About St. Patrick Catholic Church · Holden, Missouri
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish located at 703 South Olive Street in Holden, Missouri, founded in 1869 by Irish and German Catholic immigrants who had settled in the area after working on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph under Bishop James V. Johnston. Fr. Curt Vogel has served as pastor (originally appointed Parochial Administrator in 2017, then Pastor in 2020); he also serves St. Bridget's in Pleasant Hill. The parish offers Sunday Mass in a Traditional Novus Ordo with Latin parts, plus Saturday and weekday Masses, regular Eucharistic Adoration and confession, an active Knights of Columbus council, Altar Society, Men's Group, parish processions, and a strong tradition of community fellowship including monthly donut Sundays and church suppers.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Curt Vogel (Pastor since June 2020; Parochial Administrator June 2017–June 2020)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph (led by His Excellency Bishop James V. Johnston)
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a small, faith-first Catholic community in rural Johnson County where Sunday Mass is celebrated in a Traditional Novus Ordo with Latin parts and Ad Orientem, and Saturday Mass is offered versus populum. Members find a full parish life beyond the sanctuary: a Knights of Columbus council (#6722) that hosts Lenten fish fries and scholarships, a men's fellowship ('Catholic Gentlemen Saints-ish') led by Father Vogel, an Altar and Rosay Society (Ora et Labora) that cares for the worship space, a Director of Religious Education coordinating faith formation, and visible public processions through Holden's streets at Corpus Christi and other feasts. Add in monthly donut Sundays, regular church suppers, and Confession plus Eucharistic Adoration every Friday morning — and it's a parish that genuinely lives, not just lists, its Catholicism.
Mass times at St. Patrick Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:20 pm – 2:50 pm
- 2nd Sunday of the month, following Mass
- Friday 11:00 am – 11:45 am (combined with Eucharistic Adoration)
Adoration times
- Friday 11:00 am – 11:45 am (immediately before the Noon Mass)
- Every 3rd weekend: overnight Eucharistic Adoration from 4 pm Saturday through 10 am Sunday (next: February 21–22, 2026)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Patrick's describes itself as 'a Catholic parish that values the teachings of the Church,' welcoming newcomers, visitors, and regulars alike. The parish offers a Saturday Mass at 3:00 pm versus populum and a Sunday Mass at 10:15 am Ad Orientem with Latin parts, plus a noon Friday Mass and regular Adoration. Visitors are encouraged to register using the parish form, which can be returned to Father Vogel or the St. Bridget office. Members describe it as a 'St. Patrick's family' with strong community life — donut Sundays, church suppers, Knights, Men's Group, and Altar Society — all rooted in the Sunday Eucharist.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 3:00 pm (versus populum)
- Sunday Mass — 10:15 am (Traditional Novus Ordo with Latin parts, Ad Orientem)
- Friday Mass — Noon
- New-parishioner registration form available on the website
Parish History
The parish was founded in 1869 by Irish and German Catholic railroad workers. Initially served by priests from Independence who said Mass in private homes in north Holden and west of Kingsville, the community built its first church under Father Michael G. Mackin. Through the decades the parish grew, built a rectory, installed an Austrian bell, erected a new church in 1949, restored stained glass in 1993, moved and rebuilt the rectory in 2005, and added a parish hall in 2007. Father Curt Vogel's arrival in 2017 brought the most recent chapter: debt retirement through the 2019 sale of the rectory, a 2019–2020 interior renovation, and the revival of public processions through the streets of Holden. The full history was researched and written by parishioner Dana Kephart.
