St. Michael

History of St. Michael Parish

Catholic life in Russellville began on October 15, 1887, when $100 was donated for a parcel of land; Fr. Schramm laid a cornerstone and 33 contributors built a small frame mission church, dedicated October 22, 1890. The mission grew into a school by 1897 and was established as a parish in 1916. The parish was closed in the 1930s, reopened in 1934, closed again by Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe in February 1970, and reopened once more on Christmas Eve 1984 after nearly 15 years. The current church was dedicated by Bishop John R. Gaydos on June 23, 2002; the rectory was rebuilt in 2006. The parish history was taken from "Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri" by Loretta Pastva, SND.

Pastoral Leadership Through the Years

Because most priests were assigned from St. Peter, St. Martin's, the Cathedral, or La Salette Seminary in Jefferson City, the parish was rarely led by a resident priest. Pastoral Administrators — religious sisters including SSND and O.S.F. members — carried much of the day-to-day leadership, while visiting priests celebrated the Sacraments. That changed in 2018 when Bishop Shawn McKnight assigned Msgr. Robert A. Kurwicki, V.G., as the first resident pastor since the 1930s.

• Fr. Schramm — first pastor; built the original 1890 frame church
• Fr. Bruemmer — reopened the parish in 1934
• Fr. Norman J. Ahrens — administrator from 1962; built the Parish Center in 1968
• Fr. Michael McHugh — served until parish closed in February 1970
• Fr. Mel Lahr — administrator who reopened parish Dec. 24, 1984
• Fr. William Forst — appointed Pastor July 15, 1985
• Sr. Lois Martens, SSND — Pastoral Administrator 1985–1991
• Sr. Donna Eggering, O.S.F. — Pastoral Administrator 1991–2004; oversaw current church construction
• Deacon Robert DePyper & Millie — 2004–2011
• Sr. Mary Rost, SSND — Pastoral Administrator 2011–2018
• Msgr. Robert A. Kurwicki, V.G. — first resident pastor in modern era, July 2018–September 2023
• Rev. Nicholas J. Reid — current pastor

Mass, Sacraments and Devotions

Worship at St. Michael follows a steady weekly rhythm: Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m., Friday morning Mass at 9:00 a.m., monthly Friday adoration from 9:30 a.m. until noon, and the rosary prayed at 8:30 a.m. before every Sunday Mass. The Sacrament of Penance is offered Sundays at 8:30 a.m. (per bulletins) or by appointment, and on Friday mornings after Mass. Baptisms and Marriages are scheduled through the Pastor.

• Weekend Mass — Sunday 9:00 a.m.
• Weekday Mass — Friday 9:00 a.m.
• Adoration — 1st Friday of the month, 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Confessions — Sunday 8:30 a.m. or by appointment; Friday after Mass or by appointment
• Rosary — 8:30 a.m. every Sunday
• Baptism and Marriage — contact the Pastor for preparation

Parish Councils and Committees

A remarkably broad network of councils and committees supports the parish's mission. The Pastoral Parish Council and Finance Council guide governance and stewardship, while commissions and committees carry out works of charity, education, worship, and grounds care.

• Pastoral Parish Council — President Alan Lepper (573-619-1197)
• Parish Finance Council — Chair Linda Jansen (573-680-1121)
• Stewardship Committee — Chair Randy Campbell (573-694-0179)
• Worship & Spiritual Life Committee
• Education Committee
• Pro-Life Committee
• Social Concerns Commission
• Parish Outreach Mission (POM) Committee
• Disaster Response Committee
• Buildings & Grounds Committee
• Cemetery Board
• Welcome Committee

Parish Organizations and Lay Ministries

Beyond its councils, St. Michael hosts a number of lay-led organizations — including the Knights of Columbus Council #8916, Cursillo, the Quilters, a Women's Bible Study and Prayer Line — alongside Mass ministries such as lectors, servers, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, monitors, and offertory and counting teams.

• Knights of Columbus Council #8916 — Grand Knight Scott Williams (573-821-2483); meets 7 p.m., 3rd Tuesday
• Cursillo
• Quilters
• Women's Bible Study — Walking Together: Women's Ministry, coordinated by Barb Prasad
• Prayer Line
• Welcome Committee
• Lectors, Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Offertory, Collection Counters, Monitors

Faith Formation and Stewardship

St. Michael frames its life around stewardship — "Sharing God's gifts lovingly in justice with others, and returning them with increase to the Lord" — and points parishioners to the Diocese of Jefferson City's faith resources, including Becoming Catholic (RCIA) and other formation materials.

• Stewardship Council
• Becoming Catholic (RCIA) — through Diocesan Resources
• Education Committee
• Women's Bible Study / Walking Together newsletter

Outreach and Community Life

St. Michael's outreach reaches into the wider Russellville area through the Parish Outreach Mission (POM) Committee, Social Concerns Commission, Pro-Life Committee, and a parish Blessing Box stocked with perishables and personal-care items for neighbors in need. The parish also cooperates with the Russellville and Lohman Area Ministerial Alliance.

• Blessing Box — perishables and personal-care items for people in need
• Parish Outreach Mission (POM) Committee
• Social Concerns Commission
• Disaster Response Committee
• Pro-Life Committee
• Cooperation with Russellville & Lohman Area Ministerial Alliance
• Annual Fall Festival (cafeteria-style dining and carry-out)

St. Michael's Cemetery

The parish maintains St. Michael's Cemetery, with a Cemetery Board overseeing plots. A final map of new cemetery plots was posted in 2023 and taped over an earlier draft on a parish window for parishioners to review.

• Cemetery Board
• New cemetery plots mapped (2023)

News, Events and Parish Bulletins

Parish life is updated through a regularly refreshed News & Events page and weekly bulletins, including upcoming Mass intentions, Quilters gatherings, and seasonal celebrations like the annual Fall Festival.

• 2024 Fall Festival (dine-in or carry-out, $16 adults / $7 ages 6–11)
• Women's Ministry Newsletter 'Walking Together'
• Weekly parish bulletins (PDFs posted online)

Contact, Location and Office

The parish office sits at 5214 North Hatler Street in Russellville, with mailing at 13321 Railroad Avenue, Russellville, MO 65074. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (hours may vary — please call to confirm). The parish belongs to the See City Deanery (Cole County) of the Diocese of Jefferson City.

• Physical Address: 5214 North Hatler Street, Russellville, MO 65074
• Mailing Address: 13321 Railroad Avenue, Russellville, MO 65074
• Parish Office Phone: (573) 782-3171
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Deanery: See City; County: Cole

Staff and Parish Directory

St. Michael's small staff works alongside the parish and finance councils to serve its approximately 145 households.

• Pastor — Rev. Nicholas J. Reid
• Parish Secretary / Bookkeeper — Darah Scott (573-782-3171)
• Parish Council President — Alan Lepper (573-619-1197)
• Finance Council Chair — Linda Jansen (573-680-1121)
• Stewardship Chair — Randy Campbell (573-694-0179)
• Knights of Columbus Grand Knight — Scott Williams (573-821-2483)