About St. Jude · Montauk, Missouri
St. Jude’s Chapel is a small, log cabin-style church located in Montauk, Dent County, Missouri, built in 1968 by Walter Weber as a fulfillment of a promise to God. It is now part of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and serves as a peaceful retreat with manicured grounds, benches, a meditation wall, and a fountain with a statue of St. Jude. Mass is held weekly on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m., and the chapel is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset, though it is locked until 30 minutes before Mass. The chapel is staffed by Rev. Dan Hirtz, who also serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salem, MO, which shares the same mailing address and phone number.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Jude
- Rector
- The Very Rev. Jose Antoney Thundathil, CMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
Visitors are drawn to the chapel’s serene, natural setting — nestled among pines along Highway 119, with log benches, a meditation wall, and a fountain featuring a statue of St. Jude. The chapel offers a quiet spiritual retreat, with Mass held each Saturday at 3:30 p.m., and the grounds open daily from sunrise to sunset. The community fosters peace and reflection, with music playing inside to deter squirrels — a charming, pastoral touch.
Mass times at St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
History
St. Jude’s Chapel was built in 1968 by Walter Weber, who owned the land where the chapel stands. Weber, a successful St. Louis-based pump manufacturer, promised God he would build a chapel if his business prospered — and he fulfilled that promise. The chapel is modeled after Silver Dollar City’s Wilderness Church in Branson. It is now owned by the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and features well-maintained grounds, benches, a meditation wall, and a fountain with a statue of St. Jude. The bell in the belfry was acquired from the old Sacred Heart Church in Troy, traded for hunting dogs by Weber, who once hunted with the church’s leader.
Location & Access
The chapel is located 18 miles southwest of Salem on Highway 119, just outside Montauk State Park. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, and the chapel is locked until 30 minutes before Mass. Visitors may rest on log benches, near a tiered water fountain with a statue of St. Jude, or by a tiled meditation wall. The bell in the belfry came from the old Sacred Heart Church in Troy, traded for hunting dogs by Weber.
Services & Hours
Mass is held every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The chapel is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset, though it is locked until 30 minutes before Mass. Music plays inside to deter squirrels — a charming, pastoral touch. The grounds are well-maintained and offer a peaceful retreat for reflection and prayer.