About St. Paul · Saint Paul, Missouri
St. Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small city of Saint Paul, Missouri (in St. Charles County), part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish traces its roots to 1836, when German farmers built a small wooden chapel that was served by visiting missionaries; the community was formally organized and the cornerstone of a permanent church laid in 1849. Today the parish sits on a 24-acre campus shared with St. Paul Catholic School (Pre-K through 8) and is served by Pastor Father Joseph Post, two permanent deacons, and a small parish staff. The parish's mission statement reads: 'We exist so that all may know the saving power of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ alive in his Church.'
- Established
- 1836 (chapel erected) / 1849 (cornerstone of first permanent church) / 1852 (first resident pastor)
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Post
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Paul offers a close-knit rural-parish community with the resources of a much larger one: a historic 1897 American Gothic Revival church where the original altars are still in use, an on-site Catholic elementary school and Pre-K with small class sizes, a PSR religious-education program for public-school children, and a full schedule of weekday and Sunday Masses. Parishioners are invited into active ministry through Eucharistic Adoration, the choir, men's groups, RCIA/OCIA, VBS, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Communion Call visits to the homebound, and parish life on the 24-acre campus shared with the school. It is a good fit for families looking for a parish with deep local roots, a school on site, and the pastoral care of a resident priest and two permanent deacons.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday 12:00 AM through Saturday 12:00 AM (perpetual adoration listed by the Archdiocese)
History of St. Paul Parish
St. Paul Parish grew out of the German Catholic farming settlement known as Dog Prairie, Wellsburgh, or Upper Dardenne in what is now St. Charles County, Missouri. In 1836 a small group of German farmers erected a wooden chapel that was served by visiting Jesuit missionaries; the structure later served as a rectory tenant's home and a school. A land transaction with the Jesuits of St. Louis in 1848 set the stage for a permanent church; the cornerstone of a rough-limestone building was laid in 1849 and completed in 1854. The community was formally organized with its first resident pastor, Rev. Edward Hamill, in 1852, and Father Conrad Tintrup gave the church the name 'St. Paul' when he took over in 1859.
- 1836 — German farmers erect first wooden chapel
- 1848 — Land transaction with the Jesuits of St. Louis
- 1849 — Cornerstone of the limestone church laid
- 1852 — Rev. Edward Hamill appointed first resident pastor
- 1854 — Limestone church completed (40' x 80' with wooden spire)
- 1859 — Fr. Conrad Tintrup takes over and names the church 'St. Paul'
- 1867 — Parish school building constructed
- 1895–1897 — Current brick church built in American Gothic Revival style
Building the Present Church (1895–1897)
By the mid-1890s the limestone church was again too small for the growing parish. From 1895 onward, parishioners donated their time and money, hauling roughly 500 wagon loads of sand, rock, 37,000 bricks, lumber, and slate to the site — most of it shipped by rail to the Richfield station north of present-day Highway 79 and then by wagon to the village. The last Mass in the old limestone church was celebrated on July 13, 1896; the building was then dismantled and much of its stone reused in the new church's foundation. For about a year, Mass was held in the 1867 school building while the new church went up.
- Architectural style: American Gothic Revival
- Exterior: buff-colored brick with slate roof
- Dimensions: 47' x 118' with a 125' spire
- Total cost (per Father Tintrup's 1898 notes): $20,000
- Original 1854 high altar, side altars, confessional, organ, and bells moved into the new church — still in use today
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School is a small Catholic elementary school serving preschool through 8th grade on the same 24-acre campus as the church. The current school building was constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1993. The school offers a Pre-School for 3- and 4-year-olds and a K–8 elementary program with an average class size of about 15 students, with STEM curriculum plus Art, Music, Resource, Explore classes, Advisory, Maker Space, and Physical Education.
- Principal: Kelly Kaimann (636-978-1900, ext. 203; [email protected])
- Pre-School 3 & 4, plus K–8 elementary
- Average class size ~15
- Two-story secured facility with 12 regular classrooms, smartboard in each, 90+ laptops on carts
- Learning Lab, Science Lab, Media Center, cafeteria with modern kitchen, full-size gym with stage and bleachers
- Outdoor classroom and equipped playgrounds
- Before- and After-Care available
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
For parish children who attend public schools, St. Paul offers a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program covering grades K through 8. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings. Two consecutive years of satisfactory participation in a formal Catholic religion program are required before a student may receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation.
