About St. Rose of Lima · Perryville, Missouri
St. Rose of Lima is a small Roman Catholic mission church in the rural Silver Lake community of north Perry County, Missouri, administered by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) as a mission of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville. The parish has roots in the 1850s when Vincentian priests from Perryville began serving a log-cabin chapel for local farm families, and the present stone church — built 1877–79 — is one of the oldest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis still in active use. Today it shares one pastor, Father Joe Geders, C.M., and one parish staff with the other North Perry County Catholic Parishes (St. Vincent de Paul, St. James, St. Joseph, Christ the Savior, and Our Lady of Victory), and it functions primarily as a devotion and Communion-service chapel with limited Masses.
- Established
- 1850s
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph C. Geders, C.M. (Father Joe Geders, C.M.)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Deanery of Ste. Genevieve), administered by the Vincentians as a mission of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Perryville
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima offers a rare window into rural Missouri Catholic heritage: the same stone walls that Vincentian missionaries raised in 1877–79 still welcome parishioners today, in a quiet, deeply prayerful setting off Highway T in north Perry County. As a mission of the larger St. Vincent de Paul Parish family, it gives worshippers a smaller, more intimate devotional community — with monthly Rosary and Communion services and a handful of summer Sunday Masses — while still connecting them to the full sacramental life, faith-formation programs, youth ministry, food pantry, Ladies of Charity, and Vincentian spiritual tradition of the North Perry County Catholic Parishes. Anyone interested in joining is invited to call the Parish Center at 573-547-4300 or fill out the online Membership Form on the parish website.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation for the parish family is normally celebrated Wednesday–Friday after the 8:00 am Masses, Saturday after the 8:00 am Mass, and Saturday 3:30–4:05 pm before the Vigil Mass at St. Vincent de Paul; seasonal Parish Reconciliation Services are held during Advent and Lent (call 573-547-4300 for dates).
Adoration times
- Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in the parish chapel (coded lock for after-hours access; effort is made to keep at least one adorer present at all times). St. Rose of Lima itself has a Rosary and Communion Service on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm.
Welcome to St. Rose of Lima
The official parish page (svdepaul.org/st-rose-of-lima/) greets visitors with a simple, personal message: 'Welcome to Our Parish!' Anyone interested in joining is invited to call the Parish Center at 573-547-4300 or fill out the Membership Form online to make the process quicker and easier. St. Rose of Lima is listed as one of six North Perry County Catholic Parishes served together out of Perryville, sharing staff, schedules, and ministries with St. Vincent de Paul (the main parish), St. James, St. Joseph, Christ the Savior, and Our Lady of Victory.
- Phone: 573-547-4300
- Fax: 573-547-4145
- Membership Form available online
- Part of North Perry County Catholic Parishes
History of the Parish
St. Rose of Lima began as a log-cabin mission chapel in the 1850s, served by Vincentian priests traveling from Perryville. The first frame church was built in 1865 under Father William Vincent Moore, C.M., and the present stone church — of distinctive colored stone blocks — was constructed 1877–79 under Father Denis D. Leyden, C.M. It was originally dedicated as Holy Innocents; the rededication to St. Rose of Lima came in 1885–86 under Fathers Pommer and E. J. Wynne.
- 1850s — log-cabin mission chapel served by Vincentians from Perryville
- 1865 — first frame church built under Father William Vincent Moore, C.M.
- 1877–79 — present stone church built under Father Denis D. Leyden, C.M.
- 1885–86 — rededicated as St. Rose of Lima under Fathers Pommer and E. J. Wynne
Our Pastor and Clergy
St. Rose of Lima is pastored by Father Joe Geders, C.M., who serves as Pastor of the North Perry County Catholic Parishes. He is assisted by Associate Pastors Fr. Ranjan Lima, C.M., Fr. Clay Kilburn, C.M., and Fr. Fred Wandera, C.M., with Fr. Mike Walsh, C.M., serving as Senior Priest in Mission for the Spanish-speaking community. Two deacons — Rev. Mr. John C. Darin and Rev. Mr. Direk Hunt — serve as Pastoral Associates.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph C. Geders, C.M. (Father Joe Geders, C.M.)
- Associate Pastors: Fr. Ranjan Lima, C.M.; Fr. Clay Kilburn, C.M.; Fr. Fred Wandera, C.M.
- Senior Priest in Mission (Spanish): Rev. Mike Walsh, C.M.
- Deacons: Rev. Mr. John C. Darin; Rev. Mr. Direk Hunt
Mass and Service Schedule
St. Rose of Lima does not offer regular weekend Masses. Its regular devotional gathering is a Rosary and Communion Service on the first Monday of every month at 6:30 pm. A Sunday Mass is offered at 8:00 am on the first Sunday of July and August only. Weekend Masses for the parish family are celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul in Perryville (Saturday Vigil 4:30 pm; Sunday 7:00 am and 9:00 am).
