About St. James · Potosi, Missouri
St. James Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Potosi, Missouri, part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Its canonical parish was founded in 1829, making it one of the oldest parishes in the archdiocese, with Catholic roots in Washington County stretching back to French Jesuit exploration in the 1720s. The parish serves the small lead-mining town of Potosi from its 1861 brick church on North Missouri Street, offering daily and weekend Masses, adoration, confession, OCIA, PSR religious education, and outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is pastored by Fr. Tony Dattilo with Fr. Vince Nyman as Part-time Senior Associate Pastor.
- Established
- 1829
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Tony Dattilo (Reverend Anthony Dattilo)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. James offers a close-knit Catholic community in the heart of historic Potosi, with daily and weekend Mass, monthly adoration, Saturday confession, and a robust PSR and OCIA program for those learning the faith. The parish also reaches out beyond its walls through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry (serving more than 160 local families a month), the Knights of Columbus, the Ladies Sodality, and a Men's Faith Sharing Group. Whether you are a longtime parishioner or new to the area, the parish welcomes every face as a blessing and offers many ways to share your time and talent.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Second Tuesday of each month (sign-up sheet in the back of church)
Parish History
St. James is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Catholicism in Washington County predates the parish: Jesuit Fathers from Kaskaskia, Illinois, ministered to local Catholics from 1720 to 1793, and Vincentian circuit priests followed. Around 1825, Father John Timon found the small wooden 'Potosi Chapel' already standing. A canonical parish was founded in 1829, and Father Jean Boullier, C.M., became the first resident priest of Washington County. The present brick church — the parish's third — was designed by T. W. Brady, with cornerstone laid in 1859 and the building consecrated by Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick in 1861.
- 1720–1793: Jesuit Fathers from Kaskaskia minister in Washington County
- c. 1825: Father John Timon, C.M., finds the wooden 'Potosi Chapel' in Mine au Breton (Potosi)
- 1829: Canonical parish founded; Father Jean Boullier, C.M., first resident priest
- 1831: Second (brick) church built on the Jones Addition lot; consecrated 1834 by Bishop Rosati
- 1835–1844: Father Lewis Tucker, first secular pastor; parishioners' 1836 petition keeps him
- 1859: Cornerstone laid for the present (third) church
- 1861: Present church completed and consecrated by Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick
- 1864: General Joe Shelby's attack; church used as refuge for women and children
- 1866: Rev. Michael O'Reilly arrives; new rectory built
- 1951: Parish school opens (100 students, 3 classrooms, 8 grades, 3 nuns)
- 1969: School closes; building used for PSR, picnics, fish fries
Our Patron Saint — St. James the Apostle
The parish takes its name from St. James the Apostle, whose feast day is July 25. The name James means 'The Supplanter,' and he is patron of arthritis sufferers and pharmacists. James was one of the three apostles — with Peter and John — admitted to the most intimate moments of Jesus' life, including the raising of Jairus's daughter, the Transfiguration on the high mountain, and the agony in Gethsemane. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred, beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa; a tradition holds that his relics rest in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where he is venerated as patron of pilgrims and once rode into battle with the Spanish cry 'Santiago!'
- Feast Day: July 25
- Name Meaning: 'The Supplanter'
- Patron of: arthritis sufferers, pharmacists, pilgrims
- Relics venerated at Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Clergy, Staff & Parish Council
The parish is currently pastored by Fr. Tony Dattilo, with Fr. Vince Nyman serving as Part-time Senior Associate Pastor. The parish staff includes an Office Manager, Parish Secretary, Custodian, and On-call Maintenance, along with two co-coordinators for the Parish School of Religion. The Parish Council includes Sharon Forrester, Kim Coleman, Jamie Thompson, and Mike Henson. The Archdiocese of St. Louis also lists Fr. Vincent Nyman officially as Part-Time Senior Associate Pastor on its parish directory page.
