About Holy Family · Sweet Springs, Missouri
Holy Family is a small Roman Catholic Mission parish located at 200 Ruby Street in Sweet Springs, Saline County, Missouri, within the Diocese of Jefferson City. Classified as a 'mission' church rather than an independent parish, it is cared for by the pastor and associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in nearby Marshall, along with St. Joseph Parish in Slater. The mission serves the Catholic families of Sweet Springs and the surrounding rural area with weekend Mass, faith formation, and parish organizations. Its current place of worship dates to 1982, when a former funeral chapel and residence was remodeled into a dedicated church building.
- Established
- 1940s
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Francis W. Doyle (Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, under whose care the mission operates)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in Sweet Springs with a regular Sunday Mass and the full sacramental and faith-formation support of the larger St. Peter Parish family in Marshall. Parishioners can worship at a mission church with deep local roots dating back to the 1940s, while benefiting from the pastoral staff, religious education, RCIA, and parish organizations of an extended parish family. It is a fitting place for Catholics in Saline County seeking a quiet, dedicated place of worship dedicated to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available upon request through the parish office at St. Peter Parish, Marshall (660) 886-7960
About Holy Family Mission
Holy Family is a small Roman Catholic Mission parish located at 200 Ruby Street in Sweet Springs, Saline County, Missouri. It is one of the missions served by the pastoral team of St. Peter Parish in Marshall within the Diocese of Jefferson City. As a mission rather than an independent parish, Holy Family shares clergy, faith formation programs, and parish organizations with St. Peter Parish in Marshall and St. Joseph Parish in Slater, forming an extended parish family across central Missouri.
- Mission parish (not an independent parish)
- Cared for by St. Peter Parish, Marshall
- Diocese of Jefferson City
- Address: 200 Ruby St., Sweet Springs, MO 65351
Parish History
Holy Family was established in the 1940s by Bishop Edwin V. O'Hara of Kansas City as a Mission parish served by the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Shackelford. A small frame church served the fluctuating Catholic population for years. After being assisted by Marshall priests during Father James Burns' illness, the mission returned to the Shackelford parish until it was closed in 1972 due to declining numbers. Catholic families eventually returned to the area, and the church was reopened under St. Peter Parish in Marshall. In 1981 the original property was sold to Berg Mortuaries and a former funeral chapel and residence was remodeled into the present church in 1982.
- Established in the 1940s by Bishop Edwin V. O'Hara
- Originally served by Immaculate Conception, Shackelford
- Closed in 1972 due to declining numbers
- Reopened under the care of St. Peter Parish, Marshall
- Present church building remodeled in 1982 from a former funeral chapel
Pastoral Care and Clergy
Because Holy Family is a mission, it does not have a resident pastor of its own. Its sacramental and pastoral care is provided by the priests assigned to St. Peter Parish in Marshall. As of the most recent diocesan appointment (effective July 1, 2021), Rev. Francis W. Doyle was named pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, St. Joseph Parish, Slater, and the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs. Fr. Jacob D. Hartman is listed as the current associate pastor at St. Peter Parish, Marshall, assisting with care of the mission communities.
- Rev. Francis W. Doyle — Pastor (since July 1, 2021)
- Rev. Jacob D. Hartman — Associate Pastor, St. Peter Parish, Marshall
- Fr. Mark S. Smith, JCL — previous administrator/pastor (2017 – July 2021)
Extended Parish Family with St. Peter, Marshall and St. Joseph, Slater
Since 2021, Holy Family has been formally grouped with St. Joseph Parish in Slater as a mission of St. Peter Parish in Marshall. The pastor and associate pastor of St. Peter's celebrate Mass at all three churches, and the three communities share pastoral councils, RCIA/OCIA, religious education, and faith formation resources. St. Peter's itself maintains a school, parish hall, and a broad range of organizations that mission parishioners are welcome to participate in.
- Shared Pastoral Parish Council across the three parishes
- Shared RCIA/OCIA program
- Shared Religious Education / PSR
- St. Peter's School, Marshall available to mission families
Sacraments
All sacramental preparation is coordinated through St. Peter Parish in Marshall, which serves Holy Family Mission. Baptisms require advance registration and a meeting with the pastor; Marriages require contacting the parish office at least six months before the wedding date; the Anointing of the Sick may be received privately at home, at church, or in the hospital.
- Baptism Preparation — call the parish office to register and meet with the pastor
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice required
- Anointing of the Sick — available at home, in church, or at the hospital
- RCIA/OCIA — shared program with St. Peter's, Marshall
Parish Organizations and Ministries
While Holy Family itself is small, mission parishioners participate in the broader parish life of St. Peter's, Marshall. The extended parish supports an active Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Altar and Rosary Society, Legion of Mary, and a Prayer Circle. Faith formation for children is offered through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), and youth ministry programs are open to mission teens as well.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Legion of Mary
- Prayer Circle
- Youth Ministry
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
Contact and Visiting
Because Holy Family is a mission, the primary point of contact for sacraments, registrations, and pastoral needs is the parish office of St. Peter Parish in Marshall. The mission church itself is located on Ruby Street in Sweet Springs, and visitors are warmly welcomed at the Sunday Mass.
- Mission address: 200 Ruby St., Sweet Springs, MO 65351
- Pastoral care office: St. Peter Parish, 1801 S. Miami Ave., Marshall, MO 65340
- St. Peter Parish phone: (660) 886-7960
- St. Peter Parish email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mark S. Smith, JCL2017 – July 2021
Served as Administrator/Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, St. Joseph Parish, Slater, and the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs, before being reassigned to SS. Peter and Paul, Boonville.
- Rev. Francis W. Doyleeffective July 1, 2021
Appointed Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, St. Joseph Parish, Slater, and the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs.