About St. Robert Bellarmine · Saint Robert, Missouri
St. Robert Bellarmine is a Roman Catholic parish serving the small city of St. Robert in Pulaski County, Missouri — a community that grew up around the historic Route 66 corridor and the U.S. Army's Fort Leonard Wood. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Jefferson City and worships in the Latin (Roman) Rite, gathering for Mass several times each week in its church on Old Highway 66. As the parish itself puts it: 'With Saint Robert Bellarmine as our model we pledge responsible use of our gifts and resources to meet individual, parish and community needs,' and it casts itself as a community of believers 'from diverse backgrounds, united by faith in Jesus Christ with the Universal Catholic Church.' The church is in fact so central to local identity that the city of St. Robert was incorporated in 1951 and named directly after the parish and its patron saint.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- Saint Robert Bellarmine (Italian Jesuit, Cardinal, and Doctor of the Church, 1542–1621)
- Rector
- Rev. C. Paschal Ihediohamma (Pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Jude Richland, St. Cornelius Crocker, and St. Theresa Dixon)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
St. Robert Bellarmine is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish on Old Route 66 in St. Robert, Missouri, where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday Vigil Mass at 6:00 p.m., with weekday Masses Tuesday evening, Wednesday at noon, and Friday morning. The parish offers Eucharistic Adoration on Monday evenings and Confessions on Saturday afternoons, and runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program for the religious education of its children, supported by a Director of Religious Education. Its mission statement calls members to a closer relationship with Christ 'by witnessing our beliefs through worship, education and service,' and parishioners serve as lectors and in other liturgical roles — making it a friendly, hands-on community for both long-time residents and the many military families connected to nearby Fort Leonard Wood.
Mass times at St. Robert Bellarmine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (per Discover Mass)
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM (per the Catholic Church Directory listing)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, per the parish bulletin)
Parish Identity & Patron Saint
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish is named for Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621), an Italian Jesuit, Cardinal, and Doctor of the Church whose theological work shaped the Catholic Counter-Reformation. The parish's own mission pledge — 'With Saint Robert Bellarmine as our model we pledge responsible use of our gifts and resources to meet individual, parish and community needs' — places the saint's example at the center of parish life. The parish further describes itself as 'a community of believers from diverse backgrounds, united by faith in Jesus Christ with the Universal Catholic Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, nourished by the Eucharist, and leading people to a closer relationship with Christ by witnessing our beliefs through worship, education and service.'
- Patron: Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621), Jesuit, Cardinal, Doctor of the Church
- Parish mission pledge: stewardship of gifts and resources for individual, parish, and community needs
- Parish mission statement: worship, education, and service in unity with the Universal Catholic Church
History: A Parish Born of Fort Leonard Wood and Route 66
The parish was founded in 1941, the same year that Fort Leonard Wood was activated as the U.S. Army's Seventh Corps Area Training Center. Construction of the post — and the modernization of U.S. Route 66 through the Big Piney River valley, including the deep Hooker Cut — brought tens of thousands of workers, soldiers, and prisoners of war into Pulaski County, Missouri. A civilian community grew up around the installation on what had been Gospel Ridge, a wide spot on Route 66. When residents incorporated the new town in 1951, they named it St. Robert after this parish and its patron saint, making the parish the namesake of the entire city.
- Founded 1941 (per GCatholic)
- City of St. Robert, Missouri incorporated 1951 and named after the parish
- Parish serves a community shaped by Fort Leonard Wood (activated Jan. 1, 1941) and historic Route 66
- Located at 367 Old Highway 66, on the old Route 66 alignment
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
The parish is led by a pastor who (per the Diocese of Jefferson City's priest directory) currently also serves as pastor of St. Jude in Richland, St. Cornelius in Crocker, and St. Theresa in Dixon. A September 2022 parish bulletin lists Fr. Mike Murphy as Pastor, Deacon Rick Vise, and Valarie Bondoni as Secretary and Director of Religious Education; the diocese's current directory lists Fr. Michael P. Murphy as Retired (ordained 1989) and Rev. C. Paschal Ihediohamma (ordained 2006, Diocese of Okigwe, Nigeria) as the current pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine. Parish office hours (per the bulletin) are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Rev. C. Paschal Ihediohamma — Pastor (Diocese of Jefferson City directory)
- Rev. Michael P. Murphy — listed as Pastor in the Sept. 2022 bulletin (ordained 1989)
- Deacon Rick Vise
- Valarie Bondoni — Secretary and Director of Religious Education
- Parish Office: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Faith Formation: Parish School of Religion (PSR)
Religious education for parish children is coordinated through the Parish School of Religion (PSR). The parish bulletin lists a Director of Religious Education as a staff role, with a dedicated email address for the program. PSR is the parish's principal vehicle for catechesis outside of the Sunday liturgy and helps prepare children for the sacraments.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) for parish children
- Director of Religious Education: Valarie Bondoni
- Contact: [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve directly in the liturgy as lectors and in other supporting roles. The September 2022 parish bulletin specifically names lector coordinators and helpers, and bulletin-signup opportunities invite parishioners to take part in the Mass as readers.
- Lectors (lay readers at Mass)
- Liturgical helpers listed in the parish bulletin (e.g., Steve Hoffman and Yen Steele noted among lectors)
- Sign-up opportunities published in the weekly bulletin
Prayer Life: Prayer List & Prayer Chain
Beyond the Mass, the parish maintains an active prayer life through a published Prayer List and a private Prayer Chain. Names are kept on the Prayer List for one month unless otherwise requested, and only with the prayer recipient's consent. The Prayer Chain offers a confidential channel for personal intentions.
- Prayer List — published for one month at a time, by request and with consent
- Prayer Chain — private requests via Kay Schomer at 573-774-2651
- Office: 573-336-3662 — contact to add a name to the Prayer List
Parish Life & Fundraising
The parish bulletin regularly calls for volunteers to support parish sales and other fundraising efforts (e.g., a fall sale). These activities help fund parish programs and provide opportunities for parishioners to serve together. Volunteer recruitment is handled through the parish office and through bulletin announcements.
- Fall and seasonal parish sales
- Volunteer recruitment through the parish office (573-336-3662)
- Office contact: [email protected]
Visiting, Joining & Contact
The parish welcomes new members with a note in its bulletin: 'We are most happy to welcome new members to our Catholic community. We want to know and serve you… Please contact the parish office at St. Robert Bellarmine to complete a membership registration form.' Newcomers are encouraged to register, attend Mass regularly, and share their time and financial support according to their means.
- Membership registration form available at the parish office
- Parish office phone: 573-336-3662
- Parish email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Website: strobert.diojeffcity.org