- First Monday Rosary and Communion Service — 6:30 pm
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 am, first Sunday of July and August
- Daily Masses (at St. Vincent de Paul): Mon–Tue 8:00 am; Wed–Fri 6:00 am & 8:00 am; Sat 8:00 am
- Communion Service Mon–Tue 6:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul
- Saturday Vigil 4:30 pm; Sunday 7:00 am & 9:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul
Sacraments
The parish family celebrates all seven sacraments, with Baptism normally at 12:30 pm each Sunday (excluding Lent) and a Baptismal Preparation Session held the 2nd Sunday of each month at 1:00 pm. First Communion is prepared during the 2nd-grade year through St. Vincent Elementary and PSR; Confirmation is prepared during the 8th-grade year through St. Vincent Jr. High and PSR. Marriage arrangements require at least one year's notice to the Parish Office, and adults seeking initiation enter the RCIA process which runs from the first Wednesday of September through the Easter Vigil.
- Baptism — 12:30 pm Sunday; Prep 2nd Sunday, 1:00 pm
- First Communion — 2nd-grade year
- Confirmation — 8th-grade year
- Marriage — contact Parish Office 1 year in advance
- RCIA — weekly meetings begin 1st Wed. of September; Easter Vigil reception
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for parish children is delivered through the parish school system and the Public School of Religion (PSR) program. Sr. Delores Schilli, C.PP.S., directs Religious Education and RCIA; Randy Dickmann coordinates PSR ([email protected], ext. 106). Adult faith formation takes several forms: DVD/video programs, reading material, Bible studies, and parish missions.
- PSR (Public School of Religion) — Randy Dickmann, ext. 106
- Adult Faith Education — Sr. Delores Schilli
- RCIA — Sr. Delores Schilli, ext. 104
- Bible studies and parish missions offered throughout the year
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministry at the parish family is open to all ages and includes Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (both at Mass and to the homebound/hospital), sacristans, lectors, cantors, altar servers (5th grade and above), and ushers. The St. Vincent Adult Choir sings at the 9:00 am Sunday liturgy with Thursday-evening rehearsals; a Summer Choir covers the 9:00 am Mass from the Sunday after Memorial Day through Labor Day. Terry Rousseau directs Music Ministry ([email protected], ext. 107).
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (weekday & weekend)
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound/Hospital
- Sacristans, Lectors, Ushers, Cantors
- Altar Servers (5th grade and older)
- St. Vincent Adult Choir & Summer Choir — Terry Rousseau
Youth Ministry
The parish youth group is open to all 7th through 12th-grade students and meets Sundays in the youth-group room of the Parish Center. 7th and 8th graders meet 1:00–2:00 pm and 9th through 12th graders meet 3:00–4:00 pm. Activities include song, prayer, meditation, sharing, and faith-building together. Contact Emily Hager for details.
- Youth Group: 7th–8th grade — Sundays 1:00–2:00 pm
- Youth Group: 9th–12th grade — Sundays 3:00–4:00 pm
- Contact: Emily Hager
Outreach & Charity
The Ladies of Charity run a Food Pantry at 1001 Rosati Court, open Monday mornings 8:30–11:00 am and Thursday evenings 5:00–6:30 pm, and prepare Christmas food baskets; meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of September through May at 1:00 pm (contact Maureen Mattingly). The Society of St. Vincent de Paul works to deepen faith and reduce human suffering by serving the poor and needy (contact Ed Schumer at 573-547-8595). A Grief Support Ministry meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Seton Room.
- Ladies of Charity Food Pantry — 1001 Rosati Court (Mon 8:30–11:00 am, Thu 5:00–6:30 pm)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Ed Schumer, 573-547-8595
- Grief Support — 2nd Thursday, 7:00 pm, Seton Room
- Christmas food-basket ministry
Contact & Parish Center
St. Rose of Lima shares its Parish Center and staff with the broader North Perry County Catholic Parishes family. The main office line is 573-547-4300 (fax 573-547-4145); callers can ask for extension 3 to reach the St. Rose of Lima line specifically. The mailing address is 10138 Highway T, Perryville, MO 63775-2319, with the Archdiocesan parish contact listed as c/o 1010 Rosati Ct., Perryville, 63775. New parishioners can fill out the online Membership Form or call the office to register.
- Phone: 573-547-4300 (St. Rose of Lima ext. 3)
- Fax: 573-547-4145
- Mailing: 10138 Highway T, Perryville, MO 63775-2319
- Parish Center: 1010 Rosati Ct., Perryville
- Membership Form available online at svdepaul.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Vincent Moore, C.M.1865
Built the first frame church; local native who studied at St. Mary's of the Barrens Seminary and Cape Girardeau.
- Father Joseph Hellwingearly 1870s
Also gave services here while pastor of St. Mary's at Biehle.
- Father Denis D. Leyden, C.M.1877–1879
Directed construction of the present stone church, originally dedicated as Holy Innocents.
- Father Pommer1885–1886
Co-led the rededication of the church as St. Rose of Lima.
- Father E. J. Wynne1885–1886
Co-led the rededication of the church as St. Rose of Lima.