About Our Lady · Festus, Missouri
Our Lady Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Festus, Missouri, situated on the northern edge of the Ozarks in Jefferson County. Founded in 1956, the parish serves nearly 1,000 households and is part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For more than six decades the community has proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ through its sacramental celebrations, parish family gatherings, parish school, Parish School of Religion, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The parish shares its campus with Our Lady School (PreK–8), and welcomes visitors passing through or new to the Festus–Crystal City area.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- Our Lady (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Zachary Povis (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Our Lady is a vibrant parish of nearly 1,000 households rooted in 65+ years of Catholic life in Jefferson County, Missouri. Members grow in faith through a parish school (PreK–8) and an active Parish School of Religion, a Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration chapel that runs into the night, weekly confession on Saturday afternoons, and a packed liturgical ministry roster (choir, lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers, ushers, children's Liturgy of the Word). Outreach runs deep too: the St. Vincent de Paul Conference does home visits and provides rent, utility, food and pharmacy help, the Healing Homes Ministry offers mission-style retreats, the Prayer Shawl Ministry has been blessing shawls since 2006, and the parish sends teams on ACTS retreats. Welcoming, family-friendly, and rooted in Christ — it's the kind of parish where new faces quickly become regulars.
Mass times at Our Lady
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Tuesday 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, church)
Parish Overview & Mission
Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus, Missouri, is a parish of nearly 1,000 households in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish mission statement — 'Disciples working together to Know, Love, and Serve Christ' — is repeated across the parish website, bulletin, and PSR materials and frames everything from sacramental life to outreach. The parish is part of the broader Catholic community of Jefferson County and shares PSR programming with neighboring Sacred Heart Parish in Crystal City.
- Mission: Disciples working together to Know, Love, and Serve Christ
- Founded 1956; parish family of nearly 1,000 households
- Part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
History of Our Lady Parish
The parish was created in 1956 when the Archdiocese of St. Louis determined that Sacred Heart Parish in Crystal City needed help serving the wider Festus–Crystal City area. Rev. Charles Huelster was appointed first pastor, ground was broken November 12, 1956, and the founding community of about 265 families worshipped first at the American Legion Hall and then in the rectory basement at 501 Edgewood Lane. The parish school opened February 28, 1958; expansions followed in 1976 (kindergarten and four classrooms), 1979 (new rectory and Voelker Meditation Garden), 1989 (the present church, dedicated Oct. 8), and 2002 (school addition dedicated April 7, 2002).
- 1956 — Parish founded; first pastor Rev. Charles Huelster; ground broken Nov. 12, 1956
- 1958 — Our Lady School opens (Feb. 28)
- 1976 — School expansion adds four classrooms and kindergarten
- 1979 — Present rectory built; Rev. Harold Voelker Meditation Garden created; cross made from old-rectory timbers
- 1989 — Present church dedicated Oct. 8 under Rev. John Ditenhafer
- 2001 — Final payment on church loan made to the Archdiocese
- 2002 — School addition with library, computer lab, science/art room dedicated April 7
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Zachary Povis (Pastor / Parochial Administrator) with Fr. Steve Lian as Associate Pastor. Two permanent deacons serve: Deacon Tim Dunn and retired Deacon Glenn Politte. Acolyte Cody Bahr assists at the altar. The lay staff includes a Business Manager (Chris Auchly), Bookkeeper (Michelle Hughes), Office Manager and Pastoral Administrative Assistant (Diana Parker), Secretary (Margot Huber), Coordinator of Religious Education (Dawn Meinhardt), Youth Minister (Jessica Mayer), and Music Ministry director (Dan Dively). The Archdiocesan directory lists Fr. Povis as Parochial Administrator and Deacon Timothy Dunn as Permanent Deacon.
