About St. Joseph · Springfield, Missouri
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic parish serving downtown Springfield, Missouri since 1892, located at 1115 N. Campbell Avenue on the corner of Campbell and Scott Streets. Founded by Bishop John J. Hogan of Kansas City for the German-speaking Catholics of Springfield and North Springfield, the parish was entrusted to the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey, who staffed it continuously for over 130 years until 2023. Today the parish, now under diocesan priest Fr. Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr., serves a diverse Catholic community of about 350 families and is celebrated for its distinctive traditional beauty, painted ceilings, stained glass, generous outreach to the poor, and a 3:00 pm Sunday Mass in Filipino for Springfield's growing Filipino Catholic community.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a friendly, historic downtown parish that combines the warmth of a tight-knit family community (about 350 households) with a strikingly beautiful sanctuary — painted ceilings, stained glass, and traditional liturgy that draw young couples to be married here. It is also one of the most pastorally diverse parishes in the diocese, with a Sunday Filipino Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, robust faith formation for children and adults (RCIA, small faith-sharing groups, youth ministry), a parish school (St. Joseph Catholic Academy), active prison ministry to the Greene County Jail, a food pantry, bereavement helpers, and a strong culture of generosity to the poor — all rooted in the longstanding Benedictine prayer tradition introduced by the Conception Abbey monks who served the parish for 130 years.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm
- Sunday 7:30–7:45 am
- Sunday 9:45–10:15 am
- And by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (available continuously)
- And by appointment
Parish History
St. Joseph Parish was instituted by Bishop John Joseph Hogan of Kansas City in April 1892 'for the faithful of German origin or nationality living in Springfield and North Springfield and their suburbs,' and entrusted to the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey in northwest Missouri. The founding was made possible by Charles H. Heer, founder of Heer's Department Store, who donated a house and lot at Jefferson and Chestnut that became the original chapel and school. The first pastor, Father Maurus Eckstein, O.S.B., oversaw both the early German-Catholic congregation and, after Heer's death in 1898, the relocation to the present Campbell Avenue site where parishioners themselves built the current sanctuary (cornerstone 1905, dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1906).
- Founded April 1892 by Bishop John J. Hogan of Kansas City
- First pastor: Father Maurus Eckstein, O.S.B. (Conception Abbey)
- Original chapel blessed Feb. 5, 1893 by Abbot Frowin Conrad
- Three lots purchased June 30, 1904 at Campbell & Scott
- Cornerstone laid June 5, 1905 by Bishop Thomas Lillis
- Present church dedicated November 29, 1906 (Thanksgiving Day) by Abbot Frowin Conrad
- New school building opened 1908
- Gathering space added 2001; new church doors 2003
- 130-year Benedictine service ended June 11, 2023
Architecture & Interior
Designed by Brother Adrian Wewer, O.F.M., of St. Louis — the same architect who drew up plans for Conception Abbey — and constructed by contractor Frank X. Baron, the present sanctuary is a Romanesque-style concrete church whose interior is its most distinctive feature. Visitors regularly photograph the painted ceilings, side altars, stained glass, and statues; the altar, communion rail, and pews were crafted by Springfield cabinetmaker August Lohmeyer, while the ceiling paintings were executed by Father Maurus Eckstein and two other priests. Recent refurbishing has restored the church's excellent acoustics, and it remains a popular destination for weddings.
- Architect: Brother Adrian Wewer, O.F.M. (also designed Conception Abbey)
- Contractor: Frank X. Baron
- Style: Romanesque; construction in poured concrete
- Interior woodwork by August Lohmeyer (altar, communion rail, pews)
- Hand-painted ceiling murals by Father Maurus and two other priests
- Stained glass windows, side altars, sanctuary statues
St. Joseph Catholic Academy
St. Joseph Catholic Academy, the parish school, is the oldest Catholic elementary school in Springfield, having opened in 1893 in a remodeled stable behind the pastor's rectory and staffed by Religious Sisters of Mercy from St. John's Hospital (now Mercy). The school moved to a new building on Scott Street behind the new church in 1908 (enrollment 105), suffered a tragic boiler explosion just before Christmas 1935, was condemned in 1949, and was replaced by a fireproof building dedicated January 15, 1950 that was expanded in 1955. The school was renamed St. Joseph Catholic Academy in 2010 when it separated from the Springfield Catholic Schools system, and is now jointly supported by St. Joseph Parish and Sacred Heart Parish. The current principal is Sr. Martina Benny.
