About St. James · Catawissa, Missouri
St. James is a small Catholic parish in Catawissa, Missouri, in the Franklin County countryside west of St. Louis. It was dedicated on September 1, 1913 as a mission of nearby St. Patrick Church in Armagh, and for about half of its existence it did not have a resident pastor. Today St. James is twinned with St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge and shares a pastor, deacons, parish office, and website. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is served by Fr. Alexander Nord, with a weekly Sunday Mass, Tuesday morning Mass, a First Saturday Mass, Saturday-morning confessions, and a network of parish organizations that includes St. Vincent de Paul, the Altar Society, the Quilters, the Prayer Chain, the Music Ministry, and the Ministry of Readers.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Alexander Nord
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. James is a small, close-knit country parish with deep roots — the same wooden church dedicated in 1913 is still in use, and families have worshipped here for more than a century. It shares a pastor and ministries with St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge, so parishioners find a wide range of ways to be involved despite the modest size: the St. Vincent de Paul Society serves neighbors in need, the Quilters and Altar Society care for the church buildings, the Prayer Chain lifts up every intention requested, and the Music Ministry, Ministry of Readers, and Finance Committee keep the liturgy and parish life running. Children attend Catholic schools in nearby Pacific and Washington, and the parish stays connected to broader community outreach through Tri-County Birthright, the Pregnancy Assistance Center, and the Rural Parish Mobile Clinic.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday mornings, 7:00 am – 7:45 am (at St. James, Catawissa)
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel open 24/7 (at the linked St. Mary of Perpetual Help, Villa Ridge — call the parish office for the access code)
About St. James Parish
St. James is a small Catholic parish in the village of Catawissa, Franklin County, Missouri, west of St. Louis. It is one of three rural parishes — together with St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge and St. Bridget of Kildare in Pacific — that share a pastor, deacons, and a single parish office. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The website describes St. Mary's and St. James together as 'the embodiment of our parish community… where parishioners learn and teach, get help and give help, and demonstrate their faith as active members of the community.'
History
St. James traces its history back to St. Patrick Church in Armagh — a log structure from 1844 replaced by a stone church in 1864. As Catawissa boomed around the turn of the 20th century (railroad, lumber yard, grain mill, blacksmiths, the Bank of Catawissa established June 18, 1909), Catholic families pressed for a church closer to town. Archbishop John J. Glennon permitted the project in 1912–13, an acre was purchased in February 1913, the cornerstone was laid May 18, 1913, and the wooden church was dedicated September 1, 1913. Through crop failures, the Depression, and decades with no resident pastor, the parish endured and grew; two of its sons became priests (Fr. Hilbert Schmelz in 1960, Fr. Thomas Molini in 1985).
- 1913: acre of land purchased from James Whitsett and the Bank of Kimmswick (Feb. 21, 1913).
- May 18, 1913: cornerstone laid by Fr. C.E. Byrne of Holy Name Church, St. Louis (later Bishop of Galveston, Texas).
- September 1, 1913: church dedicated as a mission of St. Patrick's, Armagh.
- 1924: Fr. Joseph Casey initiates the two-story frame rectory still in use today.
- 1925: parish census lists 35 families, all of German and Irish descent.
- 1951: St. James begins being administered by priests driving in from neighboring parishes.
- 1960: administration transferred to St. Bridget's Parish in Pacific.
- 1981–1988: Fr. Walter Boul serves as pastor.
- 1988–1994: Fr. Donald Murphy serves as pastor until his death.
- June 2002: Fr. Richard Coerver appointed pastor with Associate Fr. Martin Mannion.
- 2012–2013: Fr. Mark Bozada reassigned to only St. Mary's and St. James.
- Today: Fr. Alexander Nord serves as pastor of the linked parishes.
Parish Staff & Deacons
St. James is served by Fr. Alexander Nord as pastor of the linked parishes of St. James (Catawissa) and St. Mary of Perpetual Help (Villa Ridge). He is assisted by three deacons and a parish secretary. The Archdiocese of St. Louis lists Rev. Alexander Nord as pastor and Deacons Brian Knight and Randall (Randy) Smith as permanent deacons; the parish's own site also lists Deacon Jim Bornholdt.
- Pastor: Rev. Alexander Nord
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Brian Knight
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Randy Smith
- Deacon: Rev. Jim Bornholdt
- Parish Secretary: Julie Busch
- Parish Office: 636-451-4685
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish website invites parishioners to 'join with the individuals of these organizations in helping make our community a better place to live.' Despite its small size, St. James — together with St. Mary's — supports a striking variety of ministries, from liturgical roles to hands-on outreach.
