About St. Patrick · Laurie, Missouri
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Laurie, Missouri, in the heart of the Lake of the Ozarks, and one of the oldest Catholic presences in Morgan County. Its history stretches back to 1822, when seven Osage Indian chieftains rode to Florissant to ask Bishop Louis W.V. DuBourg for a missionary — sending Jesuit Father Charles de La Croix to minister along the Osage River. The parish's third and current church was dedicated in 1980, and its grounds are home to the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, designated by the U.S. bishops in 2003. The parish serves both a year-round local community and a large seasonal summer population of lake visitors, with outdoor Masses celebrated at the Shrine from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. John Schmitz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Patrick's welcomes visitors and residents of the Lake of the Ozarks into a parish with deep roots — tracing Catholic presence in the area to 1822 and parish life to 1868 — and a singular spiritual treasure next door: the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church. Members join an active community with ministries for every age and stage, including OCIA, Adult Faith Formation, women's and men's groups, Knights of Columbus Council #10381, a Seven Sisters Apostolate, a parish nurse, respect-life and homebound outreach, and abundant liturgical roles (lector, EMHC, sacristan, usher, altar server, music). With both indoor and outdoor weekend Masses (including a unique outdoor summer Mass at the Shrine) and weekday adoration and devotions, there is room for both regular worship and a vibrant parish family life.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday following 9:00 AM Mass
Parish History
St. Patrick's roots stretch back to 1822, when seven Osage Indian chieftains rode to Bishop Louis W.V. DuBourg in Florissant to ask for a missionary for their people along the Osage River. The bishop sent Jesuit Father Charles de La Croix, a Belgian circuit rider who traveled by horseback, boat, canoe, and on foot. The modern parish began in 1850 with Thomas Fitzpatrick's Irish settlement; the first stone church was built in 1868 on land donated by Patrick Johnson by Irish Catholics, a German-American, and a Protestant Scotsman using locally quarried limestone hauled by oxen. The original 80-seat church was dedicated in 1883 by Father Cosmos Sieberger. A second St. Patrick's was built in Gravois Mills in 1952 and the current (third) church — the Shrine of St. Patrick — was dedicated May 24, 1980.
- 1822 — Seven Osage chieftains petition Bishop DuBourg; Father Charles de La Croix, S.J., sent as missionary
- 1850 — Thomas Fitzpatrick settles near Laurie
- 1863 — Fitzpatrick returns from Ireland with neighbors
- 1868 — Patrick Johnson donates 3.38 acres; construction of first stone church begins
- 1870 — First church ready for worship
- 1883 — First church dedicated by Father Cosmos Sieberger
- 1936 — Living quarters added for the circuit-riding priest
- 1952 — Second church built in Gravois Mills; last regular Mass in old church July 20, 1952
- March 2, 1979 — Old church placed on the National Register of Historic Sites
- May 24, 1980 — Third and current St. Patrick's Church dedicated
The Historic Old Church and Cemetery
The first St. Patrick's stone church on 'O' Road remains the oldest church in Morgan County and the oldest stone church in the three counties surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks. A 1936 addition that served as the circuit-riding priest's quarters is now a small museum housing vestments, photographs, and artifacts from the early church. The first known burial in the adjoining historic cemetery was in 1869; a records lookup is available through the parish. After nearly falling into ruin again in 1997, the building was restored by the Knights of Columbus Mary, Mother of the Church Council #10381 — a project that involved more than 30 people and 1,800 man-hours — and the Council continues to maintain it.
- Original limestone church with packed-earth floor and puncheon-log pews
- Hand-hewn stone cross from the Osage Iron Works topped the steeple until 1920
- On the National Register of Historic Sites since March 2, 1979
- Museum of early vestments, photos, and artifacts in the 1936 priest's quarters
- Historic Cemetery adjoining the church, first known burial 1869
The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church
Adjacent to St. Patrick's, the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, is the only Church-recognized national shrine in Missouri. It began in March 1984, when pastor Father Fred J. Barnett announced plans for an outdoor grotto in a ravine near the church to handle overflowing summer crowds. The first outdoor Mass was celebrated on August 15, 1986 (Feast of the Assumption), and Bishop Michael McAuliffe dedicated the open-air altar to Mary, Mother of the Church on August 15, 1988. The 14-foot stainless-steel sculpture of Mary, with arms outstretched in welcome, was unveiled on September 13, 1992, and a scale model was presented to Pope John Paul II in Rome on February 14, 2001. In 2003, Archbishop James P. Keleher, chair of the USCCB Committee for National Shrines, and Bishop John R. Gaydos announced its designation as the National Shrine — the 16th such designation in the United States.
- 1984 — Fr. Fred Barnett announces plans for an outdoor grotto
- 1986 — First outdoor Mass, August 15 (Feast of the Assumption)
- 1988 — Dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church on August 15 by Bishop McAuliffe
- 1992 — Mary sculpture unveiled by John and Elaine Fabick
- 1998–2000 — Mothers' Wall of Life erected; dedicated October 22, 2000
- 2001 — Scale model presented to Pope John Paul II
- 2003 — Designated the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church
- 2018 — First feast day of Mary, Mother of the Church (declared by Pope Francis, March 3, 2018)
- Features: fountains, ponds, carillon bells, music, summer gardens, Avenue of the Flags, Prayer Path with 100+-year-old Stations of the Cross
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father John Schmitz as pastor, with Deacon David Lovell assisting. The parish office is staffed by Parish Secretary Linda Neff ([email protected]) and Bookkeeper Conny Barnard. Music Ministry is led by Doug Hallenbeck. The maintenance team includes Supervisor Tom Randolph, Brenda Thornton, James Straatmann, and Dave Nelson. The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church has its own staff: Executive Director Andrew Wright ([email protected]), Database & Administrative Assistant Nancy Bakke, and Programs Coordinator Heather Crouch.
