About St. Patrick · Clarence, Missouri
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Clarence, Missouri, part of the Diocese of Jefferson City and one of four parishes that make up North Central Missouri Catholic (NCM Catholic), alongside Immaculate Conception in Macon, St. Mary's in Shelbina, and the mission of Sacred Heart in Bevier. Founded by German and Irish Catholic families in the years after Clarence was incorporated in 1866, the parish has its first resident pastor in Fr. John F. Kenny and the original church was dedicated on March 17, 1884. The current pastor is Rev. R. William (Bill) Peckman, who serves all four NCM parishes with the assistance of Deacon Larry W. Mitchell and three other deacons. The parish shares the larger NCM Catholic weekly and daily Mass schedule with its sister parishes and is located at 201 Grand Street in Clarence.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. R. William (Bill) Peckman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Patrick offers a small, close-knit rural Catholic community where German and Irish heritage continues to shape parish identity more than 140 years after the first church was dedicated. As part of North Central Missouri Catholic, the parish shares priests, deacons and a faith-formation program with three neighboring churches, so members benefit from a wider network of ministries, weekly devotions and weekly Mass celebrated at multiple sites in the cluster. Visitors are welcomed into a parish family that has faithfully maintained Catholic life in Shelby County since 1884 and that continues to invest in its church and rectory for future generations.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- At least 20 minutes before Mass, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered as part of the North Central Missouri Catholic cluster schedule (see parish bulletin for current times at St. Patrick, Clarence)
History of St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick's roots go back to the years just after Clarence was incorporated in 1866, when Catholic families of German and Irish descent settled in the new town and opened businesses. Their devotion quickly led to the building of a parish: the first St. Patrick Church was dedicated on March 17, 1884, with Fr. John F. Kenny installed as the first resident pastor. From its earliest days St. Michael's at Hagers Grove served as a mission of St. Patrick, extending the parish's reach into the surrounding countryside. In 1960, under the leadership of Fr. William Ludwig, the people of St. Patrick built the present church and rectory, which were dedicated in 1961 and continue to serve the parish today.
- 1866 — Clarence incorporated; Catholic families of German and Irish descent arrive
- March 17, 1884 — First St. Patrick Church dedicated; Fr. John F. Kenny named first resident pastor
- St. Michael's at Hagers Grove becomes a mission of St. Patrick
- 1960 — New church and rectory built under Fr. William Ludwig
- 1961 — New church and rectory dedicated
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
St. Patrick is currently served by Fr. Bill Peckman, pastor of all four North Central Missouri Catholic parishes. He is assisted by a team of four permanent deacons — Rev. Mr. Larry W. Mitchell (assigned to St. Patrick/Clarence), Rev. Mr. Lloyd Collins, Rev. Mr. Bruce Mobley, and Rev. Mr. Greg Duffey — as well as Director of Religious Education Amanda Durbin, communications lead Maria Durbin, and parish secretaries Beth Saunders, Sue Hall, and Laura Edwards. Fr. Peckman was ordained on June 7, 1997, and in 2022 he marked 25 years of priesthood, reflecting on service to 14 parishes under three bishops and three popes.
- Pastor: Rev. R. William (Bill) Peckman
- Deacon (St. Patrick/Clarence): Rev. Mr. Larry W. Mitchell
- Deacons (cluster): Rev. Mr. Lloyd Collins, Rev. Mr. Bruce Mobley, Rev. Mr. Greg Duffey
- Director of Religious Education: Amanda Durbin
- Communications: Maria Durbin
- Church Secretaries: Beth Saunders, Sue Hall, Laura Edwards
North Central Missouri Catholic (Cluster)
St. Patrick is one of four parishes that together form North Central Missouri Catholic (NCM Catholic), unified under a single pastor and shared staff. The cluster allows small, rural parishes in Shelby and Macon counties to share priests, deacons, faith-formation programs, and a common weekly Mass schedule. The other parishes in the cluster are Immaculate Conception in Macon (IC), St. Mary's in Shelbina (SM), and Sacred Heart in Bevier (SH).
- St. Patrick — Clarence (SP)
- St. Mary's — Shelbina (SM)
- Immaculate Conception — Macon (IC)
- Sacred Heart — Bevier (SH, mission)
- Deanery: North, Shelby County; Diocese of Jefferson City
Contact and Location
St. Patrick Catholic Church sits on Grand Street in the small town of Clarence in Shelby County, north-central Missouri. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, or write to the parish mailing address.
- Physical address: 201 Grand St., Clarence, MO 63437
- Mailing address: PO Box 177, Clarence, MO 63437
- Phone: 573-588-4540 or 573-501-0134
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ncmcatholic.diojeffcity.org/st-patrick-clarence/
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Religious education for the NCM Catholic parishes is coordinated at the cluster level by Director of Religious Education Amanda Durbin, with support from the parish secretaries and deacons. Information on sacramental preparation — including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage — is handled through the parish office.
- Director of Religious Education: Amanda Durbin
- Sacramental preparation: contact the parish office
- Confession: at least 20 minutes before Mass or by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John F. Kenny1884–
First resident pastor of St. Patrick; original church dedicated March 17, 1884. St. Michael's at Hagers Grove became a mission of St. Patrick under his care.
- Fr. William Ludwig1960–1961
Led the building of the new church and rectory, dedicated in 1961.
- Fr. R. William (Bill) Peckmanpresent
Current pastor of the North Central Missouri Catholic parishes (St. Patrick, St. Mary's Shelbina, Immaculate Conception Macon, Sacred Heart Bevier); ordained June 7, 1997, and observed his 25th anniversary of ordination in 2022.