About St. Ignatius of Loyola Church · Marthasville, Missouri
St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish situated in the farming community of Concord Hill, just west of Marthasville in Warren County, Missouri. Often called a "hidden gem," the parish has served Catholic families in this rural stretch of the Archdiocese of St. Louis for more than 160 years, growing out of a one-room log church into a thriving community that still includes its own parish school. Its mission is to be an active center of prayer and faith formation for individuals, families, and the broader parish community within the strong farming traditions of its founders.
- Established
- 1840s
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis M. Doyle, J.C.L.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Ignatius of Loyola offers a tight-knit, multigenerational Catholic community rooted in the farming traditions of Concord Hill, where parishioners, alumni, and local families have sustained the parish and its school for more than 160 years. Visitors and members are welcomed by an active Welcoming Committee, can serve as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, ushers, altar servers, or join committees on liturgy, faith formation, cemetery, building and grounds, and grounds beautification. With its own parish school, weekly school and weekend Masses, Saturday confession, and Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, the parish offers a complete rhythm of prayer, formation, and fellowship for families in the Marthasville area.
Mass times at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (before the 5:00 p.m. Mass), or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome & Parish Mission
St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish introduces itself as a small, rural Catholic community situated in the farming community of Concord Hill, just west of Marthasville in Warren County, Missouri. The parish describes itself as a "hidden gem" that has existed in Concord Hill for more than 160 years and continues to thrive through the support of parishioners, alumni, families, and the broader community. Its stated mission is to be an active center of prayer and faith formation for individuals, families, and the parish community within the strong farming traditions of its founders.
- Located in Concord Hill, west of Marthasville, Warren County, Missouri
- Parish mission: active center of prayer and faith formation rooted in farming traditions
- Described by parishioners as a "hidden gem"
History of the Parish
The parish traces its beginnings to the 1840s, when Catholic farming families in Concord Hill gathered around a one-room log church that also functioned as the first parish school. After that log church was burned down, classes moved into a one-room schoolhouse until the present-day school was built to accommodate the growing student body. The full story has been preserved in a four-part documentary video series created by parishioner and 2017 alum Jacob Lierman, originally aired on the parish Facebook page throughout July 2020.
- Parish founded in the 1840s in Concord Hill
- Original one-room log church also served as the first school
- After the log church burned, school moved to a one-room schoolhouse
- History documented in a four-part video series by Jacob Lierman (2017 alum), aired on Facebook in July 2020
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Dennis M. Doyle, J.C.L., as Pastor. Father Doyle earned a B.A. in Biology from Saint Louis University in 1987, an M.Div. from Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis in 1992, and a J.C.L. in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 2003. Parish office staff includes Cindy Deters, reached through the parish office at (636) 932-4445, ext. 1.
- Pastor: Rev. Dennis M. Doyle, J.C.L.
- Parish Staff: Cindy Deters, ext. 1
- Parish office: (636) 932-4445
Sacraments
The parish website offers a full overview of the seven sacraments, with practical details for parishioners on how each is celebrated at St. Ignatius of Loyola. Infant baptism is celebrated for children of registered, practicing parishioners, and at least one Godparent must be a baptized, confirmed, practicing Catholic. First Holy Eucharist is generally received in 2nd Grade, with at least one year of prior religious education. Confirmation is prepared in 7th and 8th Grade and celebrated every other year on a date set by the Office of the Archbishop; Adult Confirmation is celebrated on Pentecost at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
- Baptism – for children of registered, practicing members; one Catholic Godparent required
- Reconciliation – Saturdays 4:00–4:45 p.m. and by appointment
- First Eucharist – typically 2nd Grade, with prior religious education
- Confirmation – 7th/8th Grade preparation, celebrated every other year per archdiocesan assignment
- Adult Confirmation – at the Cathedral Basilica on Pentecost
- RCIA – for unbaptized adults, Christians seeking full communion, and uncatechized Catholic adults
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
The parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for three groups: unbaptized persons aged seven and older who become catechumens, baptized Christians from other traditions seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and baptized but uncatechized Catholic adults preparing to celebrate Penance, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Interested adults and families of older children are encouraged to contact the pastor for details on the local initiation process.
- Unbaptized adults and children aged 7+ (catechumens)
- Baptized Christians from other traditions (candidates for full communion)
- Baptized but uncatechized Catholic adults (candidates)
- Contact the pastor to begin
St. Ignatius of Loyola School
The parish school dates back to the founding of the parish in the 1840s, when it began as classes in the one-room log church that doubled as the first chapel. After the log church burned, classes moved to a one-room schoolhouse and eventually to today's building. The school's mission is to provide a firm foundation in the Catholic faith and learning excellence for elementary and preschool-age children in a safe environment with an active community life. Students attend Mass twice a week, pray a weekly Rosary for the school and parish, celebrate many special liturgies, and participate in a Virtues in Action program of monthly service projects. The school participates in the Archdiocesan Bellarmine Speech League, offers intramural volleyball and basketball, and is building a STEM curriculum, along with classes in music, art, technology, and physical education.
- Founded with the parish in the 1840s; began in a one-room log church
- Address: 19129 Mill Road, Marthasville, MO 63357
- School office phone: (636) 932-4444
- Email: [email protected]
- Students attend Mass twice a week and pray a weekly Rosary
- Virtues in Action service program with monthly community projects
- Bellarmine Speech League, intramural volleyball and basketball
- STEM curriculum plus music, art, technology, and physical education
- Special liturgies: Living Rosary, Living Stations, First Communion, Confirmation retreats
Directory of Ministries and Organizations
The parish website lists eleven ministries and organizations in which parishioners can get involved, spanning liturgy, formation, hospitality, and care of parish grounds. Liturgical roles include Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors (Ministry of Readers), altar servers, and ushers; formation and worship life are supported by the Faith Formation Committee and Liturgy Committee. The Welcoming Committee serves as the parish's welcome wagon, contacting and visiting new members, while the Cemetery Committee oversees the parish's two cemeteries and the Building & Grounds Maintenance and Grounds Beautification committees care for facilities and landscaping. Sodality life is provided by the Holy Name Sodality (men 18+) and St. Ann's Sodality (women 18+), and the Home Economics Club keeps a quilting tradition alive while helping finance the school's Hot Lunch Program.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ministry of Readers (Lectors)
- Faith Formation Committee
- Liturgy Committee
- Welcoming Committee
- Parish Building & Grounds Maintenance
- Cemetery Committee (manages two parish cemeteries)
- Grounds Beautification Committee
- Holy Name Sodality (men 18+)
- St. Ann's Sodality (women 18+)
- Home Economics Club (quilting, supports Hot Lunch Program)
Parish Cemeteries
The parish maintains two cemeteries, with a dedicated Cemetery Committee that handles all matters relating to the cemeteries and the management of cemetery funds. The committee meets annually or as needed and is open to any qualified parish member who wishes to serve.
- Two parish cemeteries under one committee
- Committee manages cemetery funds
- Annual meetings, or as needed
Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Ignatius of Loyola at the parish office by phone, email, or in person at the church and school address on Mill Road. The parish office phone is (636) 932-4445, the school office phone is (636) 932-4444, and the shared email is [email protected]. The parish address is 19127 Mill Road, Marthasville, MO 63357; the school address is 19129 Mill Road, Marthasville, MO 63357.
- Parish address: 19127 Mill Road, Marthasville, MO 63357
- School address: 19129 Mill Road, Marthasville, MO 63357
- Parish phone: (636) 932-4445
- School phone: (636) 932-4444
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: saintig.com