About St. Edward · Cassville, Missouri
St. Edward Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Cassville, Missouri, in the Ozark region near Roaring River State Park. Founded in 1945 as a mission church of the (then) Diocese of Kansas City, it grew from 154 members into a full parish of more than 900 families and now serves the Catholic faithful of Barry County under the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, hosts a Saturday Vigil and weekday Liturgy, and is pastored by The Very Rev. William M. Hodgson, who also serves Holy Family Parish in nearby Shell Knob.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- St. Edward the Confessor
- Rector
- The Very Rev. William M. Hodgson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Edward offers something rare for rural southwest Missouri: a full weekly Mass schedule in two languages (English and Spanish), weekday morning Mass on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and accessible Saturday and Sunday confessions — all in a small, family-sized community. The parish combines the warmth of a country Catholic church with the reach of a growing bilingual congregation, an active annual Feast Day Festival with live-auction fundraiser, and outreach through food drives and faith-enrichment programs. Whether you live in Cassville, commute from Shell Knob, or are passing through the Ozarks near Roaring River State Park, St. Edward welcomes you to celebrate and share your faith.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
- Sunday 12:00 – 12:15 p.m.
- By appointment
Welcome & Parish Mission
St. Edward Catholic Church opens its arms to visitors and parishioners alike. Its published mission statement reads: "As a Catholic Community, our Mission is to invite and encourage members to celebrate and share their faith in Jesus Christ through prayer and action." The parish sees itself as a small but lively country church that takes seriously its call to evangelize and serve — both within its walls and out into the Cassville community.
- Parish Mission: to invite and encourage members to celebrate and share their faith in Jesus Christ through prayer and action
- Welcomes all visitors and newcomers
- Pastoral contact: [email protected]
History of St. Edward Parish
St. Edward traces its roots to 1945, when the Catholic Extension Society teamed up with Bishop Edwin V. O'Hara of the Diocese of Kansas City to plant a mission in Barry County. The little community near Roaring River State Park grew steadily through the latter half of the 20th century. By the late 1980s the original building was overflowing, and on April 6, 1989 a new, larger church was dedicated.
- 1945 — Founded as a mission church
- 154 parishioners at founding (one of the larger mission churches)
- April 6, 1989 — New church dedicated
- August 1999 — Mission elevated to parish status
- By 2004 — More than 900 registered households
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
St. Edward offers a full weekly Mass schedule in two languages. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 a.m.; the Saturday Vigil Mass is at 4:00 p.m.; Sunday Masses are at 11:00 a.m. in English and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass and briefly before the Spanish Mass on Sundays, as well as by appointment.
- Weekday Mass: Mon, Wed, Fri at 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 a.m. (English) and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Edward is led by its pastor with the support of a parish administrative assistant. The pastor also serves as Dean of Deanery 2 of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and pastors the neighboring Holy Family Parish in Shell Knob.
- Pastor: The Very Rev. William M. Hodgson ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Alice Gebhardt
- Also attends: Holy Family Parish, Shell Knob, MO
- Dean of Deanery 2, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
St. Edward is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, the Roman Catholic diocese that covers the southern and western portions of Missouri, including the Ozarks. Within the diocese, St. Edward belongs to Deanery 2, whose dean is Fr. William M. Hodgson.
- Diocese: Springfield-Cape Girardeau
- Deanery: 2
- Dean: Very Rev. William Hodgson
Annual Feast Day Festival
Each October the parish celebrates its patron, St. Edward the Confessor, with a two-day Feast Day Festival. Saturday evening features a dinner and Live Auction that has become the parish's signature fundraiser — offering vacation homes, getaways and unique items donated by parishioners and friends. Sunday is the parish festival itself, with food, music and family activities. Volunteers are recruited in the weeks leading up to the event.
- Live Auction Dinner — Saturday evening in October
- Parish Festival — Sunday, 12:30 – 6:00 p.m.
- Volunteer sign-ups available in September
- Proceeds support the parish and its ministries
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Edward's life as a parish is built around prayer, service and bilingual fellowship. The community is described as welcoming and inclusive, with active volunteer service, food drives and ongoing faith-enrichment programs that bring parishioners together throughout the year. The Hispanic ministry is a vital and visible part of parish life, reflected in the regular Spanish-language Sunday Mass.
- Volunteer service opportunities
- Food drives and local outreach
- Faith-enrichment programs
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) ministry
- Liturgical ministries supporting weekday and Sunday Masses
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Edward Catholic Church is located in Cassville, the county seat of Barry County, Missouri — gateway to Roaring River State Park in the southwestern Ozarks. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and a directions link is provided on the parish website.
- Address: 107 W 17th Street, Cassville, MO 65625
- Mailing: PO Box 492, Cassville, MO 65625-0492
- Phone: (417) 847-4948 | Fax: (417) 847-4947
- Email: [email protected]
- GPS: N36° 41.306′, W093° 51.884′
- Located between Business Hwy 37 and Y Hwy, between W 17th and W 18th Streets
Looking to the Future
Reflecting its continued growth, St. Edward has acquired neighboring parcels of land in anticipation of building a Parish Life Center to expand ministry, fellowship and formation space. The long-term project is part of the parish's response to its jump from 154 members in 1989 to more than 900 households by 2004 — a sixfold growth in just fifteen years.
- Future Parish Life Center planned
- Neighboring properties purchased for expansion
- Continued growth in bilingual Catholic population