About St. Joseph · Perryville, Missouri
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Apple Creek (Perryville, Missouri) is a historic Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, founded in 1828 by German Catholic immigrants from the region of Baden who settled in Perry County in the 1820s. The parish serves roughly 240–250 registered families from the small unincorporated community of Apple Creek and is the southernmost parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Today it operates as a partnered parish with St. Maurus in Biehle under the leadership of Fr. Michael Benz, offering daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic adoration, PSR faith formation, RCIA, youth ministry, and a thriving network of lay groups.
- Established
- 1828
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Benz
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Deanery of Ste. Genevieve)
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a tight-knit Catholic community rooted in nearly 200 years of faith and German Catholic heritage in Perry County. Worshippers can attend Sunday morning Mass at 7:30 a.m. (with Saturday vigil Masses on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends), join a robust weekly Eucharistic adoration hour on Tuesdays, and serve through one of many active lay groups. Faith formation for children (PSR), a youth group for high schoolers, RCIA for adults, Knights of Columbus Council 12934, the Ladies of St. Joseph, Bible Study, and a choir are all welcoming entry points — alongside the parish's unique outdoor Way of the Cross shrine and grotto built into the Schnurbusch Karst Window.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Third Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM at St. Joseph (Exposition/Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament)
History & Heritage
St. Joseph is the oldest Catholic parish in this corner of Perry County, founded in 1828 by German Catholic immigrants from the region of Baden who had begun settling the area in the 1820s. The first pastor, the Vincentian Fr. Jean-Marie Odin, joined lay leaders — including W. Joseph Schnurbusch, for whom the parish was named — to erect a log church; a second church called the Rock Church followed within 12 years. The present church was built 1881–1884 under the long-tenured Fr. Francis Krieger, who over the next three decades also constructed the rectory (1904), the convent (1917), and the parish's still-active water system. The parish celebrated its 190th anniversary in 2019 and houses the Catholic Heritage Center & Museum within the church building.
- Founded 1828 by German Catholic (Baden) immigrants
- First pastor: Rev. Jean-Marie Odin, C.M. (later Archbishop of New Orleans)
- Log church built 1828; Rock Church built ~1840 about 600 ft north of the present church
- Present church cornerstone laid 1881, completed 1884 (pastor Fr. Francis Krieger)
- Rectory 1904, convent 1917
- Renovated in 1998 with a new marble sanctuary
- 190th anniversary celebrated in 2019
Church Architecture & Furnishings
The interior of St. Joseph reflects more than a century of careful stewardship by its pastors and parishioners. A Pfeiffer pipe organ (Opus 7), three bells named Joseph, Cecelia, and Elizabeth, and stained-glass windows — including a centennial set added by Emil Frye — have been layered into the church over time. A 1998 renovation installed a new marble sanctuary and restored the original hanging lights, with additional angel artwork placed inside.
- Pfeiffer pipe organ (Opus 7)
- Bells: Joseph, Cecelia, Elizabeth
- Stained-glass windows (centennial set by Emil Frye)
- Marble sanctuary installed 1998
Schnurbusch Karst Window & Way of the Cross Shrine
Next to the church lies the parish's most distinctive feature: an outdoor shrine built into the Schnurbusch Karst Window, a natural sinkhole formed when the roof of a cave collapsed. Visitors descend a steep path (the Via Dolorosa) to an altar and amphitheater at the bottom, where a small waterfall flows out of the cave, runs before the altar, under a stone bridge, and back into the cave. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Grace stands above the site. The Stations of the Cross and a rosary pattern laid in stepping stones were added in the late 1990s under Fr. Mark Bozada. Perry County, Missouri, is known to have at least 650 caves.
- Karst-window shrine exposing an underground stream
- Statue of Our Lady of Grace and outdoor altar/amphitheater
- Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) added late 1990s by Fr. Mark Bozada
- Rosary pattern in stepping stones
- Shrine work began in the 1950s under Fr. Michell Deck and expanded by Fr. George Schrammel in 1971
Mass & Worship Schedule
As part of the partnered parishes of St. Joseph and St. Maurus, St. Joseph hosts Sunday Mass at 7:30 a.m. and weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Vigil Mass for the weekend is celebrated at St. Joseph on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. (and at St. Maurus on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays). Special Masses are published for holy days, Christmas (7:30 a.m.) and Christmas Eve (5:00 p.m.), and New Year's Day (7:30 a.m.).
- Sunday — 7:30 a.m.
- Tuesday — 8:00 a.m.