- Fr. Zachary Povis — Pastor / Parochial Administrator
- Fr. Stephen (Steve) Lian — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Timothy Dunn — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Glenn Politte — Retired Deacon
- Cody Bahr — Acolyte
- Chris Auchly — Business Manager
- Michelle Hughes — Parish and School Bookkeeper
- Diana Parker — Office Manager & Pastoral Administrative Assistant
- Margot Huber — Secretary
- Dawn Meinhardt — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Jessica Mayer — Youth Minister
- Dan Dively — Music Ministry
Our Lady School
Our Lady School has been educating children since 1958 and is a PreK–8 Catholic school with an enrollment just under 300 students. Students of all faiths are welcomed into an environment that aims to foster a faith-filled and academically strong setting, supporting families and working with the parish to encourage formation of the whole child through the examples and teachings of Jesus Christ. Key attributes of education at Our Lady School are described as: Rooted in Faith, Nurtured with Family, Strengthened by Knowledge, Enriched through Care, and Growing in Community. The Home and School Association (HASA) supports the school through events like the Golf Tournament, Mother and Father Masses, donut sales, the Father–Daughter Dance, and a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.
- PreK–8 Catholic school, enrollment just under 300
- Educating children since 1958 (classes began Feb. 28, 1958)
- Welcomes students of all faiths
- Principal: Tracy Kempfer — 636-937-5008, [email protected]
- 2002 expansion added four classrooms, library, computer lab, and science/art room
- HASA (Home and School Association) meets second Wednesday in the Design Center
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion offers religious instruction to children in grades K–8 who attend public schools or are homeschooled. Our Lady PSR partners with Sacred Heart Parish in Crystal City, sharing tuition and curriculum as 'Our Lady and Sacred Heart Parish School of Religion.' Classes are held from 6:00–7:15 PM in the parish school building. Tuition for 2025–2026 is $175 for one child, $275 for two, and $325 for three or more. The 2026–2027 calendar and registration are published on the PSR pages.
- Grades K–8 religious instruction for public-school and homeschooled children
- Classes 6:00–7:15 PM in the parish school building
- Shared with Sacred Heart Parish, Crystal City
- PSR Director: Kyle Wilmot — [email protected] / 636-232-6609
- Tuition: $175 / $275 / $325 (1 / 2 / 3+ children)
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), formerly known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). It is designed for non-Catholic adults who want to learn more about the Catholic faith, as well as Catholic adults who have not yet received all the Sacraments. The program covers basic Catholic beliefs — Scripture, Church law, the Commandments, the Sacraments, the Saints, Church history, and what it means to be Catholic — and is presented by priests, deacons, and lay persons.
- OCIA / RCIA for non-Catholics and Catholics needing sacraments
- Covers Scripture, Church law, Commandments, Sacraments, Saints, history, Catholic life
- Contact: Ruth Ann Adams — 314-614-7985
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries give parishioners of every age a role in the Mass. The Adult Choir rehearses Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM in the church and cantors are always needed for weekend Masses. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are trained and commissioned to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Communion. Lectors proclaim the Word at all weekend and weekday Masses. Altar Servers — young men and women trained for the role — are scheduled for weekend and holy day Masses and (with experience) funerals and weddings. Ushers greet, seat, and assist the assembly and distribute bulletins.
- Choir (adult) — Thursdays 7:00 PM in church; cantors for weekends (Amanda Bartosch 314-452-5669)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Fr. Micheal Boehm)
- Lectors (Parish Office)
- Altar Servers (Margot Huber, Parish Office)
- Ushers (Parish Office)
Devotions & Spiritual Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, Our Lady offers rich opportunities for prayer and devotion. Eucharistic Adoration runs every Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM in the church, with parishioners encouraged to commit a weekly holy hour. The Prayer Shawl Ministry has been blessing crocheted, knitted, and sewn shawls and lap coverings since November 2006; Father Greg or one of the deacons blesses the shawls once a month at a weekend Mass, and 12 Masses per year are offered for all prayer shawl recipients. The Adult Faith Formation / Bible Study program ('Foundations of Faith' from Ascension Press) meets Tuesday afternoons at 12:30 PM and Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the rectory meeting room. ACTS retreats — separate weekends for men and for women — are offered annually.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — first Wednesday 12:30 PM in church basement (contact Chris Burton 314-603-0047)
- Adult Faith Formation / Foundations of Faith — Tuesdays 12:30 PM & 7:00 PM in rectory
- Men's and Women's ACTS retreats (Bob Graf)
- Blessing of Prayer Shawls at weekend Masses; 12 Masses offered yearly for recipients
Outreach & Service Organizations
Our Lady has a deep bench of service organizations reaching into the local community and beyond. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference conducts home visits and assists with rent, utilities, food, clothing, furniture, and pharmacy needs, working with other Conferences, the St. Louis Council, and partner agencies. Healing Home Ministries is a weeklong experience blending mission-trip service with retreat peace. rEcess is a monthly respite-care evening for families of children with disabilities, held the first Friday of the month (Feb–May and Sept–Dec). The Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist and fellowship to parishioners who cannot attend Mass.
