About St. Patrick · Saint Joseph, Missouri
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic parish located at 1723 S. 12th Street in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Founded in 1869 as the third Catholic parish in St. Joseph, it is part of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph and today serves approximately 300 households. The parish offers a daily and weekend Mass schedule in both languages, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and an active parish life that includes a youth group, young adults ministry, English and Spanish choirs, and a Parish Council.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Jonathan Davis
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a bilingual, faith-filled and welcoming parish with a clear missionary identity — "a faith-filled, loving and welcoming Parish" that strives "through the daily living of our Catholic faith to praise and give glory to God." It is one of the historic parishes of St. Joseph (since 1869) and offers the full rhythm of Catholic life: three Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, weekday Masses, weekly Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, a youth group and young-adult ministry, English and Spanish choirs, and a Parish Council with elected lay leadership. Families seeking K-12 Catholic education are supported through a parish scholarship fund for any Catholic school.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:25 AM
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Sunday 7:00 PM – 7:55 PM
- Tuesday 6:15 AM – 6:40 AM
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM (bilingual, before adoration)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday 6:15 AM – 6:45 AM
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (with bilingual confessions)
- Sunday 7:00 PM – 7:55 PM (before the 8:00 PM Mass)
Parish Mission & Identity
St. Patrick's self-describes as a 'faith-filled, loving and welcoming Parish' that strives 'through the daily living of our Catholic faith to praise and give glory to God.' The Spanish-language mission statement reads: 'Nosotros, los miembros de la Parroquia de San Patricio, somos una Parroquia llena de fe, amorosa y acogedora. Nos esforzamos a través del diario vivir de nuestra fe católica para alabar y dar gloria a Dios.' The parish website frames its identity around the Catholic Church's universal mission, quoting Jesus' question to the disciples ('But who do you say that I am?') and Simon Peter's confession as the foundation for the Church.
- Parish Mission Statement (English and Spanish)
- Parish Registration available via the office or website
- Bilingual worship and parish communications
History of St. Patrick Parish
Founded in 1869 as the third Catholic parish in St. Joseph, MO, the parish grew out of a large Irish Catholic community in Buchanan County. The school was added in 1874. In 1960, the building of U.S. Route 36 prompted the merger of Holy Rosary Parish (a predominantly Mexican parish) with St. Patrick — giving the parish its current bilingual character and approximately 300 families.
- 1869 — Parish established by Fr. Eugene Kenney
- 1874 — School added
- 1960 — Merged with Holy Rosary Parish (predominantly Mexican) after construction of Route 36
- Today — ~300 families, English/Spanish ministry
Founding in the Irish Catholic Context
By 1860 St. Joseph had the third-largest Irish-born population in Missouri, behind Kansas City and St. Louis. Even today, Census Bureau numbers show nearly 14,000 Buchanan County residents identify as Irish or Scotch-Irish. The parish was erected one year after the Diocese of St. Joseph was created, under Bishop John Joseph Hogan — a native of Bruff, County Limerick, Ireland, who also founded the Irish Wilderness Settlements.
- Buchanan County: ~14,000 residents of Irish/Scotch-Irish ancestry
- Bishop John Joseph Hogan, first bishop of St. Joseph (consecrated Sept. 13, 1868)
- Founder of the Irish Wilderness Settlements
Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph
St. Patrick is part of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, led by Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. (appointed 2015). The diocese was formed on August 29, 1956, by merging the Diocese of St. Joseph (founded March 3, 1868) and the Diocese of Kansas City (founded September 10, 1880). It is comprised of 27 counties in northwestern Missouri, including Buchanan County where St. Patrick is located.
- Diocese formed: August 29, 1956
- Current Bishop: James V. Johnston, Jr. (2015–present)
- Counties include: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Ray, St. Clair, Vernon, Worth
Current Pastor and Deacons
Rev. Jonathan Davis serves as the current pastor. He is assisted by Deacon John Nash and Deacon Marcelino Canchola.