- Fr. Tony Dattilo — Pastor
- Fr. Vince Nyman — Part-time Senior Associate Pastor
- Angie Mitchell — Office Manager
- Vicki Thurmond — Parish Secretary
- Judy East — Custodian
- Thomas Roy — On-call Maintenance
- Melissa Cordia — PSR Co-Coordinator
- Tracy Farrell — PSR Co-Coordinator
- Parish Council: Sharon Forrester, Kim Coleman, Jamie Thompson, Mike Henson
Faith Formation: PSR & OCIA
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious education for the parish's children, co-coordinated by Melissa Cordia and Tracy Farrell. For adults seeking to become Catholic or learn more about the faith, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) holds classes, resuming formally on August 20. Summer OCIA sessions meet Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Incarnate Word Center for a 'Biblical Walk Through the Mass' with Dr. Edward Sri, with dates including June 4 and 18, July 9 and 23, and August 6. Inquiries may be directed to the St. Joachim or St. James rectories or to Vicki Thurmond at 573-854-1257.
- PSR — Melissa Cordia & Tracy Farrell, Co-Coordinators
- OCIA formal classes resume August 20
- Summer OCIA — 'Biblical Walk Through the Mass' (Dr. Edward Sri), Thursdays 6:30 PM, Incarnate Word Center
- Contact: Vicki Thurmond, 573-854-1257
Parish Ministries & Service
Beyond Mass and sacraments, St. James sustains an active parish life through service, fellowship, and small groups. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference runs the parish food pantry — recently serving 163 families (406 individuals, 112 of them age 65 or older) thanks to the generosity of parishioners and donors. The Knights of Columbus and Ladies Sodality fundraise (fish fries, bake sales) to support parish improvements, including a recent statue of Mary between the church and the Parish Hall. A Men's Faith Sharing Group meets regularly, and the parish is actively recruiting more Lectors, Altar Servers, and Eucharistic Ministers — especially for the 4 PM and 8 AM Masses.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — food pantry and direct assistance
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies Sodality
- Men's Faith Sharing Group — Eric Aubuchon, 314-605-6268
- Lectors, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers (especially needed for 4 PM and 8 AM Masses)
- Parish Council
- Fifth Sunday parish brunches
- Online Giving via Servant Keeper (Apple Pay accepted)
Sacraments
St. James celebrates the seven sacraments in keeping with Catholic tradition. Baptisms and Marriages are arranged by appointment, with marriages scheduled at least six months in advance (couples are asked to read the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony requirements). Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass and by appointment. The sick may request Anointing, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered monthly on the second Tuesday.
- Baptism — by appointment
- Marriage — by appointment, at least six months in advance
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Eucharistic Adoration — second Tuesday of each month
Clarity House of Retreat
A distinctive devotion at St. James is the Clarity House of Retreat, which gathers on the second Friday of each month for prayer, quiet, and healing. The evening begins with the Rosary at 6:00 PM, followed by Mass, with all welcome to attend.
- When: second Friday of each month
- 6:00 PM — Rosary
- Followed by Mass
- Open to all seeking prayer, quiet, and healing
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. Newcomers are encouraged to fill out a New Parishioner Form online at www.stjames-potosi.org or call the parish office. The parish office is open Monday 8–3, Tuesday 7–3, Wednesday 8–3, Thursday 7–3, and Friday 8–3 (closed on Holy Days and federal holidays). Online Giving is available through a new portal, with Apple Pay now accepted.
- Address: 201 North Missouri Street, Potosi, Missouri 63664
- Phone: 573-438-4686
- Fax: 573-438-2100
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon 8–3, Tue 7–3, Wed 8–3, Thu 7–3, Fri 8–3
- Closed on Holy Days and federal holidays
- Online Giving portal via Servant Keeper (Apple Pay accepted)
- New Parishioner Form available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Timon, C.M. (Vincentian)c. 1825
First priest documented as serving the Potosi Catholics; found the wooden 'Potosi Chapel' already standing.
- Father Jean Boullier, C.M.1829–
First resident priest of Washington County after the canonical parish was founded in 1829.
- Father Philip Borgna, C.M.after Boullier
Built the second (brick) church on the donated Jones Addition lot, 1831, consecrated 1834.
- Father Lewis Tucker1835–1844
First secular priest pastor; parishioners petitioned Bishop Rosati to keep him when a transfer was attempted in 1836.
- Father Joseph Wiseman1844–
Succeeded Tucker; oversaw completion of a small two-room rectory between the church and cemetery.
- Father James Fox1850s–1860s
Pastor at Old Mines who, with Father Butler, supervised construction of the present church (1859–1861). Moved sacred articles to Allen's Cave during the Civil War.
- Reverend Michael O'Reilly1866–
Transferred to St. James in fall 1866 after parishioners pressed Archbishop Kenrick for a resident pastor; rectory built that year.