About St. Francis of Assisi · Nixa, Missouri
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in Nixa, Missouri, part of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Established in April 2004, it was the 85th parish or mission in the diocese and grew from a small founding community gathering under a canvas tent into a permanent worship and community center on 11 acres at the corner of Gregg Road and Butterfield Drive. The parish identifies itself as a 'total stewardship' parish, embracing the Vatican II model of a self-sufficient, lay-driven community formed around the Eucharist and open to the workings of the Holy Spirit.
- Established
- 2004
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Very Rev. Shoby M. Chettiyath, JCL, V.G.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a lay-driven, total-stewardship parish where the Eucharist is the center of community life. Worshippers can join weekday or weekend Masses with built-in time for adoration, rosary, and coffee-and-donuts fellowship, while families benefit from Sunday faith formation for children and adults (September–May) and an active OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) process. A wide range of ministries — from liturgical roles (altar server, lector, choir, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion) to service teams (Minister of Care for the homebound, Community Outreach, Prayer Network) — make it easy for new parishioners to plug in and belong.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.
- Wednesday 6:00 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
- By appointment through the parish office as needed
- Communal Penance Service twice a year (Advent and Lent)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00 a.m.
- Thursday 8:00 a.m.
- Friday 8:00 a.m.
- Wednesday 6:00 p.m. (before 6:30 p.m. Mass)
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration: Third Wednesday 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Our History
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was established in April 2004 by Bishop John J. Leibrecht as the 85th parish or mission in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The diocese had quietly purchased 11 acres at Gregg Road and Butterfield Drive a decade earlier, in 1994, in anticipation of one day planting a parish to serve the growing Catholic population in Christian County. The founding pastor, Rev. Mark G. Boyer, was charged with building a parish on the Vatican II model of a self-sufficient, total-stewardship, lay-driven community. Founding organizational meetings in May 2004 drew Catholics from Immaculate Conception, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and St. Joseph the Worker parishes, as well as unchurched Catholics. After the community narrowed names to three — Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Holy Spirit, and St. Francis of Assisi — Bishop Leibrecht chose St. Francis of Assisi on June 25, 2004. The first outdoor Mass was celebrated July 11, 2004 under a red-and-yellow canvas tent on the future building site, and the first indoor Mass followed on August 22, 2004 in leased bays at 117 W. Sherman Way. The permanent Phase 1 Worship and Community Center, designed by H Design Group and built by Bailey Construction Company at a cost of $1.1 million, was dedicated by Bishop James Vann Johnston, Jr., on November 1, 2010. Its mortgage was paid in full in late 2017.
Total Stewardship Parish
From the beginning, Father Boyer and the founding members embraced the concept of Total Stewardship — a Vatican II vision in which laypeople share responsibility for the life, mission, and management of the parish. Stewardship is understood in three classical dimensions: sharing time, sharing talent, and sharing treasure. This stewardship identity shapes how the parish organizes itself: the Stewardship Council, Finance Council, and Parish Pastoral Council all serve as consultative bodies to the pastor, and parishioners are invited to participate in everything from liturgical roles to building maintenance.
Weekend Masses
- Saturday Vigil — 5:30 p.m. (Rosary 5:00–5:30 p.m.; Confession 4:30–5:20 p.m.)
- Sunday — 9:30 a.m. (Rosary 9:00 a.m.; Coffee & Donuts 10:30 a.m.; Faith Formation 11:00 a.m.)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a priest-pastor who also serves as Vicar General of the diocese, a parochial vicar who shares ministry with Holy Trinity Parish in Springfield, and a deacon who also serves as Director of Religious Education and OCIA Director.
Clergy
- Very Rev. Shoby M. Chettiyath, JCL, V.G. — Pastor (appointed 2025). Originally from Kerala, India; ordained a priest May 9, 2006; served in India and Brazil before joining the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in 2011; earned his Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) from The Catholic University of America in 2021; also serves as Vicar General of the diocese.
- Rev. Vineesh Jose Tharayil, OSB, PhD — Parochial Vicar. Serves concurrently as Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield.
- Deacon Gary D. Steffes — Deacon & Director of Religious Education (DRE). Also serves as OCIA Co-Director.
