About St. Joseph · Westphalia, Missouri
St. Joseph Parish in Westphalia, Missouri, is the oldest German Catholic parish west of the Mississippi River, with its first Mass celebrated on August 6, 1835. The parish serves the small Osage County village of Westphalia and is in canonical association with St. Anthony of Padua Parish in nearby Folk, sharing a pastor and a parish cluster in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Beyond its 19th-century Gothic-Romanesque church — listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 — the parish runs St. Joseph Catholic School, the oldest continuously operating school in the diocese (founded 1837). The parish is known for its strong liturgical life, including a traditional Latin Mass, and for its stewardship-model Catholic school that serves roughly 150 students in grades K-8.
- Established
- 1835
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Dylan Schrader, PhD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the rare combination of deep historical roots and a thriving present-day Catholic community: a 19th-century Gothic-Romanesque church on the National Register, the oldest continuously operating school in the Diocese of Jefferson City, and a full schedule of Masses and devotions including a weekly traditional Latin Mass. Families benefit from the parish-run K-8 school (about 150 students, no tuition for active parishioners) and free access to the FORMED Catholic media platform. The parish is also closely paired with St. Anthony of Padua in Folk, so worshippers can worship at either church and share faith formation, altar service, and music ministries across both communities.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM — Westphalia
- Sunday 6:30 AM — Westphalia
- Sunday following 10:00 AM Mass — Westphalia
- Wednesday 4:30 PM — St. Anthony, Folk
- Friday following 8:00 AM Mass — Westphalia
- First Saturdays 7:00 AM — odd months in Westphalia, even months in Linn
Parish History
St. Joseph Parish was founded in 1835 by German Catholic settlers in Osage County and is the oldest German Catholic parish west of the Mississippi River. From 1838 to 1883 it served as headquarters of the Jesuit Central Missouri Mission. The current Gothic-Romanesque church was built in 1848, with a belfry added in 1883 and a major renovation in 1905. The building was dedicated October 24, 1894, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
- First Mass: August 6, 1835
- Church constructed: 1848 (Gothic-Romanesque, limestone & cottonstone)
- Bell tower added: 1883
- Church dedicated: October 24, 1894
- Renovation with stained-glass windows: 1905
- National Register of Historic Places: April 11, 1972 (NRHP #72000726)
- Jesuit Central Missouri Mission headquarters: 1838–1883
- Parish history source: Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri, by Loretta Pastva, SND
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Joseph is currently served by Father Dylan Schrader, PhD, who is also pastor of the associated parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Folk. Deacon James (Jim) Haaf assists at both parishes. The parish office can be reached at (573) 455-2320 or [email protected].
- Rev. Dylan Schrader, PhD — Pastor
- Deacon James (Jim) Haaf
- Parish Office: 125 E Main St, Westphalia, MO 65085
- Phone: (573) 455-2320; Fax: (573) 455-2974
- Email: [email protected]
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School, founded in 1837, is the oldest continuously operating school in the Diocese of Jefferson City. It serves about 150 students in grades K-8 on a stewardship model (no tuition for active parishioners) and draws families from several surrounding towns. The school participates regularly in Mass and prayer in the historic church and uses lower-grade and middle-school buildings, a playground, cafeteria, and gymnasium.
- Founded 1837 — oldest school in the Diocese of Jefferson City
- Grades K-8; enrollment ~150; 11:1 student-teacher ratio
- Principal: Jeremy Horvath ([email protected])
- Address: 123 E Main, Westphalia, MO 65085
- Phone: (573) 455-2339
- Stewardship model — no tuition for active parishioners
- Busing available; facilities include playground, cafeteria, and gymnasium
- Member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the parish through a traditional set of liturgical ministries coordinated by the parish office. As an old, tightly knit rural parish, many of these roles are filled by families who have served for generations.
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Parish Choir / Music Ministry
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Joseph is supported by Fr. Dylan Schrader, the diocesan Moderator of Religious Education, and includes traditional parish school of religion (PSR), Confirmation preparation, and access to the FORMED digital platform gifted to parishioners free of charge. Bible study is also offered jointly with St. Anthony, Folk.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Confirmation preparation
- Bible Study (with St. Anthony, Folk)
- Free parish subscription to FORMED.org (Catholic videos, audio, eBooks, movies)
- Pastoral series such as 'A Tour of the Creed' preached by Fr. Schrader
Sacramental Life
St. Joseph celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage is provided through the parish's faith-formation programs. Confession is offered at multiple times during the week (see Confession Times).
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Holy Communion)
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations supported through prayer)
- Matrimony — marriage preparation required
Parish Devotions & Community Life
The parish maintains several beautiful traditions that connect worship to the rhythms of rural and agricultural life in Osage County. The annual Corpus Christi procession draws parishioners outdoors with the Blessed Sacrament, and the parish also keeps the ancient custom of the Major Rogation — a procession and blessing of fields and flocks around the Feast of St. Mark.
- Corpus Christi outdoor procession (annually in June, following 10:00 AM Mass)
- Major Rogation procession and blessing of fields and flocks (around April 25)
- Bible Study (Folk) evenings
- Fr. Schrader's catechetical homily series (e.g., 'A Tour of the Creed')
Parish Cluster — St. Anthony of Padua, Folk
St. Joseph is officially associated with St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Folk, about seven miles away, and the two share a pastor, faith-formation offerings, and Mass schedules. The 8:30 AM Sunday Mass and 5:00 PM Wednesday Mass are celebrated at St. Anthony; reconciliation and First Saturday devotions rotate between Westphalia, Folk, and Linn.
- St. Anthony of Padua, Folk — Physical address: 255 Hwy EE, Folk, MO
- Phone: (573) 619-5824; Email: [email protected]
- Sunday Mass at Folk: 8:30 AM
- Wednesday Mass at Folk: 5:00 PM
- Confession at Folk: Wednesdays 4:30 PM
- Deacon Jim Haaf serves both parishes
Visiting & Contact Information
St. Joseph Parish is on East Main Street in the village of Westphalia, Osage County, Missouri. The parish office, church, and school all sit within a block of each other along Main Street. Inquiries, bulletin submissions, and sacramental requests can be directed to the parish office by phone, fax, or email.
- Physical address: 125 E Main St, Westphalia, MO 65085
- Mailing address: PO Box 116, Westphalia, MO 65085
- Parish phone: (573) 455-2320
- Parish fax: (573) 455-2974
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Deanery: Southeast; County: Osage
- School address: 123 E Main, Westphalia, MO 65085 — phone (573) 455-2339
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony J. VivianoPrior to 2024
Formerly pastor of St. Joseph in Westphalia and St. Anthony of Padua in Folk; also served as Moderator of Pro-Life Ministry for the Diocese of Jefferson City before being reassigned to Tipton and California.
- Rev. Dylan Schrader, PhD2024–present
Succeeded Fr. Viviano as pastor of the Westphalia and Folk parishes; continues as diocesan Chancery Latinist, Censor Librorum, Moderator of Religious Education, and Bishop's Delegate for celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum.