About St. Louis of France · Bonnots Mill, Missouri
St. Louis of France is a small Roman Catholic parish in Bonnots Mill, Missouri, situated on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Osage and Missouri Rivers in Osage County. The parish is part of the Diocese of Jefferson City and is associated with Immaculate Conception Parish in nearby Loose Creek. It is served today by one Sunday Mass and is pastored by Fr. Anthony R. Rinaldo.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- St. Louis of France (King Louis IX of France)
- Rector
- Fr. Anthony R. Rinaldo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Louis of France offers a quiet, historic setting for Catholic worship, perched on a bluff above the meeting of the Osage and Missouri Rivers. Rooted in the long Catholic French heritage of Bonnots Mill — the oldest town in Osage County — the parish is tightly bonded with neighboring Immaculate Conception in Loose Creek as associated parishes. Visitors and members are welcomed into a small, traditional Catholic community in the rural Diocese of Jefferson City.
Mass times at St. Louis of France
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. Louis of France Parish
St. Louis of France Parish was established in 1905, when Archbishop John Glennon of the Archdiocese of St. Louis purchased three acres of land for the parish for $6.00. The property covers the entire bluff above the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks and overlooks the confluence of the Osage and Missouri Rivers. When the church was completed, Monsignor Otto Hoog, V.G., dedicated it on July 17, 1906. The parish history was taken from the diocesan work Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri, written by Loretta Pastva, SND.
- Parish established 1905; church dedicated July 17, 1906
- Land (three acres on the bluff) bought for $6.00 by Archbishop John Glennon
- Parish school opened 1916; closed 1966
Catholic Heritage of Bonnots Mill and Osage County
Bonnots Mill is the oldest town in Osage County, and its Catholic roots run deep. The community traces back to a colony of Missouri French — descendants of French-Canadian fur traders — who settled the area near the confluence of the Osage and Missouri Rivers. Jesuit Father Helias arrived in 1838 and was the first priest to minister to Catholics in nearby French Village. After flooding destroyed French Village in 1844, the community relocated to higher ground and eventually to the town of Bonnots Mill founded by Felix Bonnot in 1852. The parish of St. Louis of France, dedicated 67 years later, is the lasting fruit of that long Catholic French presence on the rivers.
- 1838: Jesuit Fr. Helias becomes first priest to minister in French Village
- 1844 flood destroys French Village; inhabitants relocate to higher ground
- 1852: Felix Bonnot formalizes the town of Bonnots Mill
Parish School
St. Louis of France operated a parish school for half a century. It opened in 1916 and was staffed at various times by three different communities of religious sisters. The Sisters of Divine Providence took charge in 1932, the Ursuline Nuns in 1943, and the Divine Providence sisters again in 1950, remaining until the school closed in 1966.
- School opened 1916
- Sisters of Divine Providence — 1932
- Ursuline Nuns — 1943
- Divine Providence sisters — 1950–1966 (school closed)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Anthony R. Rinaldo as pastor. As a small rural parish in Osage County, it shares pastoral resources with associated parish Immaculate Conception in Loose Creek.
- Pastor: Fr. Anthony R. Rinaldo
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Louis of France holds its principal weekly worship on Sunday morning. The parish shares mailing contact with Immaculate Conception, Loose Creek, but holds Mass at its own church at 211 Church Hill St. on the bluff in Bonnots Mill.
- Sunday Mass — 8:30 AM
Visiting & Directions
The church sits at the top of Church Hill Street in Bonnots Mill, overlooking the Osage–Missouri confluence. Visitors coming from Jefferson City typically reach the parish via Hwy. 50 and Hwy. A through Loose Creek.
- Physical address: 211 Church Hill St., Bonnots Mill, MO 65016
- Mailing address: PO Box 8, Loose Creek, MO 65054
- Directions: Hwy. 50 → Conoco Station exit at Loose Creek → Hwy. A south 6½ miles → Main St. in Bonnots Mill → Church Hill St. to top of hill