- Coordinator: Lori Wortmann (636-978-1900, ext. 301)
- Grades K–8, Wednesday evenings
- Tuition: $200 one child / $250 family of more than one
- Confirmation fee: $50 (8th grade)
- First Communion fee: $25 (2nd grade)
- Book fee: $20 per child
- Safe Environment / Protecting God's Children compliance required
Becoming Catholic — RCIA / OCIA
St. Paul Parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), now often referred to as OCIA, for adults who wish to become Catholic or complete their sacraments of initiation. The program is listed among the parish's core ministries on both the official website and aggregator profiles.
- Inquiry and formation for unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and Catholics seeking Confirmation
- Coordinated through the Parish Center (636-978-1900)
Music, Liturgy, and Devotions
The parish maintains a choir and music ministry that supports the regular Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, and the parish is currently seeking additional volunteers to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Cup at the 4:30 PM Saturday, 7:00 AM Sunday, and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses. A Communion Call ministry brings Holy Communion to parishioners who are homebound. The parish also subscribes to FORMED for digital faith content and offers online giving.
- Parish Choir & Music Ministry
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Cup) — volunteers needed
- Communion Call visits to the homebound
- FORMED digital faith formation
- Online Giving
- Eucharistic Adoration
Men's Groups, VBS, and Parish Life
Beyond the worship schedule, St. Paul supports a men's group ministry, an annual Vacation Bible School, and the parish school community (with its own PTO and Scrip program). The parish website features an event calendar, a 'Latest News' feed, and registration information for PSR, school, and sacramental preparation.
- Men's Group
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) — typically in June
- St. Paul Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
- Scrip Program (TWB/Scrip)
- Parish Cemetery — on-site maintenance managed by the parish
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
St. Paul prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Sacramental preparation for children takes place through the parish school or PSR program, with the requirement of two consecutive years of satisfactory participation in a formal Catholic religion program before receiving First Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass.
- Baptism — contact the Parish Center
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd grade, after 2 years of religious education
- Confirmation — 8th grade PSR, after 2 years of preparation
- Matrimony — contact the Parish Center
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Center
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish is served by a small staff led by the pastor and supported by two permanent deacons, an office and faith-formation secretary, an accountant, a school principal, and others. The Parish Center is the main point of contact for registration, sacramental preparation, and general inquiries.
- Pastor: Fr. Joseph Post ([email protected]) — ext. 300
- Deacon: Robert Marischen ([email protected]) — option 6
- Deacon: Bob Mayo ([email protected]) — 314-795-1311
- Parish Secretary / Scrip & Faith Formation: Lori Wortmann — ext. 301
- Parish Accountant: Teresa Boehmer — ext. 302
- Day School Principal: Kelly Kaimann — ext. 203
- Office: (636) 978-1900; [email protected]
- Address: 1223 Church Rd, O'Fallon, MO 63366
Safe Environment and Protecting God's Children
St. Paul Church and School follow the Archdiocese of St. Louis Safe Environment Program, 'Protecting God's Children.' The program is designed to help protect the youth, elderly, and vulnerable adults of the parish. Any adult who works or volunteers with young people must attend a Protecting God's Children workshop, agree to the Code of Ethical Conduct, and undergo a background check that is updated in even-numbered years. Student volunteers sign a Code of Ethical Conduct for Minors.
- Required workshop: Protecting God's Children
- Code of Ethical Conduct for adults and minors
- Background check updated every even-numbered year
- Coordinated through the Parish Center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward Hamill1852
First resident pastor of the parish.
- Rev. Conrad Tintrup1859
Also pastored St. Joseph at Allen Prairie; credited with naming the church 'St. Paul.' Oversaw construction of the 1897 brick church.
- Rev. Gerard Fick1900–1903
Assistant pastor after Father Tintrup's eye affliction; forced to retire due to blindness.
- Rev. Bernard Bentonuntil 1906
Succeeded Father Fick.
- Rev. Peter Byrne1908–1909
Short tenure as pastor.
- Rev. Edward Kern1909–1937
Died of heart failure in the rectory. Modified the high altar during his pastorship.
- Rev. Msgr. John Fischer1937–1943
Introduced the weekly contribution envelope; led successful church redecorating campaign.
- Rev. James BegganMarch 1943 – August 1943
Died suddenly while pastor of the parish.
- Rev. Charles Schmidt1943 (interim)
Assisted at the parish for several months after Father Beggan's death.
- Rev. Michael Bresnahanlate 1943
Purchased the bronze tabernacle door still in use; added sanctuary spotlights.
- Rev. Leo Sullivan1957–1960
Pastor in the late 1950s.
- Rev. Henry Kohnen1960
Led the 1961 remodeling of the church in lieu of building a new one.
- Rev. Msgr. John Hickel1996
Appointed pastor in 1996.
- Rev. Joseph Postpresent
Current pastor.