About St. Catherine of Siena · Bolivar, Missouri
St. Catherine of Siena is a small Catholic mission church in Humansville, Missouri, formally affiliated with Sacred Heart Parish in nearby Bolivar. Served from Sacred Heart under pastor Very Rev. Scott M. Sunnenberg, the mission hosts a Saturday Vigil Mass and currently counts 37 families in its membership. As a mission of Sacred Heart it falls within the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Deanery 3) and shares the parish's faith formation, music, and Knights of Columbus programs.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Siena
- Rector
- The Very Rev. Scott M. Sunnenberg
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Deanery 3)
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Siena offers the intimacy of a small mission community — just 37 families worshiping at a single Saturday Vigil Mass in Humansville — while remaining attached to Sacred Heart Parish in Bolivar, which provides a full range of programs: faith formation for the whole family, RCIA, music and liturgical ministries, Knights of Columbus, Parish Council of Catholic Women, and adult formation with Deacon Jim. It's a place where Sunday Mass is celebrated at Sacred Heart and Saturday evening Mass brings the mission community together for the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a quiet, rural Missouri setting.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Siena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Catherine's Mission Parish (Humansville)
- Saturday: 6:00 PM – 6:15 PM at Sacred Heart (Bolivar)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM at Sacred Heart (Bolivar)
- Wednesday: 6:15 PM – 6:45 PM (2nd & 3rd Wednesdays of the month) at Sacred Heart (Bolivar)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday (between Masses) at Sacred Heart (Bolivar)
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM at Sacred Heart (Bolivar)
- Friday: 6:30 PM (1st Friday of the Month, after Mass) at Sacred Heart (Bolivar)
History of St. Catherine of Siena Mission
Catholic life in the Humansville area began around 1920, when Fr. C. E. Francka of St. Wenceslaus in Karlin celebrated Mass six to eight times a year in the homes of local Catholics, who knew their little community as St. Jude Mission. In 1940 Fr. Ronald E. O'Dwyer, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Osceola, MO, was named pastor of the mission, which then had about 35 members and met in the L. T. Heaton Building. Within a year, with the help of Fr. Senan O'Connell of Osceola, the community moved into a larger building across the street. On January 20, 1946, Bishop Edwin V. O'Hara of Kansas City dedicated a new church at the present location on N. Jefferson. Composed mainly of German and Irish Catholics, the mission was renamed St. Catherine of Siena in honor of its founding shepherd's home parish in Osceola. When the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau was created on August 24, 1956, the Humansville mission came under the pastor of El Dorado Springs, and in 1984 its care was transferred to the pastor of Bolivar. Under Fr. Gregory Zatina the church underwent extensive renovation, and the mission today counts 37 families in its membership.
- c. 1920 – Masses begin in homes; community known as St. Jude Mission
- 1940 – Fr. Ronald E. O'Dwyer (pastor of St. Catherine of Siena, Osceola) becomes first formal pastor; ~35 members
- 1941 – Moves into a larger building across the street with Fr. Senan O'Connell
- January 20, 1946 – Bishop Edwin V. O'Hara of Kansas City dedicates the new church; renamed St. Catherine of Siena
- August 24, 1956 – Comes under the Pastor of El Dorado Springs when the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is formed
- 1984 – Care transferred to the Pastor of Bolivar (Sacred Heart)
- Extensive renovation under Fr. Gregory Zatina
- Today: 37 registered families
Parish Leadership & Staff
St. Catherine of Siena Mission is served from Sacred Heart Parish in Bolivar by Very Rev. Scott M. Sunnenberg, who has been pastor since July 2018. Fr. Scott also serves as Vocation Director for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and, since 2021, as Dean of Deanery 3; he celebrated his 20th ordination anniversary on June 24, 2022. He is assisted at the parish by Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. James E. Farrar (ordained May 26, 2018 by Bishop Edward Rice at St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau; at Sacred Heart/St. Catherine since 2021) and by Office Manager Mary Rowley.
