About St. Joseph · Louisiana, Missouri
St. Joseph is a Roman Catholic parish in Louisiana, Missouri, in Pike County, belonging to the Diocese of Jefferson City. The parish was formally established in 1865 and serves the faithful of Louisiana along with its associated Mission of Mary Queen of Peace in nearby Clarksville. It is currently pastored by Fr. Henry Ussher, a missionary priest from the Diocese of Wiawso, Ghana, who also serves St. Clement Parish in St. Clement as part of a multi-parish assignment. Weekly worship is offered in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Henry Ussher
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a welcoming historic parish serving the small river town of Louisiana, Missouri, with a clear commitment to bilingual worship — Sunday Mass in English plus a regular Spanish celebration in the absence of a priest. As a tri-parish assignment with St. Clement and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace in Clarksville, it brings together neighboring Catholic communities in Pike County for shared pastoral care. Active parishioners support two deacons, weekly daily Mass, and the parish's ongoing outreach, including mission initiatives tied to pastor Fr. Henry Ussher's home diocese of Wiawso, Ghana.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Catholic faithful in Louisiana built their first church in 1850, with Mass supplied occasionally by the priest from nearby Milwood. A resident pastor arrived in 1864 and the parish of St. Joseph was formally established in 1865. The present church building was dedicated in 1874 and has been in continuous use since. The parish's published history draws on Loretta Pastva, SND's "Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri."
- 1850: First Catholic church built by Louisiana faithful
- 1864: First resident pastor arrives
- 1865: Parish formally established
- 1874: Present church dedicated
- 1915: Original tall steeple destroyed by fire; rectory also damaged and rebuilt
The Cummings Case and Religious Liberty
In September 1865, the parish's priest, Rev. John A. Cummings, was arrested and jailed after refusing to take Missouri's post-Civil War Test Oath, which required Catholic clergy to swear an oath of loyalty before exercising their ministry. He was tried, convicted and fined $500. The case was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which on January 14, 1867 declared the oath unconstitutional — a landmark ruling for religious liberty. Fr. Cummings did not live to see the long-term fruits of his witness; the harsh treatment he endured broke his health and he later died.
- Arraigned after Sunday Mass, September 3, 1865
- Defended at trial by R.A. Campbell, later lieutenant-governor of Missouri
- Appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court by Archbishop Kenrick
- Supreme Court decision (Cummings v. Missouri, 1867) voided the Test Oath
The Church Building
The present St. Joseph Church in Louisiana was dedicated in 1874. Its most distinctive architectural feature was originally a tall steeple, which was lost to a fire in 1915; as the steeple fell it set the rectory ablaze as well. The rectory was rebuilt, but the steeple was not, leaving the building with the lower, truncated profile it carries today.
- Dedicated in 1874
- Steeple destroyed by fire, 1915
- Rectory rebuilt after 1915 fire
Clergy and Pastoral Team
St. Joseph is currently pastored by Fr. Henry Ussher, a priest of the Diocese of Wiawso, Ghana, who ministers in the Diocese of Jefferson City. He is assisted by two deacons serving the parish and the wider Pike County Catholic community.
- Fr. Henry Ussher — Pastor (Diocese of Wiawso, Ghana)
- Rev. Mark Dobelman — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Jim Davies — Deacon
Pastor Fr. Henry Ussher
Fr. Ussher is a missionary priest of the Diocese of Wiawso, Ghana, and pastor of St. Joseph in Louisiana as well as St. Clement Parish in St. Clement and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace in Clarksville. He has served in the Diocese of Jefferson City for many years, including time as associate pastor of St. Patrick in Rolla, and as administrator of several parishes in the central part of the diocese. He is also a strong supporter of the diocese's Mission Collection, with funds raised here having helped pay for solar panels on a hospital built in his home diocese in Ghana.
- Marks milestone priestly anniversaries
- Supports Mission Collection tied to Ghana
- Slated for reassignment effective 1 July 2026 to St. Bonaventure, Marceline and related parishes
Bilingual Parish Life
The regular Spanish Mass reflects the parish's commitment to serving Spanish-speaking Catholics in Pike County and surrounding areas, even though it is pastored by a non-resident priest shared with neighboring parishes.
- Spanish Mass: 1st and 3rd Sundays at 3:00 PM
Parish Family and Associated Communities
St. Joseph is grouped with St. Clement Parish in St. Clement and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace in Clarksville under a single pastor, forming a tri-parish Catholic family in the Central Deanery of the Diocese of Jefferson City. Together they share sacramental ministry, faith formation, and outreach across Pike County.
- St. Clement Parish, St. Clement
- Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville
- County: Pike
- Deanery: Central
Mission Outreach
Through its pastor's connection with the Diocese of Wiawso, Ghana, the parish participates in the Diocese of Jefferson City's annual Mission Collection, helping fund projects such as a hospital and its solar power installation in Ghana.
- Diocesan Mission Collection support
- Solar panels funded for Wiawso hospital
Visit, Location and Contact
St. Joseph Catholic Church is located at 508 North Third Street in Louisiana, Missouri — three blocks south of the intersection of Highways 54 and 79. The parish office can be reached by phone or email for information on sacraments, Mass intentions, and parish registration.
- Address: 508 N 3rd St, Louisiana, MO 63353
- Phone: 573-754-4757
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry Ussher
Current pastor (also serves St. Clement Parish, St. Clement, and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville). Missionary priest from the Diocese of Wiawso, Ghana; celebrated 25th priestly anniversary in December (year of article). Slated to be reassigned as pastor of St. Bonaventure, Marceline, and related parishes effective 1 July 2026.
- Rev. John A. Cummings1865 (at founding)
First resident pastor's era; arrested in September 1865 for refusing the Missouri Test Oath. His case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1867 declared the oath unconstitutional. Died shortly after from health broken by imprisonment.