About St. Joachim · Old Mines, Missouri
St. Joachim Catholic Church in Old Mines, Missouri is the oldest church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis still in continuous use by a parish, with a Catholic presence at the site dating to the 1740s and a formally-established parish from 1828. The current brick church was begun in 1828 under Vincentian Father John Boullier, C.M. and consecrated by Bishop Joseph Rosati in October 1831. The parish serves the historic French-settler community of Old Mines in Washington County as part of a multi-site cluster that also includes St. James, St. Joseph (Tiff), and St. Stephen's Chapel, and it remains a center of worship, school, and community life for descendants of the original Acadian and French families.
- Established
- 1828
- Patron
- Saint Joachim (father of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony Dattilo
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Joachim is a living link to one of the oldest Catholic communities in Missouri, with Mass still offered on the same hilltop in Old Mines where Bishop Rosati consecrated the altar in 1831. The parish runs a parish school, a Knights of Columbus council, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, Perpetual Help Devotions, an annual parish festival, and the historic Holy Rosary and St. Joseph societies that have served the village since the 1800s. Families who worship here join a small, multi-generational French-heritage community that still tends three old cemeteries and keeps French Catholic traditions alive.
Mass times at St. Joachim
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (2nd and 4th): 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- By appointment: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (please call the parish office first for availability)
Adoration times
- First Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Adoration with Benediction)
Welcome and Parish Mission
St. Joachim describes itself as a parish family in the Archdiocese of St. Louis with a heritage of faith, encouraged by the tradition of Christian hospitality, caring and love toward neighbor. The parish mission statement on the official website reads: 'We the parish family of St. Joachim of the Archdiocese of St. Louis are a people with a heritage of faith, encouraged by the tradition of Christian hospitality, caring and love toward our neighbor. We are committed to continue to support each other on our pilgrim journey to the Father. In response to God's Word, we strive through a Sacramental Life to bring all to a fuller understanding of God's Love by praying, teaching and by witnessing to Christ in the service of one another.'
- Heritage of faith rooted in the French and Acadian settlers of Old Mines
- Sacramental life as the center of parish identity
- Pilgrim journey theme — supporting one another toward the Father
History of St. Joachim
Catholic worship at Old Mines dates to the 1740s. A 1748 entry at the Church of Saint Ann records Pierre Vivarenne and his wife traveling from Old Mines to receive sacraments, and in 1758 Rev. Ph. Francis Watrin, S.J. signed as 'Cure de St. Joachin.' Jesuit missionaries from Kaskaskia, Illinois served the community until 1793, when priests from Ste. Genevieve took over. The first recorded church — a log structure — was built in 1821 by Father Henry Pratte. Construction of the present brick church began in 1828 under Vincentian Father John Boullier, C.M., who on July 25, 1828 became the first resident pastor. Bishop Joseph Rosati consecrated the new church on October 9, 1831, with relics of the saints sealed in the altar.
- 1748 — earliest sacramental record from Old Mines at the Church of Saint Ann
- 1758 — Rev. Ph. Francis Watrin, S.J. signs as 'Cure de St. Joachin'
- 1759 — settlement organized as the 'Poste de Saint Joachim' under Spanish rule
- 1793 — priests from Ste. Genevieve assume care of the Old Mines faithful
- 1821 — first log church built by Father Henry Pratte
- 1828 — Fr. John Boullier, C.M. begins the present brick church and is named first resident pastor (July 25, 1828)
- October 9, 1831 — Bishop Joseph Rosati consecrates the new church
- 1883 — Rev. N. Orfei organizes the Society of St. Joseph and the Children of Mary
Parish School
A parish school has been part of St. Joachim since at least the 1850s. Father James Fox opened a school between 1852 and 1868 in a building Madame Lamarque had constructed. In 1924 Father John Patrick Daly welcomed the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who opened a frame convent-school with 109 pupils. The school peaked at 213 pupils in 1934, and a new school cornerstone was laid in 1949. A new convent for the Sisters was dedicated on December 10, 1967. The parish high school closed in the 1970s, but the parish school continues as part of the parish's ministry today, supported by an active School Advisory Board.
- 1852–1868 — Father James Fox opens the first parish school in the Lamarque building
- 1924 — Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word arrive; first day of school in the new frame convent-school with 109 students
- 1934 — 213 pupils enrolled, the largest in school history; Bishop C. H. Winkelmann confirms 333 at St. Joachim
- 1949 — cornerstone of the new school laid; Hot Lunch Program begins October 19, 1949
- December 10, 1967 — New Convent dedicated
- 1970s — St. Joachim High School closes
- Today — parish school continues; School Advisory Board meets regularly
Cluster Parishes and Mission Churches
St. Joachim shares pastoral care with mission churches in the surrounding Washington County area. The Archdiocese of St. Louis listing shows additional weekend and holy day Masses at St. James Church (4th Thursday 8:00 AM), St. Joseph Chapel in Tiff (3rd Saturday 6:30 PM), and St. Stephen's Chapel (First Sunday 8:00 AM), with Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day Masses rotating among the sites.
- St. James Church — 4th Thursday 8:00 AM Mass; Christmas Eve 4:00 PM Mass
- St. Joseph Chapel, Tiff — 3rd Saturday 6:30 PM Mass
- St. Stephen's Chapel — First Sunday 8:00 AM Mass
- St. Joachim — hosts the 2nd & 4th Saturday 4:00 PM Mass, Christmas 8:00 AM, Christmas Eve 10:00 PM, and New Year's Day 10:00 AM Masses
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish keeps traditional Catholic devotions active. Perpetual Help Devotions and the Rosary are prayed weekly — the parish calendar lists Mondays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, while a third-party listing also notes Tuesday Perpetual Help Devotions and Rosary at 7:45–8:15 AM. First Friday Adoration from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM is a special day of worship before the Blessed Sacrament, and parishioners are invited to sign up through the parish office to sit with the Eucharist. The Holy Rosary Society, in continuous existence since 1836, is one of the oldest parish groups.