- Pastor: The Very Rev. Scott M. Sunnenberg
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. James E. Farrar
- Office Manager: Mary Rowley
- Parish Council Chair: Debbie Thompson
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Darlene Arendt
- Music Ministry Coordinator: Carol Divin
- PCCW: Barbara Ball (Bolivar); Alice McIntosh (Humansville)
- Knights of Columbus Council #8931: Eric Shinault
- St. Wenceslaus Cemetery: Jim & Jane Otradovec
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Sacred Heart / St. Catherine's follows a Whole Family Catechesis Model — accompanying parents as well as children. Classes meet Sundays from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM. Faith Formation for the 2025–2026 year began on Sunday, September 21, 2025, on Catechetical Sunday. Catechists serve grades K through 12, with adult formation led by Deacon Jim Farrar. RCIA classes are also available for adults preparing to enter the Church. Online faith formation is offered through Franciscan at Home, made available free of charge by the Knights of Columbus.
- Whole Family Catechesis Model
- Sundays 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
- K–1: Caroline Wick
- 2nd grade: Annie Farrar
- 3rd–4th: Browning Proctor
- 5th–6th: Tim Zavala
- 7th–9th: Jean and Phillip Kelchen
- 10th–12th: John and Lori Enderle
- Adult Formation: Deacon Jim
- Catechetical Leader: Darlene Arendt ([email protected])
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Becoming involved in parish ministry is encouraged at Sacred Heart and its mission. Lay faithful can serve through Liturgical Ministries, the Music Ministry, the Parish Council, the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW — all women of the parish are automatically members), the Knights of Columbus Council #8931, and the Vocation Committee, which prepares the soil for vocations through prayer, awareness, and education, especially among youth.
- Liturgical Ministries
- Music Ministry (Carol Divin)
- Parish Pastoral Council (Debbie Thompson)
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) – Barbara Ball / Alice McIntosh
- Knights of Columbus Council #8931 – Eric Shinault
- Vocation Committee
- St. Wenceslaus Cemetery caretakers – Jim & Jane Otradovec
Sacred Heart / Deanery 3 Connections
Sacred Heart Parish and St. Catherine of Siena Mission together make up one pastoral unit within Deanery 3 of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Other parishes in the deanery include St. William in Buffalo (Rev. Simon Enudu), Sacred Heart in Conway (Rev. Simon Enudu), and St. Peter the Apostle Mission in Stockton (Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM). The parish motto, shared by both communities, is 'One Church; East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus.'
- Parish motto: 'One Church; East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus'
- Deanery 3 of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
- Dean of Deanery 3: Fr. Scott Sunnenberg (since 2021)
- Sister parishes in the deanery: St. William (Buffalo), Sacred Heart (Conway), St. Peter the Apostle Mission (Stockton)
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at Sacred Heart in Bolivar at 417-326-5596, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM and on Holy Days; the office stays open until 8:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The rectory number is 417-326-8764. Anyone seeking to join the parish may call Mary Rowley in the office to register; those exploring the Catholic faith are invited to begin with Mass or to contact the parish for answers and resources.
- Parish Office Phone: 417-326-5596
- Rectory: 417-326-8764
- Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM and on Holy Days)
- Extended Hours: 4th Wednesday of the month, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Parish Registration: call Mary at the Parish Office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. C. E. Franckaas early as 1920
Of St. Wenceslaus, Karlin; celebrated Mass in members' homes — community then known as St. Jude Mission.
- Fr. Ronald E. O'Dwyer1940–
Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena, Osceola; made first pastor of the Humansville mission with about 35 members.
- Fr. Senan O'Connell1941
Of Osceola; helped move the mission into a larger building across the street.
- Fr. (Pastor of El Dorado Springs)1956–1984
Mission fell under El Dorado Springs pastor when Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau was established Aug. 24, 1956.
- Fr. (Pastor of Bolivar / Sacred Heart)1984–present
Care of the mission transferred to the Pastor of Bolivar.
- Fr. Gregory Zatina
Oversaw an extensive renovation of the mission church.