- Opened 1893 — first Catholic elementary school in Springfield
- Original staff: Sisters of Mercy (Sister M. Alacoque Kelley and Sister Mary Stanislaus Tennelly)
- New school building 1908 (105 students)
- Fire from boiler explosion, December 1935
- New fireproof building dedicated January 15, 1950
- Major expansion 1955; computer lab added 2004
- Renamed St. Joseph Catholic Academy in 2010
- Current principal: Sr. Martina Benny
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Joseph is led by Donald Emge, PhD, Director of Religious Education and Evangelization. Programs are rooted in Bishop Edward Rice's diocesan vision 'to live our faith joyfully, as intentional disciples, leading everyone to a full life in Jesus Christ' and emphasize three priorities: growth in holiness, forming intentional disciples, and being sent out to witness. Programming serves children, youth, and adults, with RCIA, ongoing faith formation for adults, and a long-standing tradition of small faith-sharing groups that have met in six-week fall and spring sessions for over 30 years.
- RCIA — adult initiation (coordinated by Donald Emge)
- Family Formation (Parish Sunday School) — elementary ages
- Youth Ministry
- Adult faith formation classes
- Small Faith-Sharing Groups — six-week fall and spring sessions (30-year tradition)
- Lectio Divina and daily prayer (introduced through Oblate program)
Liturgical Ministries
Volunteers are invited to serve in a wide range of liturgical roles at every Mass. Lectors are trained by Cyndi Berry; altar servers may be any age after First Communion (adults are especially welcomed); Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be confirmed parishioners, with Virtus certification required to take communion to the homebound; cantors, song leaders, choir members, and instrumentalists lead music; and ushers and greeters welcome newcomers — often being 'the face of St. Joseph Parish' for first-time visitors.
- Lectors (trainer: Cyndi Berry)
- Altar Servers (open to anyone post-First Communion, including adults)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Virtus-certified for homebound visits)
- Cantors / Song Leaders / Choir Members / Instrumentalists
- Ushers and Greeters (teenagers through adults)
- Liturgy Committee / Decoration
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of the parish's identity, framed by the parish vision: 'Bring God to all people and all people to God.' The Parish Outreach Committee meets quarterly to coordinate efforts including a food pantry and individual assistance to those in need, a bereavement ministry, prison ministry to the Greene County Jail (coordinated by Deacon Matt Fletcher), and an active Oblates of St. Benedict program that has helped parishioners integrate daily prayer, Bible reading, and Lectio Divina into parish life.
- Food Pantry & Individual Assistance
- Bereavement Ministry
- Prison Ministry to Greene County Jail (Deacon Matt Fletcher)
- Parish Outreach Committee (quarterly meetings)
- Oblates of St. Benedict program
- Social support and fellowship groups
Parish Staff
The parish staff is led by Fr. Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr., Pastor, and includes a Director of Religious Education, school principal, parish secretary, accountant, building manager, parish coordinator, and parish hall caretaker. Two deacons serve in emeritus roles.
