St. Mary

About Saint Mary Parish

Saint Mary Catholic Parish is the combined Catholic community of Milan and Unionville, serving rural Sullivan and Putnam Counties in north-central Missouri. The Unionville church is a mission of the main Saint Mary Parish in Milan, and the two share one pastor, staff, and schedule. Under the Diocese of Jefferson City (Deanery: North), the parish is multi-lingual — English, Spanish, and French — and is shaped by its agricultural setting, its immigrant heritage, and a strong tradition of family fellowship.

Parish History

The parish traces its origins to the Irish Catholic settlers who migrated from Ohio and Indiana to northern Missouri in the 1850s. Father John J. Hogan celebrated the first recorded Mass in Sullivan County on May 19, 1868, at the farm home of Dennis Ryan east of Milan. Early Masses were celebrated in private homes until J.J. Kennedy built the first Saint Mary church in Unionville in 1871 and became the first resident pastor. Father Francis Smith began the Milan church in 1881 but died of smallpox the following year. In 1890 Father William F. Hanley made Milan the primary base of the parish. Father J.J. Jermain (1902–1922) built the brick rectory in 1908 and began the present brick church, which Father Hugh Hezinger completed; the new church with its distinctive spire was dedicated on May 30, 1923. The spire was later removed when its mortar deteriorated, and the original bell was salvaged and placed in front of the church. Coal mining and the railroad brought new Catholic immigrants to the area, and Saint Mary in Unionville became a mission of the Milan parish. Both communities were reassigned from the Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph to the Diocese of Jefferson City upon its formation. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in the summer of 2018.

• First Mass in Sullivan County: May 19, 1868, by Father John J. Hogan (later Bishop Hogan) at the Dennis Ryan farm near Milan
• First church built in Unionville, 1871, by J.J. Kennedy (first resident pastor)
• Frame church constructed in Milan, 1882
• Franciscans from Chillicothe attended the parish, 1883–1887
• Father J.J. Jermain's tenure, 1902–1922 — built rectory (1908), began present brick church (1921)
• Present brick church dedicated May 30, 1923, by Father Hugh Hezinger
• Distinctive spire removed due to mortar deterioration; original bell memorialized
• Coal mining and railroad brought immigrant Catholics; Unionville became a mission of Milan
• Reassigned to the Diocese of Jefferson City (was Kansas City–Saint Joseph)
• 150th anniversary celebrated summer 2018

Clergy and Staff

Father César Anicama was assigned as full-time pastor in 2024 by Archbishop (now Bishop) Shawn McKnight, ending Deacon John D. Weaver's tenure as pastoral administrator / Parish Life Collaborator. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz serves as sacramental minister and is also Dean of the North Deanery. Two additional deacons — Jeronimo Chinchilla and Edwin Pacheco — assist with parish ministry.

• Rev. César Anicama — Pastor (assigned 2024)
• Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz — Sacramental Minister; Dean of the North Deanery
• Deacon John D. Weaver — Parish Life Collaborator, Webmaster
• Deacon Jeronimo Chinchilla
• Deacon Edwin Pacheco

Mass and Liturgy Times

Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated at both the Milan church and the Unionville mission. Sunday Masses are offered in English and Spanish and are also livestreamed online; weekday Masses are celebrated in English, with a Wednesday evening Mass in Spanish at Milan. Wednesday 5:00 PM at Unionville is a liturgy of Evening Prayer.

• Saturday 4:30 PM — English (Unionville)
• Sunday 8:30 AM — English (Milan and online)
• Sunday 11:00 AM — Spanish / Misa en línea (Milan and online)
• Tuesday 8:15 AM — English (Milan)
• Wednesday 5:00 PM — English Evening Prayer (Unionville)
• Wednesday 6:00 PM — Spanish (Milan)

Parish Ministries

Saint Mary invites parishioners into a wide range of lay ministries, following the Church's teaching that every baptized Christian is called to be priest, prophet, and king through works of evangelization and service. Liturgical, catechetical, charitable, and pastoral-care ministries all have roles for volunteers. The parish also runs the Bargain Barn thrift store in Unionville, gathers for a Fifth Sunday Brunch, and maintains its facilities through the Building and Grounds Committee.

• Liturgical: lectors, altar servers/acolytes, cantors and music ministers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, Directors of Worship, ushers/ministers of hospitality
• Catechetical: PSR teachers, youth and adult faith formation leaders, RCIA team
• Hispanic Ministry
• Hospice care, nursing home, and homebound ministry
• Building and Grounds Committee — landscaping, mowing, snow removal, repairs
• Bargain Barn — thrift store, 1802 Washington Street, Unionville (Mon–Fri 9–4, Sat 10–3)
• Fifth Sunday Brunch — communal meal after Mass, about four times a year
• Ministerial Alliance of Unionville

Sacraments and Faith Formation

The parish prepares Catholics for the sacraments through its RCIA (Adult Initiation) team, Parish School of Religion (PSR), and youth and adult formation groups. Pastoral care of the sick, homebound, and dying is carried out by the deacons and volunteers through hospice, nursing home, and homebound ministries.

• Eucharist and Reconciliation (scheduled plus by appointment)
• RCIA — Adult Initiation Team
• Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children
• Youth and adult faith formation
• Pastoral care of the sick, homebound, and those in hospice or nursing homes

Languages and Community Life

Saint Mary is one of the more culturally diverse parishes of the Jefferson City diocese. Its tri-lingual congregation of English, Spanish, and French speakers is shaped in part by the local pork-processing economy in Milan, which has drawn immigrant workers from Central and South America. Deacon Weaver has said his goal has been to help integrate the Anglo and Hispanic cultures rather than assimilate one into the other, and Hispanic family celebrations such as baptisms and birthdays commonly draw 200–250 people.

• Masses in English and Spanish each weekend
• French also spoken in the parish community
• Significant Central and South American immigrant presence in Milan
• Large Hispanic family celebrations commonly 200–250 people

New Parish Center

Construction of a 7,200-square-foot parish center near Saint Mary Church in Milan is underway. Designed to host the parish's many social and catechetical gatherings, the building will include three classrooms, two offices, a large commons area, and a kitchen.

• 7,200-square-foot parish center under construction near Milan church
• Three classrooms
• Two offices
• Large commons area with kitchen

Contact and Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email. The mailing address is a P.O. Box in Milan, while the Milan church, Unionville church, and rectory each have their own physical addresses. A text/email notification system is available for parish news — text 87456 with the keyword "Milan" or "Unionville."

• Milan Church — 214 Saint Marys Street, Milan, MO 63556
• Unionville Church — 1118 East Main Street, Unionville, MO 63565
• Rectory — 101 W Baker Street, Milan, MO 63556
• Office phone/fax — (660) 265-4110
• Office email — [email protected]
• Mailing address — P.O. Box 147, Milan, MO 63556
• Deacon John Weaver cell — (573) 864-5502