- Founded May 1869 under Father Michael G. Mackin
- Austrian bell (cast 1879) installed 1882 under Father Joseph Ascheri
- New church dedicated January 22, 1949
- Stained glass restored December 1993
- Rectory moved across the highway in late 2005; parish hall completed early 2007
- Interior renovation 2019–2020 with green carpet in honor of St. Patrick
Parish Staff & Clergy
The pastoral team is led by Father Curt Vogel, who was appointed Parochial Administrator in June 2017 and Pastor in June 2020, and who also pastors St. Bridget's in Pleasant Hill. Deacon Corey Morgan, ordained June 18, 2022, was assigned to St. Patrick's the same month. Lay staff include Natalie Sadler (Director of Religious Education for St. Patrick's and St. Bridget's in the 2025 school year), Penni Warner (Music Director since 2018), Tim Long (Business and Operations Manager since 2020), and Sara Kitchel (Parish Secretary since 2023). Michelle Graff is the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator on the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph's Office of Child and Youth Protection.
- Father Curt Vogel — Pastor (816-540-4563)
- Deacon Corey Morgan
- Natalie Sadler — Director of Religious Education
- Penni Warner — Music Director (since 2018)
- Tim Long — Business & Operations Manager (since 2020)
- Sara Kitchel — Parish Secretary (since 2023)
- Michelle Graff — Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of KC–SJ (816-714-2357)
Knights of Columbus — Holden Council #6722
The Knights at St. Patrick's are a brotherhood of Catholic men dedicated to serving Christ, supporting the parish, and strengthening families through faith and action, under the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. They host annual parish fish fries during Lent, help fund charitable work, assist with repairs and improvements around the parish, organize public processions, and award scholarships — including the Leon & Margaret McHoney Scholarship.
- Council #6722
- Lenten fish fries
- Leon & Margaret McHoney Scholarship (2026 application open)
- Support of parish repairs and processions
- Email sign-up available on the website
Altar & Rosary Society (Ora et Labora)
Open to all women of St. Patrick's, the Altar Society is dedicated to supporting the pastor and caring for the altar and worship space within liturgical guidelines. Its motto is 'Ora et Labora & Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam' (Pray and Work / For the Greater Glory of God). Four officers serve one-year terms starting in August: President Thonya Kennedy, Vice President Cindy Davis, Treasurers Michelle Dinges and Debbie Schrag, and Secretary Kathy McCoy. Attendance at monthly meetings is not mandatory to remain a member in good standing.
- President — Thonya Kennedy
- Vice President — Cindy Davis
- Treasurers — Michelle Dinges & Debbie Schrag
- Secretary — Kathy McCoy
Men's Group — 'Catholic Gentlemen Saints-ish'
Father Vogel leads this monthly men's fellowship, which meets on the fourth Saturday of each month at a parishioner's home. Members study the Catholic faith and pray together for one another, with the stated aim of helping one another become saints.
- Led by Father Vogel
- Fourth Saturday of each month
- Faith study and mutual prayer
Sacraments
Information for each sacrament is published on the parish website, drawing on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — parent preparation session required; contact the parish office prior to the birth.
- Confirmation — 6th grade and older: contact Deacon Morgan or the DRE. Adults: contact Father Vogel.
- Marriage — contact the parish office upon engagement; nine-month preparation is required by diocesan policy, and at least one party should be a registered, regularly attending parishioner.
Public Processions & Evangelization
Under Father Vogel's guidance, parishioners 'take their faith to the streets' with periodic processions through the streets of Holden. Three public processions are held each year, with the faithful processing about a mile in total and stopping for prayers along the way; a portable speaker system lets bystanders hear what is being prayed. Altar servers carry incense and candles; men of the parish carry a life-sized Crucified Christ statue, or a large statue of the Blessed Mother on Marian feasts. The Holden Police accompany each procession to direct traffic. The processions are intended both as a public profession of Catholic devotion and as a teaching moment for Protestant neighbors.
- Corpus Christi procession
- Marian processions with statue of the Blessed Mother
- Lenten Stations of the Cross procession
- Held annually with Holden Police support
Catholic Identity & Diocese
St. Patrick's is a proud member of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, led by His Excellency Bishop James V. Johnston. Because Father Vogel also pastors St. Bridget's in Pleasant Hill, the two parishes share religious-education staffing (Natalie Sadler as DRE for both) and certain sacramental contacts.