- Parish Council — coordinating and unifying structure of the parish community.
- Finance Committee — assists the pastor with parish finances and property.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (St. James / St. Mary's Conference) — person-to-person charity and food drives; helpline 877-238-3228 ext. 3311.
- Ministry of Readers (Lectors) — open to anyone high-school age and older; training provided.
- Prayer Chain — group of parishioners who pray for any intention requested.
- Quilters — hand-make quilts used for parish socials throughout the year.
- Music Ministry — choirs and musicians for Sunday Mass, Christmas Mass, weddings, funerals, and special functions.
- Altar Society — cleaning, altar linens, and decorating; raises funds to maintain the church.
- Maintenance volunteers — minor repairs, grass cutting, and landscaping.
- Hall Rental — meeting/socials space with full kitchen.
Cemetery
St. James's cemetery is located on the parish grounds next to the rectory. It is the burial place of Fr. Hilbert Schmelz, a son of the parish ordained in 1960 who died in 1983. The parish notes that help is always welcome maintaining the cemetery; inquiries go through the parish office.
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, the linked parishes maintain an Adoration Chapel at St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The parish celebrates First Saturday Mass at St. James at 8:00 am.
- Sunday Mass, Tuesday Mass, First Saturday Mass at St. James
- Reconciliation Saturday mornings at St. James
- Eucharistic Adoration 24/7 at St. Mary of Perpetual Help (access code from parish office)
- St. Vincent de Paul Helpline: 877-238-3228 ext. 3311
Community Outreach & Help
St. James joins its neighboring parishes in several outreach efforts that serve Franklin County residents in need. The Rural Parish Mobile Clinic brings free primary care to uninsured adults (ages 18–64 below 200% of the federal poverty line) in partnership with St. Clare Parish in St. Clair. Tri-County Birthright in Eureka and the Pregnancy Assistance Center in Washington support women and families with unexpected pregnancies, and the parish's own St. Vincent de Paul conference provides direct person-to-person aid.
- Rural Parish Mobile Clinic — free primary care, call 888-870-9610 to schedule.
- Tri-County Birthright (Eureka, MO) — volunteer opportunities; 636-938-4221.
- Pregnancy Assistance Center (Washington, MO) — volunteer-staffed; 636-230-1840.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (St. James / St. Mary's Conference).
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. James through the shared parish office in Villa Ridge, which is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (closed Wednesday and Thursday). The mail and office address is 1587 Hwy AM, Villa Ridge, MO 63089, while the church itself sits at 1107 Summit Dr., Catawissa, MO 63015.
- Church address: 1107 Summit Dr., Catawissa, MO 63015
- Parish Office: 1587 Hwy AM, Villa Ridge, MO 63089
- Phone: 636-451-4685
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon, Tue, Fri 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (closed Wed & Thu)
- Website: http://www.stmarys-moselle.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Authur O'Reillyfrom 1906
Pastor of St. Patrick in Armagh under whose watch the request for the Catawissa mission began; not in favor of the new church but Archbishop Glennon permitted it.
- Fr. T.J. Walsh
Second pastor of St. James; wrote a first-hand account of the founding that is quoted in the parish history.
- Fr. Joseph Caseyfrom 1924
Pastor of St. Patrick's who initiated construction of the two-story frame rectory at St. James that is still in use.
- Fr. Joseph Anler (and visiting priests)around 1951 onward
Example of pastors who administered St. James from other parishes (he drove from St. Rose of Lima each weekend).
- Fr. Walter Boul1981–1988
Appointed pastor in 1981; retired in 1988.
- Fr. Donald Murphy1988–1994
Assigned to the parish in 1988; served until his death in 1994.
- Fr. Richard Coerverfrom June 2002
Assigned pastor of St. James in June 2002 with Associate Fr. Martin Mannion; oversaw the linked parishes of St. Bridget of Kildare, St. James, and St. Mary of Perpetual Help; later reassigned in 2003.
- Fr. Martin Mannionfrom June 2002
Associate Pastor serving St. Bridget of Kildare, St. James, and St. Mary of Perpetual Help under Fr. Coerver.
- Fr. Mark S. Bozada2012–2013
Assigned to St. Bridget, St. James, and St. Mary's in 2012; in 2013 reassigned to only St. Mary's and St. James.
- Fr. Alexander Nordcurrent pastor
Current pastor of the linked parishes of St. James (Catawissa) and St. Mary of Perpetual Help (Villa Ridge).