About St. Joseph · Canton, Missouri
St. Joseph Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish in Canton, Missouri, in the rural northeast corner of the state, served by the Diocese of Jefferson City. The parish serves as the mother church for several mission communities in Lewis County, including Notre Dame at La Grange and, at various times, parishes at Williamstown, Deer Ridge, St. Patrick, and Queen of Peace at Ewing. Located at 812 Lewis Street, just down the hill from Culver-Stockton College, the parish is currently pastored by Fr. Boniface K. Nzabonimpa, who also shepherds the nearby rural parishes of Ewing and Edina. Its roots reach back to 1841 and the abandoned Mississippi River town of Tully.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Boniface K. Nzabonimpa
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Joseph Canton is a small but devoted rural parish with roots going back to 1841 along the Mississippi, where a tight-knit Catholic community gathers each week to celebrate the Vigil Mass on Saturday and weekday Masses. Parishioners can be formed in faith through CCD classes K–12, the RCIA process for adults, a youth group for 7th–12th graders, a weekly Sunday Scripture discussion group, and the parish's long-standing St. Ann's Altar Sodality — all supported by an active Parish Council. Whether visiting the Lewis County area, attending Culver-Stockton College, or seeking a faithful Catholic home in northeast Missouri, St. Joseph welcomes newcomers to share in a tradition of volunteer-built churches, Ursuline-led schooling, and mission outreach that has endured for more than a century and a half.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 PM (before 7:00 PM Mass)
- Approximately 20 minutes before Mass (per parish bulletin)
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph's roots stretch back to 1841 and the Mississippi River town of Tully, abandoned after the flood of 1851. The first Canton church was built in 1867 on the northeast corner of 9th and Lewis Streets using bricks salvaged from Tully, and the present church replaced it on the same spot in 1954, dedicated by Bishop John Cody on October 31, 1954.
- 1841: cornerstone laid at Tully (Sept. 3, 1841); abandoned after the 1851 flood
- 1867: first St. Joseph Church in Canton completed
- 1890: parish school opened, taught by Ursuline Sisters of San Antonio
- 1907: new brick school built during Fr. John Girse's pastorate
- 1911: parish transferred from Archdiocese of St. Louis to Diocese of St. Joseph
- 1914: parish school closed; building later destroyed by fire in 1946
- 1954: present church built and dedicated (Oct. 31, 1954) by Bishop John Cody
- 1956: parish became part of the new Diocese of Jefferson City
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph runs a comprehensive CCD program for children from kindergarten through senior year of high school, recognizing that parents have the primary responsibility for forming their children's faith at home. Adult formation is offered through the parish's RCIA process, and teenagers can join the Catholic Youth Group for service, fundraising, and fellowship.
- CCD Classes — K through 12th grade
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — weekly or bi-weekly from August/September through April/May, culminating at the Easter Vigil
- Catholic Youth Group — 7th through 12th grades; service, fundraising, and social activities
- Weekly Sunday Scripture Discussion Group
- Parents expected to live the faith actively at home and ensure children's faithful CCD attendance
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for each of the seven sacraments according to diocesan norms. Parents begin baptismal preparation through the parish office, First Communion is offered after CCD formation in second grade and above, and Confirmation is conferred by the bishop on those at least 16 and in at least their sophomore year of high school after continued formation, a possible retreat, service, and an interview with the pastor.
- Baptism — call parish office; one baptismal preparation session required
- First Holy Eucharist — second grade or above with CCD preparation
- Confirmation — bishop anoints with chrism; age 16 / sophomore in high school; required formation, possible retreat, service, and interview with pastor
- RCIA — for unbaptized adults and those entering into full communion (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist at the Easter Vigil)
- Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites — for the seriously ill and dying
- Holy Orders and Matrimony — by arrangement with the parish office
Parish Life and Ministries
St. Joseph has an active Parish Council, a long-standing St. Ann's Altar Sodality, and a number of lay ministries that keep the parish running — from greeters and lectors to musicians, groundskeepers, bakers, and visitors to the homebound. The parish invites volunteers to fill out a Time and Talent sheet.
- Parish Council
- St. Ann's Altar Sodality
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Musicians / singers
- Coffee and Donuts hospitality
- Loaves of Love (baking ministry)
- Helping with the elderly
- Carpentry, painting, and grounds maintenance
- RCIA team member or CCD teacher/helper
Mission Parishes
For most of its history, St. Joseph Canton has served as the mother parish for surrounding Catholic missions in Lewis County, including Notre Dame at La Grange (formerly Immaculate Conception) and St. Patrick. Today its pastor also shepherds Queen of Peace at Ewing and St. Joseph at Edina.
- Notre Dame at La Grange — mission parish since 1865
- St. Patrick — served from St. Joseph from 1977 to 2004
- Queen of Peace, Ewing — pastor's responsibility since 2004
- St. Joseph, Edina — current associate assignment
- Former missions at Williamstown and Deer Ridge in Lewis County
Buildings, Campus & Facilities
The parish campus sits next to the church at 812 Lewis Street, just down the hill from Culver-Stockton College. Major modern improvements since 2004 have included a new carport, vinyl siding on the rectory and Marquette Hall, an outdoor statue of the Immaculate Conception, and a new fiberglass steeple.
- Church — present building dedicated 1954, brick-and-volunteer-labor build
- Marquette Hall — vinyl-sided during Fr. Frank's pastorate in 2005
- Rectory — new vinyl siding in 2005
- Carport — erected 2004 to replace former garage
- Outdoor statue of the Immaculate Conception — installed 2006 in front of the church
- Fiberglass steeple — added 2007 to the church exterior
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Hoffmannd. October 1990
Last resident pastor before a 14-year vacancy; his death in October 1990 left the parish without a resident pastor until 2004.
- Pastoral administrators during vacancy (Sr. Mary Ellen Knoll, Sr. Mildred Loddeke, Bro. John Francis Tyrell, Deacon Robert DePyper)1990–2004
Kept the parish running while priests from Hannibal, Monroe City, and Ewing supplied sacraments.
- Fr. Richard FrankJuly 2004 –
First resident pastor since 1990; also served mission parishes of Notre Dame at La Grange and Queen of Peace at Ewing; led physical improvements (2004 carport, 2005 siding, 2006 Immaculate Conception statue, 2007 steeple).
- Fr. Stephen Sandknop1970–1976
Redecorated the church in 1971 and built a combination rectory and parish hall in 1975; died June 29, 1976 at age 38.
- Fr. Michael J. O'Rourke
During his pastorate the present church was built and dedicated on October 31, 1954.
- Fr. John Girsefrom 1904
Built the new brick school in 1907 at Ninth and Lewis Streets.