About St. Margaret of Antioch · Osage Bend, Missouri
St. Margaret of Antioch is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Osage Bend, Missouri, in Cole County, served by the Diocese of Jefferson City. Founded in 1907 by 23 immigrant Catholic families who petitioned Archbishop John Glennon of St. Louis, the parish grew from a simple tin-covered wooden church into the brick parish that anchors the bend in the Osage River today. Because the parish has not had a resident pastor since 1979, it is now shepherded by a Pastoral Administrator (currently Monsignor David Cox) and Deacon Larry Hildebrand, while sharing daily-Mass and sacramental ministry with neighboring St. Stanislaus in Wardsville. Its family-sized Sunday congregation, perpetual Adoration Chapel, parish cemetery, grotto and stained-glass windows make it a quiet, tight-knit Catholic community rooted in over a century of faith along the Osage.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Margaret of Antioch
- Rector
- Monsignor David Cox (Pastoral Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Margaret of Antioch is a small, multigenerational rural parish where nearly everyone knows one another by name. Members worship in a peaceful 1957 church on the Osage River, gather for a beloved summer parish picnic and quilt auction, pray in a Perpetual Adoration Chapel with open overnight hours, and walk the historic parish cemetery tended by their own community. With active faith formation for children (PSR and Confirmation prep), RCIA for adults, and shared daily Mass and confession at nearby St. Stanislaus, it offers a complete Catholic life in an intimate country setting.
Mass times at St. Margaret of Antioch
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Last Saturday of the month at St. Margaret: 8:00–8:50 AM
- Saturday at St. Stanislaus: 4:30–5:00 PM, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — contact Donna at (573) 680-1470 to sign up for open hours (Thursday 1:00–2:00 AM, Thursday 2:00–3:00 AM, Saturday 1:00–2:00 AM alternating, Sunday 2:00–3:00 AM on the 1st and 3rd)
History of St. Margaret of Antioch
The parish was established in 1907 when 23 Catholic families in the Osage Bend area petitioned Archbishop John Glennon of St. Louis for a church of their own. The first Mass was celebrated in November 1907 by founding pastor Fr. Peter Joseph Wigger in a tin-covered wooden church — typical of local buildings that gave Osage Bend the nickname "Tin Town." A rectory and St. Margaret's Cemetery followed in 1908. The current brick church was dedicated by Bishop Marling on September 29, 1957, for the 50th anniversary, and a parish hall was added in the 1980s. The parish history draws on "Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri" by Loretta Pastva, SND, and the parish booklet "St. Margaret of Antioch Catholic Church: River of Faith."
- Founded 1907 by 23 families
- First pastor: Fr. Peter Joseph Wigger
- Rectory and cemetery added 1908
- Present church dedicated September 29, 1957 by Bishop Marling
- Parish hall added in the 1980s
- No resident pastor since 1979 — served by Pastoral Administrators
Pastor / Pastoral Administrator Succession
St. Margaret has a remarkable published succession of pastors and pastoral administrators, kept on the parish's History page. After a long line of resident pastors ending in 1978, the parish transitioned to shared leadership with a Pastoral Administrator model that has now lasted more than 25 years.
- 1907 Fr. Peter Joseph Wigger — founding pastor
- 1913 Fr. Henry G. Kuper
- 1917 Fr. James Denner
- 1928 Fr. Herman Wagener
- 1942 Fr. Leo Olischlaeger
- 1948 Fr. Michael N. Schaller
- 1971 Fr. David Maher
- 1971 Fr. Raymond Rau
- 1972 Fr. Kenneth Brockel
- 1972 Fr. Aloysius G. Hilke
- 1978 Fr. Donald Greene
- 1979 Fr. Tom Dolan — first Pastoral Administrator (with Deacon William Kennedy)
- 1980 Ms. Kay Lahr — Pastoral Minister
- 1982 Fr. Brendan Doyle — Pastoral Administrator
- 1984 Sister M. Gertrude Gallagher, SND — Pastoral Minister
- 1989 Fr. Michael Coleman — Pastor
- 1992 Sister Peggy Bonnot — Pastoral Minister
- 1999 Deacon Larry Hildebrand — Deacon and Pastoral Administrator
- 2000 Fr. Lou Dorn — Pastor (with Deacon Bob Smerek)
- 2003 Fr. Mark Porterfield — Pastor
- 2006 Fr. Greg Meystrik — Pastor
- 2012 Fr. Ignacio Medina — Pastor (with Deacon Fred Schmitz, Parish Life Collaborator)
- 2021 Monsignor David Cox — Pastoral Administrator (with Deacon Larry Hildebrand, Deacon)
Our Buildings & Grounds
The parish campus along Route W includes the 1957 church, the historic rectory, a parish hall added in the 1980s to accommodate parish growth, a Grotto, stained-glass windows, the parish bell, and St. Margaret's Cemetery. The setting on the Osage River is a peaceful place for prayer and reflection, and the cemetery is actively cared for by parishioners with an annual spring clean-up.