- St. Vincent de Paul — meets first Monday 5:30 PM, school Design Center (Susan Altnether 314-304-2647)
- Healing Home Ministries (Deacon Gene Mattler 314-280-0266)
- rEcess respite-care evenings — first Friday, monthly (Mary Roth 314-808-5403)
- Homebound Ministry (Parish Office)
- Annual Catholic Appeal — archdiocesan-wide, held each spring
Parish Organizations
The parish is supported by several lay-led organizations. The Knights of Columbus Council #14402 is a Catholic fraternal organization of practicing Catholic men age 18 and older, meeting the first Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the church basement. The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary has roughly 49 members, more than 30,000 volunteer hours logged, and has been named 'Outstanding Ladies Auxiliary' for nine straight years; it meets the first Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the Design Center. The Home and School Association (HASA) backs the school with events and fundraisers. The Quilters meet Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM and donate quilts to the parish picnic, parish auction, and St. Pius X High School auction. The Parish Council advises the pastor, and the School Board works collaboratively with the pastor on school policy. The parish Athletic Association/CYC offers team sports to youth in the parish boundaries.
- Knights of Columbus #14402 — first Tuesday 7:00 PM, church basement
- Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary — first Tuesday 6:30 PM, Design Center
- Home and School Association (HASA) — second Wednesday, Design Center
- Quilters — Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Tanya Stoll 636-208-1320)
- Parish Council — advises pastor
- School Board — three-year terms; advises pastor on school policy
- Athletic Association / CYC youth sports
Sacraments
The parish website lists 'Sacraments' as a main navigation item covering the celebration of the Church's seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony — along with funeral rites. Reconciliation is offered on the regular Saturday and Tuesday schedule above, and the OCIA process prepares adults for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. The Homebound Ministry coordinates Communion visits for the sick and elderly. Specific requirements (preparation classes, paperwork, sponsor forms) are handled through the parish office.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing, Matrimony, Holy Orders — contact parish office
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM and Tuesday 7:00 PM
- OCIA for adult initiation and completion of sacraments
- Communion for the Homebound (Parish Office)
- Anointing of the Sick / Funeral rites — contact parish office
Contact, Visit & Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed: the parish invites newcomers and travelers to 'drop by and visit.' The parish office can be reached by phone at (636) 937-5513 or by email at [email protected]. Address: 1550 St. Marys Lane, Festus, MO 63028. A weekly bulletin and parish calendar keep members informed of events and any schedule changes. New parishioners can register through the 'New Parishioner' link, and many ministries welcome volunteers of all ages — from Altar Servers and Ushers (high-school-age and up) to choir members, quilters, and rEcess volunteers (ages 14 and older).
- Address: 1550 St. Marys Lane, Festus, MO 63028
- Phone: (636) 937-5513
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olparish.org/
- New Parishioner registration available online
- Weekly bulletin and parish calendar posted online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Huelster1956–
First pastor of the newly founded parish.
- Rev. Harold Voelker
The meditation garden on the parish grounds is named for him; the cross in the garden was made from the timbers of the old rectory torn down in 1979.
- Rev. John Ditenhafer
Led construction of the present church building, dedicated October 8, 1989.