- Thursday — 8:00 a.m.
- 1st, 3rd, 5th Saturday Vigil — 5:00 p.m.
- Christmas 7:30 a.m.; Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m.; New Year's Day 7:30 a.m.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Christian formation is a major focus of the partnered parishes. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) supports public-school families in forming children in the Catholic faith from grades 1 through 8. A week-long Vacation Bible School each summer welcomes children ages 4 through 7th grade, and the RCIA program helps adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or First Eucharist. All adult volunteers working with children must complete Protecting God's Children training.
- PSR — grades 1–8, Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM at St. Maurus (Director: Ashly Richardet, 573-768-0338)
- Vacation Bible School — week-long summer program for ages 4 through 7th grade (contact Megan Best, 573-517-8029)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (presented by Fr. Michael Benz; call 788-2604)
Youth & Adult Ministry
High-school students gather mid-week for the youth group, which builds community through prayer, activities, meditation, and sharing. Music ministry invites anyone who loves to sing to join the parish choir — no audition required. Bible Study groups meet separately for men and women each week.
- Youth Group — open to high school students; Wednesday evenings 6:30–7:45 PM (leader: Mia Pohlman)
- Music Ministry — parish choir open to all voices
- Bible Study — women's group Monday evenings at St. Joseph; men's group at St. Maurus
Parish Organizations & Lay Leadership
A vibrant network of lay organizations underpins parish life. St. Michael Council 12934 of the Knights of Columbus supports both parishes and the wider community through service and fraternity, and the Ladies of St. Joseph contribute time, talent, and fundraising support for the parish through meals, bake sales, apple butter, and quilts. Parish Council and Finance Council provide governance and stewardship oversight.
- Knights of Columbus, St. Michael Council 12934 — 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 PM, St. Joseph Parish Center
- Ladies of St. Joseph — 4th Thursday of odd months, 7 PM, St. Joseph Parish Center
- Parish Council — monthly meetings
- Finance Council — meets the 4th Thursday in January, March, May, September, and November
- Maintenance Committee
- Collection Counters
Liturgical Ministries
St. Joseph invites parishioners into the work of the Mass itself through training and scheduling coordinated by the pastor. Adult men and women, as well as young people from 4th grade through high school, are encouraged to become altar servers.
- Altar Servers — 4th grade and up; contact Fr. Benz
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — at Mass and to the homebound
- Lectors
Parish Staff & Office
The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The staff team supports the pastor, religious education, youth ministry, finances, and parish administration.
- Rev. Michael Benz — Pastor
- Sheryl Hotop — Administrative Assistant
- Kelly Mansfield — Bookkeeper
- Ashly Richardet — PSR Director
- Mia Pohlman — Youth Group Leader
Catholic Heritage Center & Museum
Located within St. Joseph Church, the Catholic Heritage Center & Museum holds a collection of historical artifacts donated by local families and businesses. The exhibits tell the story of Catholic immigration, pioneer settlement, and community development in southeast Missouri — the same heritage the parish's founders brought with them from Baden in the 1820s.
- Artifacts donated by local families and businesses
- Exhibits on early Catholic settlement in southeast Missouri
Visiting & Community Life
St. Joseph is one of southeast Missouri's treasured historic landmarks and one of the original 'Christmas Country Churches.' Visitors are welcome at Mass, on the shrine grounds for prayer and a peaceful walk, and at the annual Labor Day weekend parish picnic.
- Recognized as one of the original Christmas Country Churches
- Annual parish picnic on Labor Day weekend
- Parish offices: 138 St. Joseph Lane, Perryville, MO 63775 — (573) 788-2330 — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jean-Marie Odin, C.M. (Vincentian)1828–
First pastor; later became Bishop of Galveston and Archbishop of New Orleans, and attended the First Vatican Council.
- Rev. Joseph Becker
In 1857 installed stone steps to the cave spring so drinking water could be carried to the rectory via buckets and neck yoke.
- Rev. Francis Kriegerserved ~30 years ending after 1917
Built the present church (1881–1884), the rectory (1904), and the convent (1917); installed the Pfeiffer organ, the three bells, and a hydraulic ram for the water supply in 1883.
- Rev. Michell Deck1950s
Began development of the outdoor shrine behind the church.
- Rev. George Schrammel1971
Expanded the shrine with stonework largely laid by local parishioners.
- Rev. Mark Bozadalate 1990s
Added the outdoor Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and a rosary laid in stepping stones; oversaw the 1998 church renovation with new marble sanctuary.