About St. James · Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint James Catholic Church serves the south side of St. Joseph, Missouri, within the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Founded in 1900, the parish has grown alongside its school, established in 1910, which serves about 100 students from preschool through eighth grade. The church building, completed in 1913 in Romanesque style, has undergone numerous restorations and expansions over the decades, including a major restoration in 2019. The parish is led by Pastor Father Jonathan Davis, who was assigned in 2018 and is also pastor of Saint Patrick’s Parish.
- Established
- 1900
- Rector
- Father Jonathan Davis
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Why belong here
Join a parish deeply rooted in community and faith, offering ministries like Faith Formation, Sacraments, and pastoral care for the sick. The parish school serves students from preschool through eighth grade, and the church hosts daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Confession. The parish also provides opportunities to learn about the Catholic faith and participate in evangelization efforts.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:30 to 7:50 am & 6:00 to 6:50 pm
- Wednesday 7:30 to 7:50 am
- Thursday 7:30 to 7:50 am
- Friday 7:30 to 7:50 am
- Saturday 3:00 to 3:50 pm
- Sunday 8:00 to 8:50 am & 12:30 to 12:50 pm
Adoration times
- Monday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm
Parish History
The parish began in 1898 with Masses held in a vacant store room. It was formally established in 1900 with the appointment of its first pastor, Reverend James O'Reilly. A school opened in 1910 on the church’s second floor. The current church and rectory were completed in 1913. Major milestones include the installation of stained glass windows by Paul Wolff (1920s), the construction of the convent (1927), the school’s current building (1954–1962), ADA accessibility upgrades (1980), and a major restoration completed in 2019. The parish celebrated its Centennial in 2000.
Ministries
The parish offers a wide range of ministries including Faith Formation, Sacraments, Pastoral Care for the Sick, Evangelization, Online Learning, Serve, and Give. The parish school serves students from preschool through eighth grade.
- Faith Formation
- Sacraments
- Pastoral Care for the Sick
- Evangelization
- Online Learning
- Serve
- Give
Sacraments
The parish offers all seven sacraments: Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Christian Burial, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick. The parish also offers Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Christian Burial
- Confession
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Matrimony
- Holy Orders
Worship & Services
Mass is celebrated daily, with weekday Mass at 8:00 am and Sunday Mass at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. Eucharistic Adoration is held Monday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm. Confession is available multiple times throughout the week, including Sunday 8:00–8:50 am and 12:30–12:50 pm.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend James O'Reilly1900-1910
- Reverend James O'Donnell1910-1926
- Reverend MF Connor1926-1951
- Right Reverend Monsignor John J. Moriarty1951-1976
- Reverend Richard Ducate1976-1988
- Reverend Francis Schuele1993-1996
First member of Saint James Parish to become pastor
- Reverend Vincent Rogers1996-2005
- Reverend Joseph Totton2005-2012
Introduced traditional Latin Mass at 12:30 pm Sunday
- Reverend Evan Harkins2012-2020
Led major capital campaign for church restoration