About Our Lady Help of Christians · Frankenstein, Missouri
Our Lady Help of Christians is a Roman Catholic parish in the small unincorporated community of Frankenstein, Missouri (Osage County region), belonging to the Diocese of Jefferson City. Established in 1863 as a missionary outpost of Immaculate Conception Church in Loose Creek, it is one of the oldest German-heritage Catholic communities in central Missouri, with the current Romanesque stone church completed in 1923 serving as the heart of the village. The parish operates St. Mary School (K-8), maintains an active PSR (Parish School of Religion) program, and is widely known for its annual summer church picnic, a tradition begun in 1890. Worship is offered in the historic church on Sunday mornings, and the parish continues to be sustained by multi-generational families rooted in the surrounding Bonnots Mill, Linn, and Loose Creek countryside.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- Our Lady Help of Christians (Mary Help of Christians / Maria Hilf)
- Rector
- Father Colin P. Franklin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Our Lady Help of Christians is a small, multi-generational Catholic community where nearly every ministry — from Eucharistic Adoration and RCIA to funeral luncheons and Christ Renews His Parish — is sustained by the same families who worship, farm, and attend school together. Visitors find a parish deeply rooted in its 1863 German-Catholic heritage, anchored by a striking 1923 Romanesque stone church and the parish-run St. Mary School (K-8), with the rare bonus of an annual church picnic tradition dating back to 1890. If you are looking for an intimate, faithful parish where you will be known by name and can help carry on a rich Catholic legacy in the Bonnots Mill / Loose Creek / Linn countryside, this is the place.
Mass times at Our Lady Help of Christians
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available upon request
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction (scheduled Wednesday evenings, e.g. 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.)
Parish History & Heritage
Founded in 1863 as a missionary outreach of Immaculate Conception Church in Loose Creek, the parish was originally named Maria Hilf (Mary Help) by Father Jacob Buschostts. Mass was first celebrated in the home of William Thoenen until a log church was built in 1865, followed by a second church on donated land in 1873. The parish's defining chapter came in 1889 under Father John Bachmeirer, who moved the community to a new site he named 'Frankenstein' and built a church/school completed in 1892.
- 1863: Parish established on land transferred by John and Christina Huesgen
- 1865: First log church built
- 1873: Second Maria Hilf church built on donated land
- 1885: Rev. Joseph F.M. Diel becomes first resident pastor (~50 families)
- 1889: Father John Bachmeirer arrives; town of Frankenstein named
- 1890: First annual church picnic held (continues today)
- 1892: Church/school building completed in Frankenstein
- 1921: Father Alphonse Nicolas initiates new stone church
- 1923: Current Romanesque stone church dedicated September 1
- 1963: New school erected (St. Mary School)
- July 6, 2013: Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrated
The Church Building
The current church is a 1923 Romanesque stone structure measuring 127 by 45 feet, with a 45-by-18-foot extension connected to a 72-foot bell tower that contains three landings. Stone was quarried locally and hauled by horse-and-mule teams of parishioners; the work was led by head stone mason Tony Gabelsberger. A signature feature is the red-tiled Italian roof, said to be visible from as far away as Linn and Loose Creek. The building remains the architectural and spiritual heart of the village.
- Romanesque style, completed and dedicated September 1, 1923
- 127 x 45 feet main body
- 45 x 18-foot extension at the bell tower
- 72-foot bell tower with three landings
- Distinctive red-tiled Italian roof
Annual Church Picnic
Since 1890, parishioners have hosted an annual summer church picnic — first organized under Father John Bachmeirer to raise funds for the new church/school in Frankenstein. More than 130 years later, the picnic remains one of the parish's signature traditions and a major community gathering for surrounding Osage County families.
- Tradition begun summer 1890 to fund new church/school
- Continues annually as a parish/community tradition
St. Mary School (K-8)
A new parish school was erected in 1963 and continues today as St. Mary School, serving students in grades K-8 with an emphasis on spiritual growth and academic excellence. The school is staffed by the pastor (Father Colin Franklin) along with principal/teacher Dana Peters, teachers Kathleen Kloeppel, Candice Pohlman, Sharla Buthod, and Theresa Uthe, and aide Bobbi Rankins.
- Grades K-8
- Established in current form 1963
- Pastor: Father Colin Franklin
- Principal/Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Mrs. Dana Peters
- 2nd & 3rd Grade: Mrs. Candice Pohlman
- 4th & 5th Grade Home Room (Language Arts & Social Studies): Mrs. Sharla Buthod
- 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Home Room (Math, Science, Religion): Mrs. Kathleen Kloeppel
- Art, PE and Kindergarten Assistant: Mrs. Theresa Uthe
- Aide: Mrs. Bobbi Rankins
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children attending public school are served by the Parish School of Religion (PSR), which meets Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. during the school year. Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation can journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). The parish also offers Confirmation Preparation and Marriage Preparation programs.
- PSR meets every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. (begins early September)
- Open to any school-aged child attending public school
- Confirmation Preparation offered
- Marriage Preparation offered
- RCIA offered for adults
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Our Lady Help of Christians organizes its lay life around a clear set of parish ministries that serve both the congregation and the wider community. Members are invited to take part in everything from Eucharistic Adoration to funeral luncheons. Volunteers also fill liturgical roles at Mass — lectors, altar servers, rosary leaders, choir members, and offertory families are all scheduled and listed in the weekly bulletin.
- Nursing Home Visitation
- Baptism Preparation
- Christ Renews His Parish
- Confirmation Preparation
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Funeral Luncheon
- RCIA
- Marriage Preparation
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Choir and liturgical roles (lector, server, rosary leader, collection counter, offertory family)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish offers Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and a weekday Mass on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available upon request, and Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction is held on scheduled Wednesday evenings. The parish office can be reached at (573) 897-2587 to arrange sacraments or request the priest.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- Thursday Mass: 8:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: available upon request
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction: scheduled Wednesday evenings (e.g. 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.)
Parish Staff & Clergy
Our Lady Help of Christians is currently served by Father Colin P. Franklin as pastor. Father Franklin also serves as pastor of nearby St. George Parish in Linn as part of a clustered assignment in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Parish administrative work and bulletin production are handled by Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor Mrs. Valerie Troesser.
- Pastor: Father Colin P. Franklin
- Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor: Mrs. Valerie Troesser
Visit & Contact Information
Our Lady Help of Christians is located at 1665 Hwy C, Bonnots Mill, MO 65016, in the unincorporated community of Frankenstein. The parish can be reached by phone at (573) 897-2587 or by email at [email protected]. The official website — hosted through the Diocese of Jefferson City — provides current bulletins, an events calendar, ministry information, and the full parish history.
- Address: 1665 Hwy C, Bonnots Mill, MO 65016
- Phone: (573) 897-2587
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://olhoc.diojeffcity.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jacob Buschostts
Named the original parish Maria Hilf (Mary Help); oversaw the building of the 1865 log church.
- Reverend Joseph F.M. Diel1885
First resident pastor of Maria Hilf parish; about fifty families at that time.
- Father John Bachmeirer1889
Initiated the move to the new site and named the town 'Frankenstein'; the 1890 church picnic tradition was begun under his pastorate; new church/school completed 1892.
- Father Alphonse Nicolas1921
Initiated the building of the current Romanesque stone church, completed and dedicated September 1, 1923.