About Holy Guardian Angels · Brinktown, Missouri
Holy Guardian Angels is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Brinktown, Missouri (Maries County), founded in 1891 and administered as part of the Diocese of Jefferson City. It is currently linked in pastoral care with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vienna as a cooperative grouping called 'The Holy Foursome.' Weekend Mass is celebrated on Saturday evening, with confessions offered 30 minutes before Mass and by appointment. The parish shares its parish office, religious education staff, and ministries with neighboring Visitation parishes, allowing a small rural congregation to sustain Catholic life in the Ozark foothills.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Holy Guardian Angels
- Rector
- Fr. Basil Tigga
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Holy Guardian Angels is a small, close-knit rural parish where generations of Maries County Catholic families have worshiped since 1891. The parish shares its pastor, deacon, religious education, and a wide range of ministries with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in nearby Vienna, so even a small congregation offers a full Catholic life: Saturday evening Mass, regular Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, PSR religious education for children, youth ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, prayer lines, a Cancer Support group, and beloved parish traditions like the annual October picnic. It is a wonderful place for Catholics in the Ozark foothills to belong, serve, and pass the faith to their children.
Mass times at Holy Guardian Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before weekend Masses (Saturday 6:00–6:30 p.m.)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration offered (per parish website's Worship & Prayer page; full schedule posted in bulletin)
About Holy Guardian Angels
Holy Guardian Angels is a small rural Catholic parish in the village of Brinktown, Maries County, Missouri, founded in 1891. It is part of the Diocese of Jefferson City and is pastored jointly with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in nearby Vienna as part of a four-parish cooperative grouping called 'The Holy Foursome.' The modest brick sanctuary sits across from the parish hall on State Highway N, and a parish cemetery lies just down the hill. The parish shares its office, religious education staff, and many ministries with its sister parish in Vienna.
- Patron: Holy Guardian Angels (Feast: October 2)
- Founded: 1891
- Diocese of Jefferson City
- Address: 37515 State Hwy N, Brinktown, MO 65443
- Phone: (573) 422-3950
History of Holy Guardian Angels and the Region
The parish was established in 1891 to serve German-Catholic settlers in the Maries County Ozark foothills and has shared pastoral care with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vienna since that time. The combined parishes have been served by an unbroken succession of priests since 1859 — long before Holy Guardian Angels itself was founded — with the longest tenure belonging to Rev. Jon J. Fugel, who served 40 years (1896–1936). Late-1800s pastor Rev. Henry Kuennen helped establish the first one-room wooden frame building on the site. The modest brick sanctuary still in use today stands across from the parish hall.
- 1859–1867: Rev. John Baptist Goeldin (earliest listed)
- 1885–1896: Rev. Henry A.B. Kuennen (helped build first wooden frame building)
- 1896–1936: Rev. Jon J. Fugel (40-year tenure)
- 1966–1972: Rev. Jerome F. Bestgen
- 2005–2014: Monsignor Marion Makarewicz
- 2014–2020: Fr. Matthew J. Flatley
- 2020–present: Fr. Basil Tigga
The Holy Foursome — Linked Parishes
Holy Guardian Angels shares its pastor, deacon, and parish staff with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vienna as part of 'The Holy Foursome,' a four-parish cooperative grouping that also includes Visitation Inter-Parish School and the parishes of St. Aloysius (Argyle) and St. Boniface (Koeltztown). This structure allows the small rural congregations to maintain Catholic schools, religious education programs, and pastoral care together. The parishes publish a joint bulletin called 'The Holy Foursome' and operate a shared parish office.
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Vienna, MO)
- Visitation Inter-Parish School
- St. Aloysius (Argyle, MO)
- St. Boniface (Koeltztown, MO)
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Holy Guardian Angels participates in the Parish School of Religion (PSR) program for Catholic children who do not attend Catholic school. PSR classes meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00–10:00 a.m. at Visitation Inter-Parish School in Vienna, immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. RCIA classes are also offered through the Holy Foursome for adults interested in learning about or joining the Catholic faith. Catechesis at the parish aims to hand on the Word of God and form lifelong witnesses to Christ.
- PSR Coordinator: Amber Bock (573-301-8691)
- RCIA Coordinator: Vicky Hagenhoff (573-680-0823)
- PSR classes Sunday 9:00–10:00 a.m. at Visitation Inter-Parish School
- Bible studies and lay movements (Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, Teens Encounter Christ) supported through the Diocese of Jefferson City
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish supports a wide range of ministries despite its small size, thanks to the shared structure with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pastoral ministries include Baptism Preparation, Marriage Preparation, Confirmation Preparation, Anointing of the Sick, Nursing Home Visitation, Funeral Luncheon, and Eucharistic Adoration. Parish organizations include the Knights of Columbus (Visitation Council), WINGS Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12), Visitation Quilters, Loaves and Fishes, Cancer Support, the Prayer Line/Prayer Chain, Vocations Committee, Bereavement Committee, Finance Council, Faith Formation Committee, Stewardship Committee, Cemetery Board, Pastoral Parish Council, Social Concerns Commission, and Worship & Spiritual Development Commission.
