About St. Boniface · Brunswick, Missouri
St. Boniface is a small Roman Catholic parish in Brunswick, Missouri, in the Diocese of Jefferson City. The parish traces its origins to 1860, when Fr. John Hogan began the first Catholic congregation in Brunswick by renting the old City Hall, later building a frame church on a hill overlooking the surrounding territory and placing it in the care of the Franciscan Friars. By 1901, the frame church had grown too small; a 90-by-17-foot pressed-brick and stone structure was built on adjoining lots and dedicated on October 26, 1902, by Bishop Maurice Burke of St. Joseph. Today St. Boniface is twinned with St. Joseph Parish in Salisbury and St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Wien under a single pastor.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- St. Boniface
- Rector
- Rev. Jeremy A. Secrist
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Boniface is a small, historic parish with deep roots in the Chariton County community, tracing its origins to 1860 and worshiping in its current pressed-brick and stone church since 1902. As part of an associated-parish grouping with St. Joseph in Salisbury and St. Mary of the Angels in Wien, it offers the reverent care of a single shepherd (Rev. Jeremy A. Secrist) and the warm familiarity typical of a rural Missouri Catholic parish.
Mass times at St. Boniface
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. Boniface traces its origins to 1860, making it one of the older Catholic congregations in central Missouri. Fr. John Hogan began the parish by renting the old City Hall of Brunswick for worship, then built a frame church on a hill overlooking the surrounding territory and entrusted it to the Franciscan Friars. By 1901, growth had outgrown the original structure; lots were purchased to the south, and the 90-by-17-foot pressed-brick and stone church that stands today was built and dedicated on October 26, 1902, by Bishop Maurice Burke of St. Joseph.
- 1860: Fr. John Hogan organizes the first Catholic parish in Brunswick, renting the old City Hall.
- Original frame church built on a hill, placed in the care of the Franciscan Friars.
- 1901: lots purchased to the south of the original church for a larger building.
- October 26, 1902: current pressed-brick and stone church dedicated by Bishop Maurice Burke of St. Joseph.
- Parish history drawn from 'Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri' by Loretta Pastva, SND.
Pastor and Leadership
St. Boniface is served by Rev. Jeremy A. Secrist, who became pastor of the parish in September 2023 as part of an associated-parish grouping that also includes St. Joseph Parish in Salisbury and St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Wien. Father Secrist was ordained in 2004 and, in addition to his pastoral duties, serves the Diocese of Jefferson City as the Bishop's Delegate for the Care and Preservation of Pipe Organs and on the Diocesan Building Commission.
- Rev. Jeremy A. Secrist — Pastor (ordained 2004).
- Associated parishes: St. Joseph, Salisbury; St. Mary of the Angels, Wien.
- Diocesan role: Bishop's Delegate for Pipe Organs.
- Diocesan role: Diocesan Building Commission.
Mass and Worship
St. Boniface celebrates its principal weekly Mass as a Saturday Vigil Mass at 6:00 PM in English, in keeping with its small-parish schedule published by the Diocese of Jefferson City. As a member of the Central Deanery grouping with Salisbury and Wien, additional sacramental and liturgical opportunities may be coordinated across the associated parishes.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 6:00 PM (English).
Church Building
The present church of St. Boniface is a 90-by-17-foot pressed-brick and stone structure built to replace the original 19th-century frame church that had stood on a hill overlooking Brunswick. It has served the parish continuously since its dedication in 1902.
- Style/description: Pressed brick and stone, 90 by 17 feet.
- Built: 1901–1902.
- Dedicated: October 26, 1902, by Bishop Maurice Burke of St. Joseph.
Contact and Location
St. Boniface is located in the small Missouri River town of Brunswick, the seat of Chariton County in central Missouri. Parish contact information is published through the Diocese of Jefferson City.
- Address: 203 E Harrison St, Brunswick, MO 65236.
- Phone: 660-388-5590.
- Email: [email protected].
- County: Chariton.
- Deanery: Central.
Diocese and Deanery
St. Boniface is a parish of the Diocese of Jefferson City, one of the Catholic dioceses serving central and northern Missouri. Within the diocese, the parish belongs to the Central Deanery and is grouped with St. Joseph Parish in Salisbury and St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Wien under a single pastor.
- Diocese: Diocese of Jefferson City.
- Deanery: Central.
- Associated parishes: Salisbury (St. Joseph) and Wien (St. Mary of the Angels).