St. George

Welcome to St. George

St. George Catholic Church describes itself as "a family of faith, a community of service, and a field hospital for sinners." Members belong to the Diocese of Jefferson City and joyfully celebrate the seven sacraments and daily prayer. The parish's welcome message from the pastor invites visitors to "Come and See," explore the parish, the school, and the patron saint, and — for those already belonging — to grow deeper in faith, hope, and love.

Parish History

St. George was established in 1866 in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Twelve Catholic families who had been traveling to Loose Creek for Mass organized at the Linn Courthouse in September 1866 to build their own church, dedicating it to St. George in honor of two donors, George Fechter and George Hopkins. As a mission of Loose Creek and Westphalia, the parish grew steadily, and Rev. Joseph Schroeder became its first diocesan pastor in 1885.

• 1866 — Parish established by 12 families meeting at the Linn Courthouse
• 1867 — First church built (plain red brick, cornerstone laid May 20, 1867)
• 1883 — School Sisters of Notre Dame open St. George School with 48 students
• 1885 — Rev. Joseph Schroeder appointed first diocesan pastor
• 1896 — Second church completed and blessed
• 1910 — Pipe organ installed in the church
• 1934 — Church repaired and redecorated
• 1974 — Second church torn down; current church built
• 1976 (May 2) — Current church blessed
• 2016 (October 1) — Sesquicentennial celebrated
• 2018 (June 17) — Interior renovated and dedicated by Bishop McKnight

St. George School

Founded on September 10, 1883, when four School Sisters of Notre Dame opened a two-room school in the convent with 48 students, St. George School has been in continuous operation ever since. The sisters opened their classrooms with a combined salary of $500 per year — supplementing parish and tuition support with after-school music lessons and the sale of needlework. Early decades were marked by epidemics (measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, typhoid) and frequent pastor turnover. The 1903 arrival of Sister Regina Mackel marked a turning point; she became principal in 1908 as Father Henry Muckerman became pastor, and the school began to prosper. Today one SSND still teaches first grade at St. George.

• 1883 — School opened by SSND with 48 students (Sisters Charissima, Desideria, Lellis, Balbina)
• 1909 — Cornerstone laid for Notre Dame Hall (four classrooms, hall with stage); the building still serves the parish
• 1954 — Groundbreaking for a new school (former convent torn down)
• 1959–60 — First lay teacher, Miss Josepha Schrader, added to staff
• 1964 — Junior High (grades 6–8) added in renovated older classrooms
• 1992–93 — Kindergarten added; Mary Ann Burns first lay principal; Activities Center built 1995
• 2017 — 7th and 8th grades moved from Notre Dame to the new school, putting all students K–8 under one roof

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, or reception into full communion with the Catholic Church, journey through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). The parish website provides OCIA registration and sacramental-information forms; aspirants can contact the parish office at 573-897-2293 or email [email protected].

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Eucharist (First Communion)
• Marriage — contact the parish office
• Anointing of the Sick
• Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM and by appointment
• OCIA / RCIA — for inquirers, catechumens, and candidates

Faith Formation & Religious Education

St. George provides lifelong faith formation. Children are served through the parish grade school and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for public- and home-schooled students in grades K–8. Teens are served by the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for grades 8–12, and adults through Bible studies, Welcome retreats, Vacation Bible School, and ongoing adult catechesis.

• Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Coordinator: Elaine Hunt (573-680-5030, [email protected]); Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM, September–April, Notre Dame Hall basement
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) — for grades 8–12; meets twice a month on Sundays, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM, Notre Dame Loft; meal, faith discussion, and fellowship
• Bible Study & Adult Catechesis — contact the parish office to help plan or lead studies and retreats
• Vacation Bible School — volunteer-run summer program
• FORMED.org — free Catholic media library for parishioners ("the Catholic Netflix")
• Welcome retreats for adults

Parish Ministries & Organizations

Parishioners serve in a wide range of ministries organized under three stewardship pillars: Formation, Service, and Fellowship. The Parish Pastoral Council advises the pastor, while individual organizations include the Knights of Columbus, the Ladies of Charity / Sodality, the Legion of Mary, the Stewardship committee, and homebound / nursing-home ministers. Liturgical ministries such as music, lectors, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion round out the parish's lay life.

• Parish Pastoral Council
• Knights of Columbus (Linn Council)
• Ladies of Charity / Sodality
• Legion of Mary
• Homebound / nursing-home ministry
• Liturgical ministries (music, lectors, servers, EMHCs)
• Stewardship committee
• Safe Environment program

Outreach & Catholic Charities

Like every parish in the Diocese of Jefferson City, St. George supports the work of Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri (CCCNM), which assists the needy in Osage County and across the diocese. Parishioners can volunteer through outreach phone calls, case-file work, and providing referrals (training provided); the parish also contributes to Catholic Charities' Disaster Relief Fund, which directly assists people affected by flooding and tornadoes. Those interested in serving can contact CCCNM Director of Community Services Alissa Marlow at 573-635-7719 or [email protected].

Facilities & Campus

The parish campus sits on East Main Street in Linn. The 1974 church (interior rededicated in 2018) anchors worship; the 1898 rectory serves as the pastor's residence and parish office; Notre Dame Hall (1909) still houses parish events including PSR in its basement and CYO in its loft; the 1954 school building, expanded in 1995 with an Activities Center (additional classrooms and gym), houses all K–8 students under one roof as of 2017.

• St. George Church — 611 E. Main Street
• Parish Office & Rectory — 613 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 49
• St. George School (K–8)
• Notre Dame Hall (1909) — still in active use
• Activities Center (1995) — additional classrooms and gymnasium

Stewardship & Giving

St. George encourages parishioner participation through an annual stewardship renewal process. Online giving is available through the parish website via automatic debits; the parish also encourages use of FORMED.org as a stewardship-of-faith resource.

Diocesan Context

St. George is a parish of the Diocese of Jefferson City (chancery offices: 573-635-9127). The diocese maintains a robust website with formation resources, diocesan-wide ministries, the Office of Vocations, and the disaster-relief and Catholic Charities programs that St. George actively supports.