About St. John the Apostle · Bismarck, Missouri
St. John the Apostle was a Roman Catholic mission church in Bismarck, Missouri, founded in 1879 in St. Francois County. For more than 140 years it served as a small but devoted faith community serving the Bismarck area, located at the corner of Walnut and Maple Streets. From its earliest days it was supported by larger parishes — first St. Joseph in Arcadia, then St. Joseph in Farmington, and finally Immaculate Conception in Desloge. The mission's wooden-frame church was replaced in 1975–1976 by a new brick church, dedicated June 13, 1976 by Bishop Charles Koester. As part of Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski's 'All Things New' parish restructuring, St. John Mission was closed and merged into Immaculate Conception Parish in Park Hills effective August 1, 2023.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle
- Rector
- Reverend Larry Huber (Pastor of merged Immaculate Conception Parish, Park Hills, which now includes former St. John the Apostle Mission)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (now merged into Immaculate Conception Parish, Park Hills, as of August 1, 2023)
Why belong here
For more than 140 years, St. John the Apostle was a small but tight-knit Catholic mission in the heart of Bismarck, where generations of St. Francois County families worshipped together at the corner of Walnut and Maple Streets. Although the mission was formally merged into Immaculate Conception Parish in Park Hills on August 1, 2023 under Archbishop Rozanski's 'All Things New' plan, its sacramental records and pastoral care continue to be served by the merged parish community. Visitors and former parishioners are invited to celebrate Mass at the historic church (Sunday Mass at 8:00 am) and to be part of a faith community whose shared ministries of education, example, and service remain rooted in the Bismarck community.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 am – 7:55 am
History of St. John the Apostle, Bismarck
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church was founded in 1879 in the mining community of Bismarck, Missouri, and was organized from the start as a mission rather than a parish. It was placed under the care of St. Joseph's Church in Arcadia, whose priests traveled to Bismarck to celebrate Mass. Between 1900 and 1910 a white frame church was built on O'Connor family property at the corner of Walnut and Maple Streets, the same site the parish would occupy for the next century. The mission's early records were later lost in a fire at St. Joseph's, Farmington, after which pastoral care returned to Arcadia. On August 8, 1957, by letter of Cardinal Joseph Ritter, the priests of Immaculate Conception, Desloge assumed administrative duties of the mission, beginning a long partnership.
- Founded 1879 as a mission of St. Joseph's, Arcadia
- White frame church built c. 1900–1910 on O'Connor property at Walnut & Maple
- First known First Communicants from Bismarck, 1910, at St. Joseph's, Arcadia
- Pastoral care transferred in 1957 to Immaculate Conception, Desloge
- Remodeling under Father Andrew Siegmund, 1965 (altar from Sacred Heart, Rivermires)
- Merged into Immaculate Conception, Park Hills, August 1, 2023
Building the Current Church (1973–1976)
By the early 1970s the old frame church was failing. On August 26, 1973, Bishop Charles Koester, Vicar of the Rural Area of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, visited the parish to inspect conditions. Inspectors found the main support beam termite-ridden and the building apparently resting on solid rock, ruling out a basement. Under Father John L. Hallemann, designs were drawn for a new church and adjoining hall. Ground was broken July 5, 1975, the cornerstone was set November 9, 1975 by Msgr. James J. Holland, V.F., Dean of the Ste. Genevieve Deanery, the first Mass was celebrated Christmas Eve 1975, and Bishop Koester formally dedicated the building on June 13, 1976.
- Groundbreaking: July 5, 1975
- Cornerstone: November 9, 1975 (Msgr. James J. Holland, V.F.)
- First Mass: Christmas Eve, 1975
- Dedication: June 13, 1976 (Bishop Charles Koester)
The Bell, Windows, and Bell Tower
When the old frame church was removed, its stained-glass windows and bell were preserved. In early 1977 the Davis Art Glass Company of St. Louis redesigned and reinstalled the windows in the new church. In 1979 a separate bell tower was constructed by Loana Contractors, Inc. of Bismarck to house the salvaged bell. The bell dates to 1894 and was cast by H. Stucksteade of St. Louis (a foundry once located near the brewery, closed in 1956); it is made of Lake Superior copper and Banka tin, weighs 235 pounds, and has a 22-inch span. Originally the chapel bell of an Academy School in St. Louis, it still calls parishioners to Mass on Sundays and holy days.
- Stained-glass windows saved, redesigned 1977 by Davis Art Glass Co., St. Louis
- Bell tower built 1979 by Loana Contractors, Inc., Bismarck
- Bell: 1894, H. Stucksteade Foundry, St. Louis; 235 lbs, 22-inch span
Parish Identity and Mission
As expressed in the merged parish mission statement carried on the Archdiocese of St. Louis directory: 'We, the parish communities of Immaculate Conception Parish and St. John the Apostle Parish are called by baptism to continue Christ's mission through education, example, and service. We are nourished by the Word, worship, and sacrament. We dedicate ourselves to minister through the sharing of time, talent, and treasure.' A small congregation that was 'never large enough to be much more than a mission' endured for 144 years, sustained by 'a strong breed filled with faith in God and love for their fellow men,' as the parish history written under Father Stratmann describes them.
- Motto: education, example, and service
- Nourished by the Word, worship, and sacrament
- Shared time, talent, and treasure
Closure and Merger (2023)
On June 7, 2023, the Daily Journal Online reported that 'Park Hills' Immaculate Conception will officially absorb Bismarck's St. John mission, effective Aug. 1. The pastor, Rev. Larry Huber, will continue to lead both congregations.' The change came as part of Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski's 'All Things New' pastoral planning initiative for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which restructured parishes across the Parkland region, including Farmington, Bonne Terre, Park Hills, and Bismarck. Following the merger, sacramental records for St. John the Apostle are maintained by Immaculate Conception Parish, Park Hills, and the historic church at 821 Maple Street in Bismarck continues to be listed in the parish directory under shared contact information.
- Announced June 7, 2023 (Daily Journal Online)
- Effective August 1, 2023
- Part of Archbishop Rozanski's 'All Things New' initiative
- Records and pastoral care maintained by Immaculate Conception, Park Hills
Contact and Location
The mission church stands at 821 Maple Street at Walnut Street, Bismarck, MO 63624, in St. Francois County. Parish communications are shared with Immaculate Conception, Park Hills: phone (573) 431-2427, fax (573) 431-4060, and mailing address c/o Immaculate Conception, 1020 W. Main Street, Park Hills, MO 63601. The official website icsja.org continues to host information for both Immaculate Conception and St. John the Apostle.
- Address: 821 Maple St. at Walnut St., Bismarck, MO 63624
- Phone: (573) 431-2427
- Fax: (573) 431-4060
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.icsja.org/
- Mailing: c/o Immaculate Conception, 1020 W. Main St., Park Hills, MO 63601
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ambrose Stratmann
Listed as the priest serving St. John's in parish history written while he was assigned at Immaculate Conception, Desloge (post-1957 arrangement).
- Rev. Andrew Siegmund1965
Oversaw the remodeling of the old frame church; installed the marble altar from Sacred Heart, Rivermires, along with new paneling, flooring, and stained-glass windows.
- Rev. John L. Hallemann1973–1976
Led the design of the new church and adjoining hall; under his leadership ground was broken July 5, 1975 and the church dedicated June 13, 1976.
- Rev. Larry Huber2023–
Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Park Hills; continued as pastor of both congregations when St. John Mission was merged into Immaculate Conception effective Aug. 1, 2023.