- Knights of Columbus (Visitation Council)
- WINGS Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12) — Coordinator: Sharon Wulff
- Visitation Quilters — Coordinator: Lucy Branson
- Loaves and Fishes
- Cancer Support
- Prayer Line: Nina Stratman (VBM), Bernice Veasman (GA)
- Bereavement Committee — Coordinator: Stephanie Buschmann
Parish Staff
Holy Guardian Angels shares its pastoral and administrative staff with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vienna. Fr. Basil Tigga serves as Pastor/Administrator, assisted by Deacon Michael Brooks. Peggy Neubert serves as Parish Bookkeeper and Secretary for the GA/VBM/VI-PS offices. Mrs. Susan (Susie) Kleffner serves as Parish Bulletin Coordinator and Mass Stipend Coordinator, while Amber Bock coordinates Religious Education (PSR).
- Pastor: Fr. Basil Tigga — [email protected], 573-422-3950
- Deacon: Michael Brooks — [email protected], 573-578-3677
- Parish Bookkeeper/Secretary: Peggy Neubert — [email protected], 573-422-3950
- Bulletin & Homebound Ministry: Susie Kleffner — [email protected], 573-422-3784
- PSR Coordinator: Amber Bock
Annual Holy Guardian Angels Parish Picnic
A beloved Ozark tradition, the Holy Guardian Angels Parish Picnic is held on the second Sunday of October each year in the parish hall basement and grounds. The event features tables loaded with mashed potatoes, potato salad, sweet potatoes, string beans, corn, fresh-cut tomatoes, fried chicken, and locally-made sausage, plus a beer tent, games of chance, a quilt show, and bingo. The day typically ends with a walk down the hill to visit the parish cemetery and family graves. The picnic is a community reunion for generations of Maries County Catholic families.
- Held annually on the second Sunday of October
- Country dinner in the parish hall basement
- Beer tent, games of chance, quilt show, bingo
- Visits to the parish cemetery down the hill
- Long-running tradition drawing extended families from across the region
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Guardian Angels through the shared parish office in Vienna. The parish office phone (573-422-3950) is staffed during normal hours; messages can be left at any time. The parish mailing address is PO Box 226, Vienna, MO 65582. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the brick sanctuary at 37515 State Hwy N, Brinktown.
- Address: 37515 State Hwy N, Brinktown, MO 65443
- Parish Office: PO Box 226, Vienna, MO 65582
- Phone: (573) 422-3950
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://visitationhga.diojeffcity.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Baptist Goeldin1859–1867
Earliest listed priest for the region; served before Holy Guardian Angels was established.
- Rev. J. W. Graham1867–1868
- Rev. Thomas J. Moran1867–1870
- Rev. John Grunder1870–1871
- Rev. Francis X. Deimel1871
- Rev. William Klevinghaus1871–1873
- Rev. Joseph Hellwing1873–1876
- Rev. Peter Bremerich1876–1879
- Rev. Henry Aut Hukestein1879–1880
- Rev. William J. Angenendt1880–1883
- Rev. Peter A. Trumm1883–1884
- Rev. Joseph F.M. Diel1884
- Rev. Henry A.B. Kuennen1885–1896
Helped establish a one-room wooden frame building in the late 1800s.
- Rev. Jon J. Fugel1896–1936
Served an extraordinary 40-year tenure.
- Rev. Blase J. Scheffer1936–1944
- Rev. Clement J. Gerbig1944–1951
- Rev. Guido Nardoni1951–1962
- Rev. Seanan M. O'Connell1963–1966
- Rev. Jerome F. Bestgen1966–1972
- Rev. Henray J. Figge1972–1973
- Rev. Joseph William Starmann1973
- Rev. James Mohan1973–1980
- Rev. Sean J. Smith1980–1981
- Rev. (Martin) Brendan Griffey1981–1982
- Rev. Donald J. Antweiler1982–1985
- Rev. Thomas E. Vaughn1985–1988
First of two stints.
- Rev. J. Patrick Flanagan1989–1991
- Rev. (Christopher) Mark Smith1991–1992
- Rev. Thomas E. Vaughn1992–1996
- Rev. John J. Schmitz1996–2005
- Monsignor Marion Makarewicz2005–2014
- Rev. Boniface Kasiita Nzabonimpa2012–2013
- Fr. Matthew J. Flatley2014–2020
- Fr. Basil Tigga2020–present
Current Pastor/Administrator of Holy Guardian Angels and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.