About St. Gertrude · Washington, Missouri
St. Gertrude Catholic Church sits in the small village of Krakow, about five miles south of Washington, Missouri, on Highway YY. It was organized in 1845 by Jesuit missionary Father M. Seisl to serve German-settler farm families of rural Franklin County, and its present brick church — a modest Gothic-style building with a square tower topped by an onion-shaped dome — was dedicated in 1869. Today St. Gertrude is part of a three-parish Catholic community in the Archdiocese of St. Louis (along with St. Ann in Washington and Holy Family) led by Fr. James Holbrook, and the parish continues to operate St. Gertrude Catholic School, a confession and Eucharistic adoration schedule, and a wide range of lay ministries rooted in that 19th-century rural foundation.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- St. Gertrude of Nivelles
- Rector
- Rev. James (Jim) Holbrook
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Louis
Why belong here
St. Gertrude offers the rhythms of a small, rooted rural parish: weekday morning Mass several days a week, a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, regular times for confession and Eucharistic adoration, and an active school (St. Gertrude Catholic School) just steps from the church. The parish is supported by a deeply lay-run life — Eucharistic ministers, lectors, servers, ushers, a choir with a Resurrection Choir for funerals, a Padre Pio prayer group that meets on the first Sunday after the 7:30 a.m. Mass, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference that quietly helps neighbors with food, rent, and utilities. For families and individuals in the Krakow and south-Washington area, it is a parish where you can both worship and serve.
Mass times at St. Gertrude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM (St. Gertrude Church)
- Sunday: 6:45 AM – 7:15 AM (St. Gertrude Church)
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM (St. Gertrude Church)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:30 AM (St. Gertrude Church)
- First Thursday (Holy Family Church, tri-parish grouping)
Parish Identity & History
St. Gertrude was organized in 1845 by Rev. M. Seisl, S.J. — one of the Jesuits from the nearby mother parish of St. Francis Borgia in Washington — to serve German-settler farm families in what was then rural Franklin County, Missouri. The first brick chapel was built in 1856, and in 1869 Father Alexander Mathaushek, S.J. led the construction of the larger church that still serves the parish today, with the original 1856 bricks preserved as the rear portion of the building. The Jesuits withdrew from Franklin County in 1894, and St. Gertrude passed to the diocesan clergy of what is now the Archdiocese of St. Louis. On August 1, 2023 the parish was formally grouped with St. Ann (Washington) and Holy Family under a new pastor, Fr. James Holbrook.
- Organized 1845 by Rev. M. Seisl, S.J.
- First brick church built 1856; dedicated Nov. 23, 1856 by Very Rev. D. Melcher, V.G.
- Present church built 1869 by Father Alexander Mathaushek, S.J.; dedicated Nov. 21, 1869
- Onion-domed square tower added with the 1869 front section
- Jesuits withdrew 1894; Archdiocese of St. Louis assumed pastoral care
- Tri-parish grouping (St. Gertrude, St. Ann, Holy Family) formed August 1, 2023
Clergy & Staff
The tri-parish grouping is led by Fr. James (Jim) Holbrook, ordained in 2010 and a former business administrator who entered Kenrick-Glennon Seminary as a late vocation. He is assisted by a Senior Associate Pastor, Fr. James Foster, and Permanent Deacons David Ewing and Charles Gildehaus. Parish-office and ministry coordination contacts include Kristina Unerstall (Mass ministry, 636-239-3222 x101) and Michelle Gildehaus (additional Mass ministry coordination, 636-239-4216 x271).
- Rev. James Holbrook — Pastor (since Aug. 1, 2023)
- Rev. James Foster — Senior Associate Pastor
- Deacon David Ewing — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Charles Gildehaus — Deacon
- Kristina Unerstall — Mass Ministry contact (636-239-3222 x101)
- Michelle Gildehaus — Mass Ministry contact (636-239-4216 x271)
Mass Ministries (Liturgical Lay Service)
Parishioners staff most liturgical roles at Mass. Eucharistic Ministers assist with the distribution of Holy Communion and bring the Eucharist to homebound parishioners; Lectors proclaim the readings; Mass Servers and Acolytes (4th grade and up, with required training) assist the priest or deacon; Ushers welcome worshippers, manage seating, take up the collection, and distribute bulletins; Offertory Families bring the bread and wine to the altar for consecration; Children's Liturgy Catechists lead the Children's Liturgy of the Word (held at the 9:00 AM Mass at St. Ann for ages 3 through 1st grade); Choir members sing at Masses and special liturgies, with a separate Resurrection Choir that gathers for parish funerals.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Mass Servers/Acolytes (4th grade and up)
- Ushers
- Offertory Families
- Children's Liturgy Catechist (ages 3–1st grade)
- Choir and Resurrection Choir (funerals)
- Arts and Environment (church decorating for Christmas, Advent, Lent, Easter)
Parish Groups & Devotions
Beyond the Mass ministries, the tri-parish community supports several prayer and fellowship groups. The Padre Pio Group — 'Praying with Padre Pio' — meets on the first Sunday of the month right after the 7:30 AM Mass at St. Gertrude Church for prayer for personal, communal, and universal healing, and is coordinated through Deacon Dave Ewing. Sister's in Christ offers women's fellowship. The Young Old Times Society (YOTS) is a parish-wide seniors' group (Catholic or non-Catholic, ages 55+) that meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM in the St. Ann Church basement for food, fun, and fellowship.