- Perpetual Help Devotions and Rosary — Mondays 9:00–10:00 AM
- Perpetual Help Devotions and Rosary — Tuesdays 7:45–8:15 AM
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration — 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Holy Rosary Society — founded September 8, 1836
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Joachim sponsors a small but active set of parish organizations. The parish calendar lists regular Knights of Columbus dinners (a major fundraiser), monthly St. Vincent de Paul meetings at the Incarnate Word Center, and School Advisory Board meetings. Historic societies still carried forward from the 19th century include the Society of St. Joseph and the Children of Mary, both organized in 1883. The Rural Parish Workers of Christ the King, a secular institute of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, have lived on-site and served the parish since 1949.
- Knights of Columbus — Chicken & Beef Dinners and other fundraisers
- St. Vincent de Paul — monthly meetings at the Incarnate Word Center
- School Advisory Board
- Society of St. Joseph — for the gentlemen, organized 1883
- Children of Mary — for the young ladies, organized 1883
- Holy Rosary Society — founded 1836
- Rural Parish Workers of Christ the King — present since 1949
French-Catholic Heritage
St. Joachim sits at the heart of Old Mines, widely regarded as the oldest settlement in Missouri, founded by French colonists including Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia in the 1760s. The parish has worked deliberately to preserve this heritage: French is still sung and prayed at parish festival Masses, French-Catholic folk traditions are kept at the annual festival, and the parish newsletter references the 'heritage of faith' as central to its identity. The Archdiocese of St. Louis has covered the parish's role in preserving French language and customs in coverage of the parish's bicentennial approach.
- Old Mines considered the oldest settlement in Missouri
- Acadian French refugees arrived in the 1760s
- French-language Mass celebrated at the 2024 parish festival by Father Jason Vidrine (Diocese of Lafayette, LA)
- Descendant families (Boyer, Pashia/Norbut, and others) volunteer to maintain the parish grounds and cemeteries
Cemeteries and Parish Grounds
The parish grounds at Old Mines include three historic cemeteries that surround the church. The original cemetery land — 'Cemetery Number 1' on Lot 6 — was donated to Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick by Marie Louise Lamarque on January 1, 1856. The land where the present church stands was acquired for the parish in stages between 1830 and 1854, with the actual plot (about 22.5 acres) sold to Archbishop Kenrick for $1.00 on December 16, 1850. A group of parishioners today maintains the three graveyards and the church property on a volunteer basis.
- Cemetery Number 1 — donated to Archbishop Kenrick by Marie Louise Lamarque on January 1, 1856
- Present church plot — ~22.5 acres conveyed December 16, 1850
- Three historic cemeteries still maintained by volunteer parishioners
Support the Parish and School
The official website links to online giving through OSV Hub for parish support and lists an annual School Auction to benefit the parish school. The Knights of Columbus dinners and the parish festival in September are the largest community fundraisers of the year.
- Online giving via OSV Hub (osvhub.com/stjoachim/funds)
- Annual School Auction
- Knights of Columbus Chicken & Beef Dinners
- September Parish Festival
Safe Environment and 'All Things New'
The parish website carries the Archdiocese of St. Louis safe-environment program ('Protecting God's Children') with links to registration and to the diocesan reporting page for sexual abuse or financial misconduct. The 'All Things New' pastoral planning initiative of the Archdiocese of St. Louis has published letters from the Archbishop, decrees affecting St. Joachim, St. Joseph, St. James, and St. Stephen, a map of the local deanery, and priest assignments — all linked from the parish site.
- Protecting God's Children / Safe Environment registration
- Reporting sexual abuse and financial misconduct links
- 'All Things New' Archdiocesan pastoral planning documents and decrees
- Map of the deanery and priest assignments
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ph. Francis Watrin, S.J.1758
Signed as 'Cure de St. Joachin' (pastor of St. Joachim); visited from Jesuit missions.
- Rev. Joseph de Grandda, Capuchinby 1792
Stated in a January 25, 1792 letter that he had been chaplain at 'Vegia Miniere' (Old Mines).
- Rev. Henry Pratte1821
Built the first recorded log church at Old Mines; based in Ste. Genevieve.
- Rev. John Boullier, C.M. (Joannes Boullier)1828–
First resident pastor; began the present brick church in 1828 and formally established the parish on July 25, 1828.
- Rev. John Brants, C.M.by 1836
Founded and confirmed the Holy Rosary Society on September 8, 1836.
- Rev. N. Orfeifrom 1883
Took possession of the parish April 29, 1883; organized the Society of St. Joseph and the Children of Mary.
- Rev. James Fox1852–1868
Opened the first parish school at Old Mines.
- Rev. John Patrick Dalyfrom 1924
Born in County Kerry, Ireland; ordained 1916 at Kenrick Seminary. Welcomed the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and opened the frame convent-school.
- Monsignor Vincent L. Naeslater pastorate at St. Joachim (then of St. Cecilia, St. Louis)
Blessed a new parish building; presided from the front balcony and recalled his memories of pastoring St. Joachim.
- Rev. Anthony Dattilopresent
Current pastor; in a Sept. 12 homily marked the parish's bicentennial approach, noting Mass has been celebrated on this spot for nearly 300 years.