 8, 1921: The present Romanesque church is dedicated.
- 1923: School Sisters of Notre Dame from St. Louis take over teaching; their presence continues today.
Holy Family School
Catholic education has been part of Holy Family since its very first year. Holy Family School opened on October 15, 1904, with 90 students and was staffed by Ursuline nuns from St. Louis, who remained until 1921. The School Sisters of Notre Dame from St. Louis began teaching in 1923, and their faith-filled witness continues today in the person of Sr. Linda Maune. Today the school enrolls about 79 students from Pre-K through 8th grade under principal Debbie Reinkemeyer, and the parish is actively fundraising through a "Building a Legacy of Learning" capital campaign to expand the school building.
- Opened October 15, 1904 with 90 students
- Ursuline Sisters (St. Louis), 1904–1921; School Sisters of Notre Dame (St. Louis) from 1923 to present
- Current enrollment: about 79 students, Pre-K through 8th grade
- Principal: Debbie Reinkemeyer
- Address: 110 W Oliver, Freeburg, MO 65016 (mailing P.O. Box 156)
- Phone: 573-744-5200
- Website: school.holyfamilyfreeburg.com
- Capital campaign: 'Building a Legacy of Learning' to expand the school
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates Mass in a simple weekly pattern that brings together a rural farming community. Weekend Masses are Saturday Vigil at 5:30 PM and Sunday at 9:30 AM, with weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:45 AM; there is no Mass on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Mass from Holy Family School is also live-streamed, as noted on parish bulletins.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM
- Wednesday: 7:45 AM
- Friday: 7:45 AM
- Tuesday & Thursday: No Mass
- Holy Hours and Adoration: First Friday of the month
Sacraments & Sacramentals
Beyond Sunday and daily Mass, Holy Family offers the regular sacraments needed by a rural parish. Confessions are heard before each weekend Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration is held on the First Friday of each month. Families are asked to contact the parish office to schedule Baptism, to arrange a Wedding (with at least six months' notice), to request the Anointing of the Sick, or to arrange a hospital visit by the priest.
- Confession: Saturdays 5:00 PM and Sundays 9:00 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday of the month
- Anointing of the Sick: on request
- Hospital visits: on request through the parish office
- Baptism: contact parish office
- Wedding: contact parish office at least 6 months in advance
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor together with a strong lay leadership structure. Rev. William D. Debo serves as pastor and is assisted by parish/school secretary Jennifer Kampeter. The parish school is led by principal Debbie Reinkemeyer. A network of pastoral, stewardship, finance, school, building, capital campaign, liturgy, youth ministry, and social-concerns councils supports the work of the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. William D. Debo (cell 573-291-6528)
- Parish & School Secretary: Jennifer Kampeter
- School Principal: Debbie Reinkemeyer
Councils, Ministries & Committees
Holy Family's lay involvement is organized through a wide set of councils and committees — a reflection of the parish's stewardship culture. These groups share responsibility for worship, formation, the school building project, finances, and outreach. Members of each council are listed with contact information on the parish website.
- Parish Pastoral Council — Chair: Matt Burkhardt
- Stewardship Council — Chair: Gary Welschmeyer
- Finance Council — Chair: Stephen Wieberg
- School Advisory Board — Chair: Tricia Burkhardt
- Home & School — President: Becky Haller
- Building Committee — Chair: Dale Struemph
- Capital Campaign Committee 'Building a Legacy of Learning' — Chair: Cara Falter
- Liturgy Committee — Chair: Annette Poettgen
- Youth Ministry — Contact: Lucas Lee and team
- Social Concerns Committee — Chair: Cara Falter
- Small-group ministry (S.O.F.T.) — Contact: Carleen Dickneite
Getting Involved & Contact
The parish welcomes new members and visitors, inviting all people of good will to visit the community and the church in Freeburg. Parish and school offices share weekday hours (Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM) and can be reached by phone, fax, or email. A downloadable parish bulletin (PDF) is published regularly with up-to-date announcements and the week's schedule, and Mass is occasionally live-streamed through the school.
- Parish/School Office Hours: Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–3:30 PM
- Parish Phone: 573-744-5254
- School Phone: 573-744-5200
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Principal email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Website: holyfamilyfreeburg.com
- School website: school.holyfamilyfreeburg.com
- Official Facebook page listed in bulletins
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gerhard Fick1903–c.1920s
Sent from the Archdiocese of St. Louis in December 1903 to found the parish; celebrated the first Solemn Mass on Palm Sunday 1904 and broke ground for the present church in spring 1920.