- Padre Pio Prayer Group (1st Sunday after 7:30 AM Mass at St. Gertrude; contact Deacon Dave Ewing)
- Sister's in Christ
- Young Old Times Society (YOTS) — 2nd Wed., 1:00 PM, St. Ann basement
Parish Committees & Councils
Lay leadership is structured through standing committees. The Finance Committee prepares and monitors the annual budget. The Parish Council (six elected members serving three-year terms) gives leadership and direction to the parish in dialogue with the pastor. The Liturgy Committee meets jointly with St. Gertrude and Holy Family before Advent and Lent to plan the parish liturgical year. The Activities Committee organizes 'fun-raisers' for parish evangelization. The Cemetery Committee oversees the parish cemetery grounds and guidelines. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a joint St. Ann / St. Gertrude chapter offering confidential person-to-person assistance (food, rent, utilities) supported by a monthly second collection on the third Sunday of each month (helpline 636-239-3919). The Pro-Life Committee, affiliated with Eastern Missouri Right to Life, promotes respect for life from conception to natural death through letter drives, Jefferson City lobby days, the Life Chain, and the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. The Faith Formation Committee coordinates adult education, parish missions, retreats, and the annual Men's and Women's Conferences.
- Finance Committee
- Parish Council (6 elected, 3-year terms)
- Liturgy Committee
- Activities Committee
- Cemetery Committee (St. Ann)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (helpline 636-239-3919; 3rd Sunday collection)
- Pro-Life Committee
- Faith Formation Committee
St. Gertrude Catholic School
St. Gertrude Catholic School is a parish-sponsored elementary school described on its own website (sgs-krakow.com) as 'a ministry of St. Gertrude Catholic Church.' The school's stated mission is to relate all human culture and knowledge to the Good News of Salvation and to form a Christ-centered community where each child is known and loved as a child of God, working in partnership with parents as the primary educators of their children. Fr. Jim Holbrook is identified on the school site as the pastor.
- Parish-sponsored Catholic elementary school on parish grounds
- Mission: Christ-centered community, partners with parents
- Pastor's name listed on sgs-krakow.com: Fr. Jim Holbrook
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith-formation programming for the tri-parish community is coordinated by a Faith Formation Committee drawing members from St. Ann, St. Gertrude, and Holy Family, and supports adult education, parish missions, retreats, and the annual Men's and Women's Conferences. Sacramental preparation follows standard archdiocesan practice: First Communion is normally celebrated in second grade and Confirmation at the start of ninth grade, each with a two-year preparation. Families seeking Baptism, Marriage, or Anointing of the Sick are invited to contact the parish office; reconciliation is available at the listed times and by appointment.
- Faith Formation Committee (tri-parish)
- Adult education, parish missions, retreats, Men's & Women's Conferences
- First Communion (typically 2nd grade, 2-year prep)
- Confirmation (typically start of 9th grade, 2-year prep)
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Visit, Connect & Getting Involved
Newcomers are welcomed with a Google-forms registration packet linked from the parish 'New Parishioner Info' page, and the parish office (phone 636-239-4216, email [email protected], open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) handles questions on registration, Mass scheduling, and ministry sign-ups. The tri-parish website — stannstgertrudeholyfamily.com — lists all Mass, Confession, Adoration, and ministry-schedule information in one place.
- New parishioner packet available via the parish website
- Parish office: 636-239-4216; e-mail [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Main website: https://stannstgertrudeholyfamily.com/
- Mailing: 6535 Highway YY, Washington, MO 63090-4074
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M. Seisl, S.J.1845–
Organized the parish in 1845 and built the first brick chapel in 1856.
- Father Benys
One of the early pastors after founding.
- Father Ignatius Penkert, S.J.
Early Jesuit pastor.
- Father Alexander Mathaushek, S.J.1860s–1880
Built the present (1869) church; first pastor formally titled in charge of Krakow after it became a separate station from Washington.
- Father Joseph Boever, S.J.1880–
Succeeded Mathaushek at Krakow when he became superior of Washington residence.
- Father Joseph Rimmele, S.J.
Jesuit pastor.
- Father William Niederkorn, S.J.
Jesuit pastor.
- Father Charles Bill, S.J.
Pastored Krakow after Mathaushek's second stint.
- Father Aloysius Averbeck, S.J.
Last Jesuit pastor of St. Gertrude; Jesuits withdrew from Franklin County in 1894 and Krakow passed to diocesan clergy.
- Rev. Robert (Robert W.) Argent1987–1992
Archdiocesan priest; served as Pastor of St. Gertrude Parish, Krakow, before being named senior priest in service (per St. Louis Review jubilarian listing).
- Rev. James (Jim) Holbrook2023–present
On August 1, 2023, became pastor of the newly formed tri-parish grouping of St. Gertrude, St. Ann, and Holy Family; ordained May 29, 2010.