About St. Joseph · Billings, Missouri
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Billings, Missouri, in the heart of Christian County in the Ozarks. Founded in 1883, it serves the faith communities of Billings, Republic, Clever, Crane, Marionville, Bois D'Arc, Hurley, Galena, and Ash Grove from its location on NW Washington Avenue. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and is currently administered by Rev. Bejoy Thomas, CMI, a priest of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. Its mission, inspired by its patron St. Joseph, is to be a place to encounter Jesus in the sacraments, in worship, and in service to each other and the broader community.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Bejoy Thomas, CMI (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, multigenerational parish where nearly every ministry is run by parishioners themselves — from the St. Joseph Food Pantry that serves families across the Clever and Billings school districts, to the Parish Council of Catholic Women, the Men's Club, OCIA for adults, PSR for children, and the Metanoia adult faith formation program. Worship is rooted in the Eucharist with weekly Mass, reconciliation, Wednesday Eucharistic adoration, and a 140-year-old Catholic cemetery tended with perpetual care. It is a place where, in the words of its own mission, parishioners grow together in faith through the sacraments, worship, and service to each other and the broader Ozarks community.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 pm
- Wednesday 7:15 – 7:45 pm
- And by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:30 – 7:30 pm (public)
- Monday – Thursday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (Private Adoration by request)
Parish History
St. Joseph traces its origins to 1879, when Father Hennes first celebrated Mass in the Vogelteich home in Billings. The parish was formally founded in 1883 when Father Joseph Beck, pastor of St. John Nepomuk in Verona, urged the small Catholic community to build a church. A 20'x30' frame structure went up on two lots donated by the Frisco Railroad at a cost of $250, and the first baptism on the parish records — that of William Sauer — was performed on May 27, 1883. After brief secular pastorates (Father Beck until 1886, Father F.C. Becker 1886–1887), the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey ministered to St. Joseph's for twelve years beginning in 1888. Father Francis S. Enzweiler, the first secular priest to serve the parish, held the longest tenure, overseeing the construction of a brick church and the original rectory. On November 4, 1920 fire destroyed the church; the present building was completed and dedicated May 4, 1921. Men of the parish hand-dug the basement in February 1942, the stained-glass windows were installed in 1947, and a new brick school opened in 1951, closing in 1967. In 1999 parish men erected a metal St. Vincent de Paul distribution center, and in 2001 the parish purchased the present rectory at 414 Griesemer Road.
Buildings & Campus
The parish campus has grown steadily since 1883 and today the parish owns and maintains the church, an annex building, the parish hall, the cemetery, the storage and pantry building, and the present rectory at 414 Griesemer Road. The church itself was rebuilt after the 1920 fire and has served the community continuously since its dedication on May 4, 1921.
- Church (dedicated 1921)
- Annex building
- Parish Hall (hosts PSR, OCIA, Metanoia, Sunday coffee/donuts)
- St. Joseph Food Pantry at 321 NW Washington Avenue
- St. Vincent de Paul distribution center (1999)
- Parish rectory at 414 Griesemer Road (2001)
St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Established in 1895, the parish cemetery sits about 1.6 miles (a two-minute drive) northwest of the church. From NW Washington Avenue, turn left on Griesemer Road, then take the first right onto Saint Joseph Road; the cemetery is on the left 0.7 miles ahead. Gravesites are available for purchase through the St. Joseph Cemetery Board, which provides perpetual care. Contact the parish office for more information.
- Established 1895
- Land originally donated in 1884 by the Franz Schaefer family
- Oldest marked grave: Gottlieb Stack (d. 1886)
- Perpetual care provided by the Cemetery Board
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Joseph is currently administered as a parish by Rev. Bejoy Thomas, CMI, a priest of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, who serves as Parochial Administrator. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and is supported by a network of lay staff, council leaders, and volunteers.
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Bejoy Thomas, CMI
- Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper: Kelly Harter
- Director of Religious Education: Sandra Crockett
- PSR Coordinator: Sandra Crockett
- OCIA Coordinator: Teresa Hanafin
- PCCW & Adult Education: Bobbie Emery
- Men's Club: Gerald Griffin
- Custodians: Arthur & Julie Gregg
- Maintenance: Larry Fabro & Greg Harter
- Parish Pastoral Council: Chris Batchman
- Finance Committee: Greg Harter
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Joseph is built around three complementary programs for children, teens, and adults, all meeting Sunday mornings from 9:10 to about 10:30 am in the Parish Hall. The parish also prepares children for First Reconciliation/First Communion in 2nd grade and for Confirmation in junior high, with Confirmation celebrated every three years (next in 2027).
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion offers weekly Sunday-morning classroom instruction for children from preschool (age 3) through 12th grade, followed by communal prayer and music in the church. The program supports parents as the primary religious educators of their children and integrates Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, prayer, and reflection. Registration is $20 per child or $30 per family, with a Registration Day held on the Sunday before classes resume.
- Coordinator: Sandra Crockett ([email protected], 417-744-2490 ext 3)
- Pre-K (age 3) through 12th grade
- First Reconciliation/First Communion: 2nd grade
- Confirmation: Grades 7–9, celebrated every three years
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
OCIA is the parish's faith-formation journey for adults and young adults considering joining the Catholic Church or completing their initiation. It welcomes those never baptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition, Catholics seeking Eucharist and Confirmation, and Catholics returning after time away. Classes meet Sunday mornings from 9:10 to 10:30 am, September through May, in the OCIA classroom in the Parish Hall, and are free of charge.
