About Sacred Heart · Vandalia, Missouri
Sacred Heart Parish is a small Roman Catholic community in Vandalia, Missouri, in Audrain County, that has served Catholic families in northeast Missouri since 1891. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Jefferson City (Central Deanery) and is currently administered jointly with the associated parishes of St. John in Laddonia and St. Joseph in Martinsburg. Worship is celebrated at the parish church on West Home Street, with the parish office and mailing address at 800 South Lindell. The parish traces its origins to five faithful families who first gathered for Mass in a private home more than 130 years ago, and today it continues that legacy as a mission-minded rural parish in the heart of northern Missouri.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Derek J. Hooper (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City (Central Deanery, Audrain County)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a long-established Catholic community in rural northeast Missouri where families have worshipped continuously since 1891, with weekly Mass celebrated on Saturday evening. Because the parish is administered together with St. John in Laddonia and St. Joseph in Martinsburg, parishioners experience a tight-knit cluster of historic mission parishes where clergy and laity know one another personally. The parish keeps a quiet, faithful presence in Vandalia — a place where newcomers can expect a warm welcome, the rhythm of the liturgical year, and the support of a small but devoted Catholic family in Audrain County.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Catholic life in Vandalia began in 1891 when five families gathered for the first service in the home of John Frazier Coontz. From those humble beginnings the community grew under Fr. Edward J. Dempsey (1891-1899) and Fr. J. Dillon (1899-1912). In 1912 Fr. Gilfillan of Jefferson City was assigned to oversee the northern Missouri missions and guided the construction of Vandalia's first church; Mass was first offered in the new building in October 1913. A nine-room rectory was added in 1956, and a larger church replaced the original in 1978 when Bishop McAulliffe dedicated the present building. The parish center and further interior renovations were completed in 1991.
- 1891 — First Mass celebrated at the home of John Frazier Coontz with five founding families.
- 1891-1899 — Fr. Edward J. Dempsey serves the mission.
- 1899-1912 — Fr. J. Dillon succeeds Fr. Dempsey.
- 1913 — First church completed; Mass offered in October.
- 1956 — Rectory expanded; seating increased to 250.
- 1978 — Present church dedicated by Bishop McAulliffe on December 3.
- 1991 — Parish center and interior renovations completed.
Associated Parishes & Cluster Ministry
Sacred Heart is administered together with its sister mission parishes in Laddonia and Martinsburg, sharing a single parochial administrator. The cluster allows the small rural communities to sustain priestly ministry, sacraments, and faith formation across northeast Missouri's Audrain County.
- St. John Parish, Laddonia (associated parish)
- St. Joseph Parish, Martinsburg (associated parish)
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Derek J. Hooper
- Central Deanery, Diocese of Jefferson City
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Derek J. Hooper as Parochial Administrator. Fr. Hooper was ordained in 2021 and, in addition to his work with the Vandalia, Laddonia and Martinsburg parishes, serves as an Assistant Master of Ceremonies for the Diocese of Jefferson City. He may be reached through the parish office at (573) 594-2717 or via email.
- Rev. Derek J. Hooper — Parochial Administrator (ordained 2021)
- Chancery Assignment: Assistant Master of Ceremonies
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- Parish Phone: (573) 594-2717
Visit, Location & Contact
The parish is located in the small town of Vandalia, Missouri, in Audrain County — roughly in the heart of north-central Missouri. The parish's physical address is 800 South Lindell, Vandalia, MO 63382, while the church building sits on West Home Street. The mailing address is PO Box 29, Vandalia, MO 63382. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call ahead for sacramental needs, funeral or wedding planning, and current Mass times.
- Parish Office / Mailing: 800 South Lindell, PO Box 29, Vandalia, MO 63382
- Church Building: 201 W Home St., Vandalia, MO 63382
- Phone: (573) 594-2717
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan page: http://diojeffcity.org/sacred-heart-vandalia/
Diocese of Jefferson City
Sacred Heart Parish is one of many parishes in the Diocese of Jefferson City, which serves central and northern Missouri. Within the diocese the parish belongs to the Central Deanery and is one of three associated parishes covering the rural Audrain County communities of Vandalia, Laddonia, and Martinsburg.
- Diocese: Jefferson City
- Deanery: Central
- County: Audrain
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward J. Dempsey1891-1899
First priest to serve the Vandalia Catholic community after the founding gathering at the home of John Frazier Coontz.
- Fr. J. Dillon1899-1912
Succeeded Fr. Dempsey; shepherded the mission through the years leading up to the building of the first church.
- Fr. Gilfillan1912-
Assigned from Jefferson City to serve the northern Missouri missions; credited with shepherding the construction and completion of the first Vandalia church, with Mass offered in October 1913.
- Rev. Philip M. Kane
Listed by the Diocese of Jefferson City as pastor serving Laddonia, Martinsburg and Vandalia prior to the current parochial administrator.