About St. George · Odessa, Missouri
St. George Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Odessa, Missouri, part of the Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph. The parish shares its pastor with the neighboring Mission of St. Jude the Apostle in Oak Grove, and is led by Fr. Joshua Barlett with a small staff of parish and faith-formation ministers. With roots going back to the 1880s, St. George carries a remarkable story of buildings lost to storms and fire, a near-disappearance during the Great Depression, and a present-day church dedicated in 2005 — alongside an active calendar of weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, religious education, and outreach such as Open Table community dinners and BackSnack.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. George
- Rector
- Fr. Joshua Barlett
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph
Why belong here
St. George offers a faithful weekly rhythm of Mass (Saturday Vigil, Sunday morning, plus Tuesday evening and Thursday morning weekday Masses), regular Eucharistic Adoration multiple days a week, and a generous confession schedule. Parishioners find a real sense of family through active ministries like the Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Welcome Team, Prime Timers monthly lunch, Open Table free community dinners, BackSnack weekend food for children, and a religious education program serving pre-K through 6th grade — plus a youth group restarting for grades 6–12 in September 2026. It's a small parish with a long memory and a wide-open welcome.
Mass times at St. George
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:15 PM – 5:45 PM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Parish History
Catholic worship in Odessa traces back to a small wooden church built around 1881 — just a few years after the town itself took shape along the railroad. That first church was destroyed by a storm in 1885; its 1888 replacement burned in 1890, and even the salvaged lumber stored at St. Mary in Higginsville was lost when St. Mary itself burned. The Catholic community rebuilt on the corner of 2nd and Dryden in 1906 (third church, dedicated 1907 under the name St. Anthony, staffed by Franciscan priests), nearly vanished during the Great Depression to about 20 families, then experienced a revival in 1948 and was renamed St. George. A larger church at Phillips and 3rd Streets followed in 1964, and the present church was dedicated in 2005. A 1978 classroom/activity building ('YEC Building') followed the arrival of the parish's first resident priest in 1977; a new rectory was built in 2024.
- 1881 – First Catholic church built in Odessa (lost to storm, 1885)
- 1888 – Second church built (destroyed by fire, 1890)
- 1906/1907 – Third church built, staffed by Franciscans as 'St. Anthony'
- 1948 – Parish revived and renamed St. George
- 1964 – Larger fourth church built at Phillips and 3rd St.
- 1977 – Rev. James Hardy becomes first resident priest
- 1978 – YEC Building (classrooms, kitchen, activity room) constructed
- 2005 – Current church dedicated; 1964 building becomes parish hall
- 2024 – New rectory built
Mass and the Sacraments
St. George celebrates Mass in English every week on Saturday evening, Sunday morning, Tuesday evening, and Thursday morning. The 1964 church next door continues to serve as the parish hall, while a robust schedule of Confession and Eucharistic Adoration surrounds the Mass schedule several days a week. Weddings, baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation (now prepared for in 6th grade under the diocesan 'The Way' initiative), Anointing of the Sick, and RCIA are coordinated through the parish office.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM
- Tuesday Mass: 6:00 PM
- Thursday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Confession: Tue 5:15–5:45 PM; Thu 8:30–8:50 AM; Sat 3:45–4:15 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Tue 5:00–6:00 PM; Wed 8:00–9:00 AM; Thu 8:00–9:00 AM; Sat 3:30–4:30 PM
Parish Staff and Leadership
St. George shares leadership with the Mission of St. Jude the Apostle in Oak Grove. The pastoral team includes Fr. Joshua Barlett as Pastor, Katherine Brown as Pastoral Associate (overseeing Religious Education and Safe Environment), Amanda Buttig as Director of Communications (bulletin, website, media, Mass intentions, facility reservations), and Stephanie Reiss as Director of Outreach (Open Table, Bingo nights, Welcome Team). The parish office at 202 W Phillips St. is open Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 AM to noon.
- Pastor — Fr. Joshua Barlett
- Pastoral Associate / Religious Education / Safe Environment — Katherine Brown
- Director of Communications — Amanda Buttig
- Director of Outreach — Stephanie Reiss
- Office Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 9:30 AM – Noon
- Parish Office: 202 W Phillips St., Odessa, MO 64076
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Education Program (REC) welcomes all parish families with children from pre-K through 6th grade. Classes for the 2026–2027 school year begin in September. The program follows the Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph's 'The Way: Youth to Young Adult Initiative,' a vision that lowers the ordinary age for the Sacrament of Confirmation to 6th grade beginning Fall 2024, and frames faith formation as a pilgrimage (The Way of St. James) with milestones from infancy through young adulthood. Inclement-weather cancellations follow Odessa Public Schools.
- REC for pre-K through 6th grade
- Registration for 2026–2027 school year open
- Diocesan 'The Way: Youth to Young Adult Initiative' framework
- Confirmation prepared for and received in 6th grade (effective Fall 2024)
- Contact: Katherine Brown, Pastoral Associate
St. George / St. Jude Youth Group
The joint St. George (Odessa) and St. Jude (Oak Grove) Youth Group serves students in grades 6 through 12. More details will be published as the program restarts for the 2026–2027 school year in September 2026.
- Open to grades 6–12
- Restarting September 2026
- Shared between St. George (Odessa) and St. Jude (Oak Grove)
Ministries and Parish Life
Parish life at St. George is built around small groups and service. The Knights of Columbus and Altar Society anchor the parish's sacramental and fraternal life; the Welcome Team greets newcomers; and the Prime Timers meet monthly for a senior fellowship lunch. Outreach is a visible part of parish identity through Open Table (a free community dinner), BackSnack (weekend food for children), the Dinner Table, Candles for the Homeless, and Workers of Mercy — plus recurring Bingo nights coordinated through the Director of Outreach.
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Society
- Welcome Team
- Prime Timers — monthly senior lunch
- Open Table — free community dinner
- BackSnack — weekend food for children
- Dinner Table
- Candles for the Homeless
- Workers of Mercy
- Bingo nights
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. George is currently supported by a Principal Musician who serves both St. George and St. Jude (Oak Grove). The parish has posted a Music Coordinator job opening to support the principal musician and foster fuller sung worship at Mass.
- Principal Musician serves both St. George and St. Jude
- Music Coordinator position currently open
Contact and Visit
St. George Catholic Church is located at 716 S 3rd St, Odessa, MO 64076. Parish offices are at 202 W Phillips St, Odessa, MO 64076, and are staffed Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 9:30 AM to noon. The parish can be reached by phone at (816) 230-4127 or by email at [email protected].
- Church address: 716 S 3rd St, Odessa, MO 64076
- Parish Office: 202 W Phillips St, Odessa, MO 64076
- Phone: (816) 230-4127
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 9:30 AM – Noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Hardy1977
First resident priest; oversaw construction of the YEC Building.