- Director: Teresa Hanafin ([email protected])
- Open to unbaptized adults, Christians entering into full communion, and returning Catholics
- Sunday mornings, September–May
Metanoia — Adult Faith Formation
Metanoia is the parish's Sunday-morning adult education program, meeting from 9:10 to 10:15 am in the Parish Hall's main gathering space. All adults 18 and older are invited — no prior registration is required, and there may be a nominal cost for books.
- Coordinator: Bobbie Emery
- Open to all adults 18+
- Sunday mornings during the school year
Youth Group / Teen Time
St. Joseph runs a Teen Time / youth ministry to support the emotional, spiritual, and physical development of its young people, complementing the PSR program and parish life.
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish runs a robust network of lay-led ministries — from women's and men's fellowship to a food pantry that serves two school districts, a St. Vincent de Paul distribution center, and an evangelization partnership with the Sisters at Queen of Heaven Solitude.
St. Joseph Food Pantry
A network of parishioners inspired by Gospel values, the St. Joseph Food Pantry operates from a building at 321 NW Washington Avenue, on the north side of the parish parking lot. It distributes food on the second Saturday of each month from 7:30 to 10 am, serving families in need across the Clever and Billings school districts. Most of the food comes through Ozarks Food Harvest, Apple Market, Kum and Go, local food drives, and the government TEFAP program; the pantry is funded by a monthly special collection at St. Joseph and by supportive local churches, businesses, and individuals. In partnership with the Billings Ministerial Alliance, the pantry also helps with emergency housing, utility bills, and fuel for medical treatment on a case-by-case basis.
- President: Joe Sciarrino
- Vice-President: Joe Noviello
- Treasurer: Kim Brayman
- Charity Tracker Specialists: Bryan & Sandra Crockett
- Assistance Request Coordinator: Christine Williams (417-849-2486)
- Logistics Coordinator: Mike King
- Distribution: 2nd Saturday of the month, 7:30–10 am
Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
The PCCW develops spirituality, encourages fellowship, and fosters leadership among the women of the parish (18+). Members serve coffee and donuts between Masses, provide baskets for the homebound at Christmas, host a Senior Citizens' Christmas dinner, organize a Sisters' Thanksgiving food shower, supply school supplies for Billings children, prepare bereavement meals, host receptions for First Communion, Confirmation, and the Easter Vigil, and represent the women's voice on the Parish Pastoral Council.
- President: Bobbie Emery
Men's Club
The Men's Club gathers the men of the parish for fellowship and service — historically the men have taken on major building projects for the parish, including the 1942 basement-dig and the 1999 St. Vincent de Paul distribution center.
- Leader: Gerald Griffin
Sisters at Queen of Heaven Solitude (Evangelization)
St. Joseph partners with the Sisters at Queen of Heaven Solitude, who carry out their mission of evangelization through direct door-to-door visits at each home in the parish. The sisters answer questions about the Catholic faith, invite people to tour the church, accompany them to Mass, support the homebound, and provide ongoing adult education. Contact: (417) 744-2011, [email protected]; website: marythefont.org.
- Adult Education Coordinator: Bobbie Emery
St. Vincent de Paul Distribution Center
In 1999 several men of the parish erected a metal building to serve as the St. Vincent de Paul distribution center, expanding the parish's capacity to assist those in need alongside the Food Pantry.
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, and House Blessings are scheduled through the parish office. Couples should contact the parish office at least ten months before a possible wedding date. Sacramental preparation for children begins well in advance: First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically celebrated in 2nd grade, and Confirmation in junior high (grades 7–9), with Confirmation offered every three years (next in 2027).
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment via the parish office
- Baptism — by appointment via the parish office
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least ten months ahead
- House Blessings — by appointment via the parish office
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — Grades 7–9, every three years
Contact, Office Hours & Pastoral Emergencies
Parish office hours are 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday (or by appointment). Messages sent through the website are not monitored after business hours; in a pastoral emergency when Father is needed, call the parish office (417-744-2490) during business hours or call Father directly at 417-289-6035.
- Parish office: (417) 744-2490 — [email protected]
- Parochial Administrator / rectory: (417) 289-6035 — [email protected]
- PSR Coordinator: Sandra Crockett, ext 3 — [email protected]
- OCIA Director: Teresa Hanafin — [email protected]
- Food Pantry Assistance: Christine Williams — 417-849-2486
- Sisters at Queen of Heaven Solitude: (417) 744-2011 — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Hennes1879
Said the first Mass in Billings, in the Vogelteich home.
- Father Joseph Beck1883–1886
Pastor of St. John Nepomuk, Verona; celebrated the founding Mass and urged the people to build a church.
- Father F.C. Becker1886–1887
Succeeded Father Beck.
- Benedictine priests of Conception Abbey (Fathers John, Paul, T. Ignatius, Willibrord and others, O.S.B.)1888–1900
Ministered for twelve years while the parish was a mission of St. John Nepomuk (Sacred Heart), Verona.
- Father Francis S. Enzweileruntil 1920
First secular priest to serve St. Joseph; had the longest tenure of any pastor; oversaw construction of the brick church and original rectory.