About St. Peter Apostle · Stockton, Missouri
St. Peter the Apostle Mission Church is a small Catholic mission in Stockton, Cedar County, Missouri, situated on the northern edge of Stockton Lake in the southwest Ozarks. It is one of three parishes in the Sacred Heart Bolivar deanery area served from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in nearby El Dorado Springs, where its current pastor, Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM, resides and celebrates most Masses. As the only Catholic presence in Stockton itself, the mission serves both local residents and the retirees and vacationers drawn to the lake region created by the 1969 Stockton Dam. Worship is offered in English, with Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m., a Wednesday weekday Mass, a first-Friday Mass, and Holy Day Masses all at 10:00 a.m.
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Peter the Apostle Mission offers Catholics in and around Stockton Lake — one of Missouri's most popular outdoor recreation areas — a small, English-language, family-friendly parish where everyone quickly knows one another. Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. is supplemented by a Wednesday Mass, a first-Friday Mass, Holy Day Masses, and confessions before Sunday Mass (or by appointment through the El Dorado Springs rectory). The mission is also notable for its strong ecumenical and community-outreach witness: in 2023 its parishioners were instrumental in directing the diocese's Lenten Youth Mission of Mercy proceeds (over $24,500) to the ecumenical Stockton Area Ministerial Alliance food pantry and Tiger Tasters Backpack program, which together help roughly 150 families each month. Visiting retirees, lake-house Catholics, and year-round residents alike find a welcoming, mission-sized community rooted in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.
Mass times at St. Peter Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 – 9:50 a.m. (before Mass)
- By appointment — call the El Dorado Springs rectory at (417) 876-3216
History & Founding
The mission was founded in the years following the 1969 completion of the Stockton Dam by Fr. William C. Krudwig, then pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in El Dorado Springs and the mission of St. Catherine in Humansville. The first church building was purchased from the Stockton Christian Church after that congregation moved to a new facility. As Stockton Lake drew more retirees and recreation visitors, the parish outgrew the original building, acquired a former Assembly of God building, and ultimately began construction of a new parish facility in July 2002. On May 4, 2003 the building was severely damaged by an F3 tornado that cut a 25-mile path through Cedar County; the church was repaired and rededicated on October 5, 2003.
- Founded after the 1969 Stockton Dam transformed the area
- First building purchased from Stockton Christian Church
- Former Assembly of God building also acquired as the parish grew
- New construction began July 2002
- Severely damaged by the May 4, 2003 F3 tornado
- Repaired and rededicated October 5, 2003
Worship & Sacraments
St. Peter the Apostle Mission offers Sunday Mass, a weekly Wednesday Mass, a first-Friday Mass, and Holy Day Masses, all at 10:00 a.m. and all celebrated in English. Confessions are heard in the 20 minutes before Sunday Mass, and may also be arranged by appointment through the El Dorado Springs rectory at (417) 876-3216.
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday Mass — 10:00 a.m.
- First-Friday Mass — 10:00 a.m.
- Holy Day Mass — 10:00 a.m.
- Confession — Sunday 9:30–9:50 a.m. or by appointment
Clergy & Pastoral Care
The mission is staffed from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in El Dorado Springs under the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Since August 2023, Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM — a priest of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer based in Carthage, MO — has served as pastor of both St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Peter the Apostle Mission. The mission's founder, Fr. William C. Krudwig, retired in 2006 and died in 2011.
- Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM — current Pastor (installed August 2023)
- Rev. Mark M. Hoa Le, CRM — former pastor (CRM)
- Rev. William C. Krudwig — founding pastor; retired 2006; d. December 12, 2011
Community Outreach & Ecumenical Service
Despite its small size, St. Peter the Apostle is recognized across the diocese for its outreach. Parishioners, led by Fr. Tuan Nguyen, nominated the ecumenical Stockton Area Ministerial Alliance (SAMA) to be the recipient of the 2023 diocesan Lenten Youth Mission of Mercy, raising $24,524.98 — including $5,000 directed to the Tiger Tasters Backpack program for schoolchildren facing food insecurity. The SAMA food pantry, which St. Peter parishioners help support, serves an average of 150 families / 250 individuals each month.
- Stockton Area Ministerial Alliance (SAMA) food pantry — ecumenical partner ministry
- Tiger Tasters Backpack program — weekend food for Stockton R-1 students
- Back-to-School event, Christmas Basket program, Salvation Army Bell Ringer partnership
Diocese & Deanery
St. Peter the Apostle Mission belongs to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau under Bishop Edward M. Rice. It is grouped with St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in El Dorado Springs and Sacred Heart in Bolivar as part of the Sacred Heart Bolivar deanery cluster. The mission shares clergy, administration, faith formation, and Sacramental preparation with St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish.
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
- Bishop Edward M. Rice
- Sacred Heart Bolivar deanery cluster
- Attended from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, El Dorado Springs
Visiting & Practical Information
The mission is located at 222 N Highway J, Stockton, MO 65785 (GPS N37° 42.008', W093° 47.153'). Sunday Mass is at 10:00 a.m.; arrive by 9:45 to greet the community. Because no priest resides on-site, all appointments (weddings, anointing, RCIA, baptism prep, faith formation registration) are arranged through the El Dorado Springs rectory at (417) 876-3216. The mailing address is PO Box 583, Stockton, MO 65785-0583.
- Address: 222 N Highway J, Stockton, MO 65785
- Mailing: PO Box 583, Stockton, MO 65785-0583
- Phone: (417) 276-5588
- Email: [email protected]
- El Dorado Springs rectory: (417) 876-3216
Feast Day & Patron
The mission is named for St. Peter the Apostle, the fisherman called by Christ to be the rock of the Church and to whom Jesus entrusted 'the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven' (Mt 16:19). The parish's patronal feast is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, celebrated on June 29.
- Patron: St. Peter the Apostle
- Patronal Feast: June 29 — Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William C. (Fr. Bill) KrudwigFounded mission; served until retirement in 2006
Founding pastor. Also pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, El Dorado Springs, and St. Catherine, Humansville. Ordained March 19, 1961 for the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph (later the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau). Personally directed the construction of the Stockton mission and, with his family, helped build 24 churches across the Ozarks. Retired 2006 near Joplin; died December 12, 2011, age 75. His funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Peter the Apostle Church, Stockton, with Bishop James Johnson and Rev. J. Friedel officiating.
- Rev. Mark M. Hoa Le, CRMListed as pastor on Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce directory (date range not specified)
Priest of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer (CRM), based in Carthage, MO. Listed as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church on the Stockton MO Chamber member directory page.
- Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, CRMParochial Administrator; named Pastor August 12-13, 2023, and installed as Pastor of both St. Elizabeth of Hungary, El Dorado Springs, and St. Peter the Apostle, Stockton
Member of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer (CRM), from the CRM campus in Carthage, MO. Installed by Bishop Edward M. Rice. Current pastor (as of last available diocesan update).