Parish Staff & Lay Leadership
Lay staff and volunteer leaders are listed on the parish website. The Parish Office is managed by Isaura Garcia; Teresa and Matthew Bobela direct the English and Spanish Choirs; Nancy Braman leads the Altar Society; Javier Cruz and Antonia Aguilera oversee decorations; Faustino Barbosa serves as office helper.
- Parish Office Manager – Isaura Garcia
- English and Spanish Choir Directors – Teresa and Matthew Bobela
- Altar Society President – Nancy Braman
- Decorations – Javier Cruz and Antonia Aguilera
- Office helper – Faustino Barbosa
- Parish Council members listed
Weekend Masses
Three Sunday liturgies and a Saturday Vigil make up the weekend schedule, with the 11:00 AM Mass celebrated in Spanish.
- Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil (English)
- Sunday 7:30 AM (English)
- Sunday 11:00 AM (Spanish)
- Sunday 8:00 PM (English)
Weekday Masses
Weekday Masses are celebrated three days a week, in English on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in Spanish on Wednesday evenings.
- Tuesday 6:45 AM (English)
- Wednesday 6:30 PM (Spanish)
- Thursday 6:45 AM (English)
Ministries & Organizations
Parish life is organized around a Parish Council with elected lay members, liturgical and service ministries, and formation programs for youth and young adults. A parish scholarship fund supports K-12 Catholic education.
- Parish Council
- English and Spanish Choirs
- Altar Society
- Decorations Committee
- Youth Ministry (ages 13–17), Wednesdays 7:30 PM
- Young Adults Ministry (Jóvenes adultos)
- Parish K-12 Catholic School Scholarship Fund
- Online Giving
- Parish Registration
Faith Formation & Catholic Education
While the parish school (St. Patrick School) closed in 2006, the parish continues to support Catholic education through the diocesan St. Joseph Catholic Schools K-12 system. A dedicated St. Patrick Parish scholarship fund helps families send their children to any Catholic school.
- St. Joseph Catholic Schools K-12
- MO Scholars Bright Futures Fund Scholarships
- St. Patrick Parish Scholarship Fund (for any Catholic school)
Parish Events & Community Life
The parish hosts community-building events such as the annual St. Patrick's Mexican Fiesta, with bilingual participation. A capital campaign, 'Save our Bell Tower / ¡Salva nuestro campanario!', invites parishioners to support preservation of the historic bell tower.
- St. Patrick's Mexican Fiesta (annual fundraiser)
- Save our Bell Tower campaign (¡Salva nuestro campanario!)
- Online Giving
- Parish Registration / Únase a nuestra parroquia
Serving God in the Parish (Volunteering)
Parishioners are invited to share their gifts via a 'Serving God in our Parish Community / Sirviendo a Dios en nuestra Communidad Parroquial' sign-up form, available in English and Spanish.
- Volunteer sign-up via Google Form (English and Spanish)
Visit, Contact & Office Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email during posted office hours. The parish is also active on Facebook.
- Address: 1723 S. 12th St., Saint Joseph, MO 64503
- Phone: (816) 279-2594
- Fax: (816) 232-7904
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon & Wed 9 AM–3 PM; Tue & Thu 9 AM–5:30 PM
- Facebook: facebook.com/stpatrickschurchstjoseph/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eugene Kenney1869-1879
Founder; established the parish as the third Catholic parish in St. Joseph.
- Fr. Thomas Walsh ✝1879-1881
- Fr. Francis Graham ✝1882-1907
- Fr. Andrew Newman ✝1907-1912
- Fr. Edward Bolger ✝1912-1921
- Fr. Patrick Carney ✝1923-1935
- Msgr. John O'Neill ✝1935-1956
Served at the time of the 1956 diocesan merger into Kansas City–St. Joseph.
- Fr. Phillip Gannon ✝1956-1964
- Fr. Patrick O'Shea ✝1964-1965
- Msgr. Emmett Summers ✝1965-1969
- Fr. John Hix ✝1969-1978
- Fr. John McCormack1978-1981
- Fr. Robert Crider1981-1986
- Fr. Richard Dierkes1990-1996