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
- Bishop James V. Johnston
- Partner parish: St. Bridget's, Pleasant Hill
- Previously partnered with Holy Trinity, Urich
Facilities & Landmarks
The historic 1949 church houses a sanctuary renovated in 2019–2020 (new tile under the pews, deep green carpet), stained-glass windows restored in 1993, and a large bell cast in Austria in 1879 and electrified in 1958 that still rings the daily Angelus. The parish hall, basement, and south-side entrances — added during the 2005–2007 Capital Campaign at a final cost of about $750,000 — make the building more handicap-accessible and provide gathering space for suppers and events. The former rectory was sold in 2019 (the proceeds retired the parish debt). Mt. Calvary Cemetery, laid out in 1882 under Father Joseph Ascheri, is the parish's historic cemetery.
- 1949 church building dedicated by Bishop O'Hara
- Austrian bell (1879) in the bell tower
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery (established 1882)
- Parish hall added 2007 (~$750,000)
- Interior renovation completed 2020 (~$26,000)
Getting Involved & Volunteer Opportunities
Newcomers are welcomed to register as parishioners and join one of the parish's many groups. Liturgical volunteers (altar servers, lectors, etc.) can express interest through the volunteer form on the website; men can join the Knights of Columbus or the Men's Group; women can join the Altar and Rosay Society; and families can take part in monthly donut Sundays and regular church suppers.
- Parish registration form (via Father Vogel or the St. Bridget office)
- Liturgical volunteer sign-up
- Knights of Columbus (Council #6722) — open to all Catholic men
- Men's Group / 'Catholic Gentlemen Saints-ish'
- Altar & Rosay Society
- Donut Sundays and church suppers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael G. Mackin1869–1873
First pastor; secured the land ($200) and a $1,500 loan to build the church.
- Father James Phelan1873–
Paid off the church debt and built the first rectory.
- Father Joseph Ascheri1882–
Laid out Mt. Calvary Cemetery and installed the large Austrian bell (cast 1879) in the bell tower.
- Franciscan Fathers of Kansas City, Missouri1904–1910
The parish was served by the Franciscan Fathers during this period.
- Father Edward Fitzgerald1919–
Holden became headquarters of a missionary band.
- Father William Connelluntil 1947
Succeeded Fr. Phillip Farrell, DD.
- Father John Conway1935–1941
Killed at the Holden railroad crossing in 1941.
- Father Joseph Killgallonlate 1940s
Built the current church; Bishop O'Hara broke ground April 1948; church dedicated January 22, 1949.
- Father James Moffatt1958–1974 (retired)
Had the Austrian bell electrified and inaugurated the Angelus. Continued saying daily Mass in his Holden home in retirement until his death in 1980.
- Father Alexander Sinclair1978–1981
Founded the youth group and adult choir; new songbooks purchased.
- Father Patrick O'Connor1981–1984
Served St. Patrick's and Holy Trinity in Urich; brought both parishes out of debt.
- Father Harold Powelluntil 1991
Completed new pictorial directory, new roof, new main altar, side altars, and lectern (built by Charles Long).
- Msgr. James Harper1991–1993
Founded a St. Patrick's Legion of Mary.
- Father Ernest Gauthier1993–2002
Stained-glass windows restored December 1993; hospice program started 1996; Parish Pastoral Council established 1997.
- Father Stephen (Steve) Cook2002–2005
Encouraged young members; youth-group attendance rose.
- Father Peter Savidge2005–
Led the Capital Campaign; oversaw the move of the rectory across the highway in late 2005 and the addition of the parish hall, basement, and new entrances (completed early 2007, ~$750,000).
- Father Curt Vogel2017–present
Parochial Administrator June 2017; Pastor June 2020. Also serves St. Bridget's, Pleasant Hill. Sold the St. Patrick's rectory in 2019 to retire the parish debt; led the 2019–2020 interior renovation and revived public processions through Holden.