- Church (1957)
- Rectory
- Parish Hall (1980s)
- Grotto
- Stained glass windows
- Parish bell
- St. Margaret's Cemetery (1908)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children who do not attend Catholic school are catechized through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), which meets most Wednesday evenings from 7:00–8:00 PM and is designed to support parents in handing on the Catholic faith. Older youth prepare for Confirmation through the parish's Confirmation Preparation program. Adults wishing to become Catholic, or to complete their initiation, journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA / OCIA), which walks them through the Period of Evangelization, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election, Lenten Purification and Enlightenment, and the Easter Vigil Sacraments of Initiation.
- PSR — weekly Wednesday evenings 7:00–8:00 PM (Karen Koetting)
- Confirmation Preparation (parish-based catechesis)
- RCIA / OCIA for adults (Deacon Larry Hildebrand)
- Holy Saturday Easter Vigil reception of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist for new Catholics
Sacraments at St. Margaret
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and Christian life. Baptism Preparation, Marriage Preparation, Confirmation Preparation and the RCIA process are all coordinated through the parish office. Confessions are heard before the Last Saturday Mass at St. Margaret (8:00–8:50 AM), on Saturdays from 4:30–5:00 PM at St. Stanislaus, or by appointment.
- Baptism Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
- RCIA / OCIA
- Confession: Last Sat 8:00–8:50 AM at St. Margaret; Sat 4:30–5:00 PM at St. Stanislaus; or by appointment
Parish Staff
Pastoral care is shared among Monsignor David Cox (Pastoral Administrator), Deacon Larry Hildebrand (Deacon), and a small parish team handling administration, finances and parish life. The Parish Council is led by President Kurt Luebbering.
- Monsignor David Cox — Pastoral Administrator
- Deacon Larry Hildebrand — Deacon
- Rick Klebba — Parish Secretary
- Denise Massman — Financial Admin
- Suzanne Knaebel — Financial Admin
- Kurt Luebbering — Parish Council President
Becoming a Member & Stewardship
St. Margaret warmly welcomes new parishioners, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about the faith. Newcomers are invited to drop by the parish office (in the rectory) to pick up a registration form. Returning Catholics are encouraged to come home, and inquirers about Catholicism can join the RCIA program. Parishioners can support the parish through an Electronic Contribution (ACH) debit-authorization program, in addition to the Sunday collection.
- New parishioners: register at the parish office
- Returning Catholics: 'Catholics Come Home' outreach
- RCIA inquiries: 573-496-3404
- Electronic Contribution (ACH) debit-authorization form available
- Stewardship of time, talent and treasure
Parish Life & Community
Beyond the sanctuary, parish life centers on shared traditions such as the annual summer Parish Picnic with its beloved quilt auction, spring cemetery clean-up, the Perpetual Adoration Chapel program, and ministry opportunities through the Parish Organizations and Liturgical Resources pages. The parish office is open Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:00 AM to noon, with appointments available outside those hours.
- Annual summer Parish Picnic and quilt auction
- Spring Cemetery Clean-Up
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel program
- Parish Organizations page
- Liturgical Resources page (Mass ministries and choir)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Joseph Wigger1907
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass in November 1907.
- Fr. Henry G. Kuper1913
- Fr. James Denner1917
- Fr. Herman Wagener1928
- Fr. Leo Olischlaeger1942
- Fr. Michael N. Schaller1948
- Fr. David Maher1971
- Fr. Raymond Rau1971
- Fr. Kenneth Brockel1972
- Fr. Aloysius G. Hilke1972
- Fr. Donald Greene1978
- Fr. Tom Dolan1979
First Pastoral Administrator; no resident pastor since.
- Deacon William Kennedy1979
Associate Pastoral Administrator.
- Ms. Kay Lahr1980
Pastoral Minister.
- Fr. Brendan Doyle1982
Pastoral Administrator.
- Sister M. Gertrude Gallagher1984
Pastoral Minister.
- Fr. Michael Coleman1989
Pastor.
- Sister Peggy Bonnot1992
Pastoral Minister.
- Deacon Larry Hildebrand1999
Deacon and Pastoral Administrator; continues today as Deacon.
- Fr. Lou Dorn2000
Pastor.
- Deacon Bob Smerek2000
Pastoral Administrator.
- Fr. Mark Porterfield2003
Pastor.
- Fr. Greg Meystrik2006
Pastor.
- Fr. Ignacio Medina2012
Pastor.
- Deacon Fred Schmitz2012
Parish Life Collaborator.
- Monsignor David Cox2021
Current Pastoral Administrator.