Staff & Volunteer Leaders
- Office Manager: Rachel Sutter ([email protected])
- OCIA Coordinator: Edmond Carpio
- Music Director: Debbie Durham
- Youth Minister: Sabrina Bennink
- Custodian: Randie (Randy) Sehie
- Web Administrator: Janet Morehead ([email protected])
- Technology Administrator: John Rispoli
- Liturgical Decorating Coordinator: Debbie Harris
Three Advisory Councils
Three elected/appointed councils act as consultative bodies to the pastor: the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, and the Stewardship Council.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children, youth, and adults runs every Sunday at 11:00 a.m., September through May, immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Mass and coffee-and-donuts fellowship. Children's Faith Formation (Parish School of Religion, or PSR) serves students from pre-K through high school, with teachers, substitutes, and assistants needed each year. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered roughly once a month during Sunday Mass, when children are dismissed from the sanctuary for a brief, age-appropriate lesson.
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Catholic Church are guided through OCIA (formerly known as RCIA). The team is co-directed by Deacon Gary Steffes along with Tracy King and Kent Welch. Registration forms are available online and inquiries can be sent to [email protected].
Youth & Adult Formation
Adult Faith Formation offers classes, book studies, and small groups. The Youth Ministry Team plans social, spiritual, and service opportunities for high-school, junior-high, and upper-elementary youth; all adults working with youth must complete Safe Environment training.
Liturgical Ministries
A wide range of liturgical roles are open to youth (Grade 4 and up, depending on the ministry) and adults in good standing. All liturgical ministers serve in support of the parish's worship life, which centers on daily and weekly Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Altar Servers (youth Grade 4+ and adults)
- Lectors / Readers (high-school youth and adults)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (confirmed youth and adults in good standing)
- Choir Members and Musicians (high-school youth and adults)
- Sacristans (adults)
- Mass Facilitators (adults)
- Ushers / Greeters (youth Grade 4+ and adults)
- Liturgy Committee and Liturgical Decorating Team
Service, Outreach & Pastoral Care
Outreach and pastoral-care ministries extend the parish beyond its walls, bringing Communion to the homebound, supporting parishioners in need of transportation, and organizing local and worldwide community outreach.
- Minister of Care — distributes Communion to parishioners who are homebound, in nursing homes, or in assisted living
- Transportation for Mass — helps bring parishioners to and from Church
- Community Outreach — coordinates programs and events serving the local and worldwide community
- Prayer Network — prays for those in need; requests emailed from the parish office
- Welcoming Team — plans and leads activities welcoming new parish members
Parish Operations & Facilities
Like every 'total stewardship' parish, St. Francis of Assisi relies on parishioners themselves to keep the building, grounds, and technology running. Teams rotate on a regular schedule, and high-school youth are welcome alongside adults.
- Church Cleaning Teams — vacuum, dust, clean restrooms, change holy water (rotate every 6–8 weeks)
- Indoor and Outdoor Maintenance — repairs, mowing, trimming, weeding, code compliance
- Money Counting — counts the Sunday offertory with the Finance Council every 4–6 weeks
- Technology Team — audio, lighting, video, livestream, and presentation technology
- Photography Team — documents parish events for the website, Facebook, and printed materials
Communication & Media
Parish life is communicated through a weekly bulletin (available online and by email subscription), the parish website, a Facebook page, and the parish newsletter. The Social Media Team and Newsletter Team help plan, create, and publish content that engages the community and shares announcements.
Sacraments
Parents wishing to have a child baptized at St. Francis of Assisi should contact the parish office to set up an appointment. Reconciliation is offered weekly (see the Reconciliation section) and twice yearly through a Communal Penance Service in Advent and Lent. Couples preparing for marriage, families preparing for First Communion or Confirmation, and adults preparing for OCIA are invited to contact the parish office for preparation details.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (closed briefly for lunch). New parishioners are encouraged to stop by the Welcome table during coffee and donuts on the second Sunday of the month. The parish shares news and events through its weekly bulletin and Facebook page.
- Address: 844 S. Gregg Rd., Nixa, Missouri 65714
- Phone: (417) 725-1975
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stfrancisnixa.org
- Facebook: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Nixa
- GPS: N37° 01.562', W093° 19.028'
Get Involved
Whether you want to deepen your prayer life, serve at the altar, care for the homebound, count the collection, mow the lawn, or share your photography or social-media skills, the parish's 'Get Involved' page lists dozens of specific ministries and contact pathways. Newcomers are warmly welcomed to sign up for a ministry that matches their time, talent, and treasure.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark G. Boyer2004–c. 2025
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop John J. Leibrecht in April 2004; led the parish from canvas-tent beginnings through the building and mortgage payoff of the Phase 1 Worship and Community Center.
- Very Rev. Shoby M. Chettiyath, JCL, V.G.2025–present
Appointed pastor in the 2025 diocesan pastoral assignments; originally from Kerala, India; serves concurrently as Vicar General of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.