- Fr. Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr. — Pastor
- Sr. Martina Benny — Principal, St. Joseph Catholic Academy
- Donald Emge, PhD — Director of Religious Education & Evangelization
- Jamie Hall — Parish Secretary / Pastoral Associate / Bulletin Editor / Social Media
- Cindy Reichert — Staff Accountant
- Brent Hendrix — Building & Maintenance Manager
- Wes Essary — Parish Hall Caretaker
- Jenny Thornton — Parish Connections Coordinator
- Deacon (emeritus) Matt Fletcher — Prison Ministry coordinator
- Deacon (emeritus) Jim Farrar
The End of the Benedictine Era & a New Chapter
On Sunday, June 11, 2023, Bishop Edward M. Rice and Right Rev. Abbot Benedict Neenan, O.S.B., concelebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Joseph Church marking the close of 130-plus years of continuous service by the Benedictine priests of Conception Abbey — one of the longest-running single-monastic-abbey parish assignments in the United States. Outgoing pastor Father Karl W. Barmann, O.S.B., the 49th and final Conception Abbey priest to serve as pastor, was reassigned to St. Gregory Parish in Maryville. Effective July 1, 2023, Father Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr., a Filipino-born priest who had been serving as Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, was named Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph — the first non-Benedictine pastor in the parish's history. He was appointed Pastor by Bishop Rice in 2025 and also continues as Chaplain to the Filipino Community.
- Mass of Thanksgiving for Benedictine service: June 11, 2023
- Father Karl W. Barmann, O.S.B. — final Conception Abbey pastor
- Father Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr. installed July 1, 2023 as first non-Benedictine pastor
- Father Tan appointed Pastor by Bishop Rice in 2025
- Father Tan continues as Chaplain to the Filipino Community
Getting Involved
Parishioners and newcomers are encouraged to participate in any of the parish's many ministries. Jenny Thornton, the Parish Connections Coordinator, is the initial point of contact for new members and helps connect parishioners to volunteer opportunities such as lectoring, eucharistic ministry, PSR teaching, and parish service projects ('heavenly dusters').
- Contact Jenny Thornton ([email protected]) to get connected
- Volunteer opportunities: lectors, eucharistic ministers, PSR teachers, ushers, greeters, choir, altar servers, outreach
- Family Formation, Youth Ministry, Small Faith-Sharing Groups
- Office and administrative assistance welcome
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Maurus Eckstein, O.S.B.1892–1897 (first appointment); returned 1897–c.1934
Founding pastor from Conception Abbey. Built the original chapel at Jefferson & Chestnut in 1892–93, then led construction of the present Campbell Avenue church, hauling blocks up the scaffolding himself.
- Father Basil Odermatt, O.S.B.1893
First assistant to Father Maurus Eckstein at the original chapel.
- (unnamed interim Benedictine priests)1893–1897
Diocesan history notes 'several priests served at St. Joseph's before Father Eckstein returned to pastor the church in 1897.' Individual names not recorded in sources reviewed.
- Father Maurus Eckstein, O.S.B. (second tenure)1897–c.1934
Returned as pastor; oversaw relocation and construction of the present church (cornerstone 1905, dedicated 1906).
- Multiple Conception Abbey O.S.B. pastorsc.1934–1999
Diocesan and parish histories note a continuous succession of Benedictine priests through the mid-to-late 20th century; individual names beyond Father Eckstein were not enumerated in the sources reviewed.
- Father Denis (Donald James) Dougherty, O.S.B.1999–April 28, 2018
Born Feb. 27, 1929; entered Conception Abbey from Creighton University; ordained priest and Jubilarian. Described as the 49th Benedictine priest from Conception Abbey to serve the parish in its 112 years. Died at age 89 at Mercy Hospital after a brief battle with prostate cancer.
- Father Dominic Ibok (assisting)2017–2018
Assisted at the parish in the final months of Father Denis Dougherty's illness and provided pastoral care afterward.
- Father Karl W. Barmann, O.S.B.2018–June 2023
49th Benedictine priest from Conception Abbey to serve as pastor. Native of Maryville, MO; ordained Jan. 21, 1965; former U.S. Air Force chaplain (Captain / 'full bird Colonel'). Farewell Mass concelebrated June 11, 2023 by Bishop Edward Rice and Abbot Benedict Neenan. Reassigned to St. Gregory Parish, Maryville, MO.
- Father Pompeyo C. Tan, Jr.July 1, 2023 – present
First non-Benedictine pastor in 130+ years. Born in the Philippines; ordained April 1, 1985; nine years as pastor in Australia before coming to the U.S. in 2022. Served as Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Parish Springfield, then Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph (2023), appointed Pastor by Bishop Rice in 2025; continues as Chaplain to the Filipino Community.