About St. Marie du Lac · Ironton, Missouri
Ste. Marie du Lac Parish is a Catholic parish in the Arcadia Valley of Iron County, Missouri, serving the historic mining town of Ironton since 1958. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau and also ministers to Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church in Lesterville. The parish has deep roots in the region's mining and Catholic heritage, traces back to the 1870s and was long served by the Servite Order of friars.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title 'Sainte Marie du Lac' — Saint Mary of the Lake)
- Rector
- Fr. Emmanuel Konyeaso
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
Ste. Marie du Lac is a small but faithful Catholic community in the heart of Missouri's Arcadia Valley, where the Eucharist is celebrated daily and the parish's Catholic heritage — dating back to the 1870s mining communities — is preserved and handed on. Worshippers will find a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul Society serving those in need across Iron County, a CCD/faith formation program led by CRE Susan Wessel, and youth ministry under Dennis Trowbridge. The parish also extends its pastoral care to the historic mission church Our Lady of Sorrows in Lesterville, making it a true regional hub of Catholic life in the Ozark foothills.
Mass times at St. Marie du Lac
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 a.m. (before Mass)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (First Tuesday of the month, September through May)
Parish Identity & Location
Ste. Marie du Lac (Saint Mary of the Lake) is a Catholic parish located at 350 S. Main Street in Ironton, Iron County, Missouri, in the heart of the Arcadia Valley. It is part of the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau and is served pastorally alongside Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church in Lesterville. The mailing address is 350 S. Main St., Ironton, MO 63650-1407.
- Address: 350 S. Main St., Ironton, MO 63650-1407
- Phone: (573) 546-2611
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Springfield–Cape Girardeau
- Mission church served: Our Lady of Sorrows, Lesterville, MO
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Emmanuel Konyeaso as pastor. He is supported by Susan Wessel as Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) and Dennis Trowbridge as Youth Minister. Fr. Konyeaso also attends to the Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church in Lesterville.
- Pastor: Fr. Emmanuel Konyeaso
- CRE (Coordinator of Religious Education): Susan Wessel
- Youth Minister: Dennis Trowbridge
- Also attends: Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church, Lesterville, MO
History of the Parish
The Catholic parish family of Ironton dates back to 1870, when the St. Louis Diocese established Immaculate Conception in Iron Mountain for the area's miners. Fr. John J. Hennessy was the first priest, riding the Missouri-Pacific line to serve Farmington, Ironton, Pilot Knob, Arcadia, Lesterville and Doniphan. In 1878 the parish of St. Joseph was established at the Ursuline Academy in Arcadia, absorbing Pilot Knob's Our Lady Help of Christians as its mission. The missions at Bismarck and Graniteville joined St. Joseph in 1890 after Immaculate Conception closed; Calvary Cemetery became part of the parish in 1880. In 1909 the 'Big Chapel' was built at the Academy, serving as the parish church until 1955.
The Servite Era (1951–1991)
The Servite Fathers (Order of Friar Servants of Mary) came to staff St. Joseph's and its missions in 1951 and began the process of relocating the parish church to its present Ironton location. The present Ste. Marie du Lac church was built in 1957 and first used for Mass on Easter Sunday 1958. The Servites also opened mission churches at Lesterville (1957) and Viburnum (1966) and acquired property near Ellington for St. Anne mission in 1952. In 1956 the parish and its missions (except Bismarck) became part of the newly created Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau. The Servite ministry ended in 1991 with the retirement of Fr. Anthony Gaydos.
- 1951: Servite Fathers arrive
- 1957: Present church built
- Easter 1958: First Mass at Ste. Marie du Lac
- 1963: Parish school built
- 1965: School opens
- 1971: School closes (financial)
- 1980: New rectory built
- 1985: Ellington mission closed
- 1991: Servite ministry ends; diocesan clergy take over
Parish School (1963–1971)
A parish school was constructed in 1963 and opened its doors in 1965 when the Ursuline sisters at the Academy closed their own grade school. Despite serving the community for six years, the school proved too great a financial burden and closed in 1971.
Mission Churches & Decline of the Mining Economy
In its 135 years of existence the parish has tracked the ups and downs of the Arcadia Valley's mining economy. The trains no longer stop, the mines that brought many Catholic families to Iron Mountain and Arcadia Valley are closed, and those in Viburnum are struggling. As Catholic populations declined, the Graniteville and Ellington mission churches were closed. Lesterville survives as a small mission that still serves tourists and weekend residents, while Viburnum retains its mission church.
- Closed missions: Graniteville, Ellington
- Active mission: Lesterville (Our Lady of Sorrows)
- Active mission: Viburnum
The Grounds, the Lake & the Grant Connection
The parish grounds include a small lake — the 'lac' (lake) of the parish's name — with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child standing on an island. Ducks and geese make the lake their home. The grounds were once the garden of the Lindsay-Emerson home, later known as Emerson Park, then Grant Park, and finally Villa Sainte Marie du Lac of the Sisters of St. Mary Hospital. During the Civil War Union troops encamped here on the grounds of the home of John W. Emerson; it was at this spot that Ulysses S. Grant received his appointment to brigadier general from President Lincoln. A statue of Grant was placed on the lawn by veterans of his unit in 1886. Emerson later founded the Emerson Electric Company.
- Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Christ Child on the parish lake
- Ulysses S. Grant statue on the lawn (placed 1886)
- Former Emerson home / Grant Park / Villa Sainte Marie du Lac grounds
- Founded by John W. Emerson, who later founded Emerson Electric Company
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious education (CCD) is coordinated by Susan Wessel and the parish runs an active youth ministry under Dennis Trowbridge. The diocese notes that the parish's CCD program has been growing even as the broader community has shrunk — a sign that families are still investing in passing on the Catholic tradition to the next generation.
- CCD / Religious Education — CRE Susan Wessel
- Youth Ministry — Dennis Trowbridge
Outreach & Charity
The parish maintains a strong St. Vincent de Paul Society in Ironton and a nascent St. Vincent de Paul conference in Lesterville. The parish has a noted tradition of ecumenical cooperation with other Christian denominations in serving those in need across the three Iron County faith communities of Ironton, Lesterville and Viburnum.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society, Ironton
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (forming), Lesterville
- Ecumenical cooperation with other local churches in serving the needy
Connect & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (573) 546-2611 or by email at [email protected]. The parish is also active on Facebook under the page /stemariedulac, and a comprehensive parish history is published on the diocesan website at dioscg.org.
- Phone: (573) 546-2611
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan page: http://dioscg.org/index.php/about/diocesan-history/ste-marie-du-lac-parish-ironton-mo/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stemariedulac/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John J. Hennessy1870s
First priest of the parish family; ministered to all towns along the Missouri-Pacific line from Farmington to Doniphan.
- Servite Order (O.S.M.)1951–1991
The Order of Friar Servants of Mary staffed St. Joseph's and its missions for 40 years and built the present Ste. Marie du Lac parish church.
- Fr. Anthony M. Gaydos, O.S.M.1973–1991 (pastor); 1991–2012 (senior priest in residence)
Began his nearly 40-year association with the parish in 1973; remembered for his humorous stories and serious homilies. Died July 18, 2014 at age 93.
- Fr. James Unterreiner1991–
First diocesan pastor after the Servite era ended.
- Fr. Emmanuel Konyeasopresent
Current pastor; also attends to Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church, Lesterville, MO.