- Pastor — Fr. John Schmitz
- Deacon — Dcn. David Lovell
- Parish Secretary — Linda Neff
- Bookkeeper — Conny Barnard
- Music Ministry Director — Doug Hallenbeck
- Maintenance Supervisor — Tom Randolph
- Maintenance Lead — Brenda Thornton
- Maintenance — James Straatmann, Dave Nelson
- Shrine Executive Director — Andrew Wright
- Shrine Programs Coordinator — Heather Crouch
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Adult Faith Formation is coordinated by Lisa Cluver ([email protected], 573-480-2754). OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — is led by Brian and Sue Doak ([email protected]) for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Couples preparing for marriage and families seeking Baptism are invited to contact the parish office; the parish also visits and brings Holy Communion to the homebound and to a local Senior Care Center through its Homebound Ministry (Mike & Sharon Fadden) and Senior Care Center outreach (Becky Doak).
- Adult Faith Formation — Lisa Cluver
- OCIA — Brian & Sue Doak
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Homebound Ministry — Mike & Sharon Fadden
- Senior Care Center visits — Becky Doak
- Lector Training — Mary Slater
Liturgical Ministries
The parish depends on a wide circle of lay liturgical ministers at every Mass — sacristans, altar servers, greeters, ushers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — coordinated through the MSP scheduling app and Ministry Scheduler Janet Cocco. Music Ministry under Doug Hallenbeck leads worship year-round, and Art & Environment (Sherry Barthol) prepares the church for each season. Lay Ministry Director Bernie Marco supports both weekday and weekend liturgies.
- Sacristans / Servers — Dcn. Dave Lovell (573-480-4565)
- Lay Ministry Director — Bernie Marco (573-480-5048)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Steve & Janice Mandl
- Lector Training — Mary Slater
- Art & Environment — Sherry Barthol
- Music Ministry — Doug Hallenbeck
- Ministry Scheduling — Janet Cocco (573-502-9228)
Parish Life, Prayer, and Service Groups
Beyond the liturgy, the parish hosts a full network of prayer, study, service, and fellowship groups: Ladies Scripture Study (Janice Mandl), Women's Ministry (Lisa Cluver, Janice Mandl), Men of St. Joseph (Jim Gerke), the Seven Sisters Apostolate (Pam Rusk), and the parish-wide Pastoral, Stewardship, and Finance Councils. Outreach is led through Charitable Outreach, Social Concerns, the Respect for Life ministry, a Disaster Responders Team, the Parish Nurse program (Mary Lou Hatfield, RN BSN), and a Health & Wellness ministry.
- Ladies Scripture Study
- Women's Ministry
- Men of St. Joseph
- Seven Sisters Apostolate
- Respect for Life — April Newton
- Parish Nurse — Mary Lou Hatfield, RN BSN
- Health & Wellness — Bernie Marco
- Charitable Outreach
- Social Concerns
- Disaster Responders Team
Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary
The Knights of Columbus Mary, Mother of the Church Council #10381, based at St. Patrick's, is the parish's principal fraternal organization and a tireless steward of the historic 1868 stone church, which it rescued and restored in 1997. The Council continues to fund and work on projects at the old church and cemetery to this day. The Ladies Auxiliary is a complementary community of parish women active in service and fellowship.
- Knights of Columbus Mary, Mother of the Church Council #10381 — Grand Knight Tom Gross (314-703-0781)
- Ladies Auxiliary — Georgia Vincent
- Ongoing stewardship of the 1868 historic stone church and cemetery
Pastoral Planning
Through the diocesan Better Together initiative, St. Patrick's gathered parish input via small-group reflection to draft a three-year Pastoral Plan addressing the diocese's three priority areas: Leadership, Co-Responsibility, and the Parish as the Center of Charity and Mercy. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Pam Rusk, advises the pastor on ways to improve community life and meet the spiritual and practical needs of parishioners.
- Three-year Pastoral Plan
- Three diocesan priority areas: Leadership, Co-Responsibility, Parish as Center of Charity and Mercy
- Pastoral Council chair — Pam Rusk (785-218-3520)
- Stewardship Council — Julie Cummings ([email protected])
- Finance Council — Christopher Wolfe
Visit, Contact, and Join
St. Patrick's invites newcomers to register at the parish office and become part of its family. Visitors are welcomed at weekend Masses and at the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church any time of year. The parish office is at 176 Marian Dr., Laurie, MO 65037, phone 573-374-7855 (fax 573-374-0627), email [email protected]. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed Monday). The parish is also active on Facebook.
- Address: 176 Marian Dr., Laurie, MO 65037
- Phone: 573-374-7855 — Fax: 573-374-0627
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stpatrickcatholicchurch.org
- Facebook: SaintPatrickCatholicChurchLaurieMo
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday 8 AM–4 PM (closed Monday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles de La Croix (Jesuit Belgian missionary)1822–
First missionary sent to minister to the Osage along the Osage River after seven Osage chieftains petitioned Bishop DuBourg in 1822.
- Fr. Cosmos Sieberger
Pastor of St. Elizabeth who formally dedicated the first stone St. Patrick's Church in 1883.
- Fr. Fred J. Barnett1980s
Pastor who oversaw construction of the current (third) church dedicated in 1980 and founded the outdoor grotto in 1984 that grew into the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church; later recognized for nearly 60 years of service to the Diocese of Jefferson City.