About St. Theodore · Wentzville, Missouri
St. Theodore is a Roman Catholic parish in Wentzville, Missouri (Flint Hill area), part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish describes itself as 'a unique mix of history and tradition combined with new families and growth,' and its mission is to be a faith-filled community that grows in spirituality through prayer, respect for family, support of education, and acceptance of all. St. Theodore offers weekend and daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, an elementary school (K-8), a Parish School of Religion (PSR), and youth ministry, and serves families in the rapidly-growing western St. Charles County corridor.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. Theodore (named in honor of Fr. Theodore Krainhardt)
- Rector
- Rev. Henry Purcell
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Theodore is a mid-sized Catholic parish that intentionally welcomes new families while honoring more than 140 years of tradition in the Flint Hill/Wentzville area. It offers the full rhythm of parish life — daily and Sunday Mass, weekday confession, Eucharistic Adoration, First Reconciliation/First Communion and Confirmation preparation, a K-8 elementary school, a Parish School of Religion (PSR) for public-school children, a youth ministry directed by a full-time staff member, and liturgical music. For a Catholic family moving to western St. Charles County, it is the rare parish where you can put children in a parish elementary school, walk them across the parking lot to religion classes and youth group, attend daily Mass, and still sit in a sanctuary built in 1900 by German-speaking forebears.
Mass times at St. Theodore
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
- Sunday 7:00 am – 7:20 am
- Tuesday 7:40 am – 8:00 am
- Anytime by appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (times listed on the Archdiocese parish page under 'Eucharistic Adoration') — exact weekly window to be confirmed by parish office
Parish Mission & Welcome
St. Theodore's stated mission is: 'As a faith-filled community, we grow in spirituality through prayer, respect for family, support of education and acceptance of all. By the wisdom of our past and the energy of God's Spirit for our future, we demonstrate being alive in Christ.' The parish opens its welcome message by describing itself as 'a unique mix of history and tradition combined with new families and growth' that 'embraces people of all ages and backgrounds' and wants 'to walk with you' no matter where you are in life.
Our History
St. Theodore's history stretches back more than 140 years. Before 1880, Flint Hill Catholics rode or wagoned to St. Joseph, Josephville for Mass. Fr. Theodore Krainhardt began traveling to Flint Hill in the early 1880s, often saying Mass in the home of Dr. Russell B. Lewis. Land was donated to the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1882–83, and on July 10, 1883, Fr. Henry Brockhagen laid the cornerstone of the new church. It was blessed on August 15, 1883 — the Feast of the Assumption — and named for Fr. Krainhardt.
- 1883 – First church built (20 x 40 ft white frame building, small vestibule, separate bell stand)
- 1891 – Statue of St. Joseph donated by Theodore Feldewert, Sr. (still in the church today)
- 1893 – Parish school begins with 10 boys and 9 girls under a lay teacher
- 1898 – Fr. August von Brunn arrives; original church converted to a two-room school
- 1900 – Cornerstone of the present church laid May 6, 1900; timber from Dave Henke farm near Mette Road
- 1913 – First section of the current school building constructed
- 2000 – Major school addition
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Theodore is led by Pastor Rev. Henry Purcell and served by two permanent deacons. The parish and school share a larger staff that includes a business manager, parish and school office managers, an evangelization & communications coordinator, a coordinator of liturgical music, a director of youth ministry, a safe environment program coordinator, a maintenance lead, and the elementary school principal and office manager.
- Rev. Henry Purcell — Pastor (ext. 263)
- Deacon Matt Bross — Permanent Deacon (ext. 265)
- Deacon Tim Dallas — Permanent Deacon (ext. 224)
- Mrs. Mary Belarde — Business Manager (ext. 225)
- Ms. Mary Ramatowski — Parish Office Manager & Safe Environment Coordinator (ext. 226)
- Mrs. Tracy Bowler — Evangelization & Communications (ext. 229; [email protected])
- Mrs. Carrie Altheimer — Coordinator of Liturgical Music
- Mrs. Emma Clever — Director of Youth Ministry (ext. 249)
- Mr. Larry Beamer — Maintenance (ext. 247)
- Mrs. Kathy Lause — Elementary School Principal (ext. 222)
- Mrs. Rita Varner — School Office Manager (636-639-1385)
Faith Formation & Religious Education (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) serves families whose children attend public school, providing weekly catechesis for 1st through 8th graders on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 pm, mid-August through early May. The program uses the Faith and Life series from Ignatius Press and follows the same curriculum and standards as the parish school. St. Theodore emphasizes that parents are the 'primary educators of the faith,' with the parish, the home, and the classroom each playing a distinct role in forming young disciples.
- 1st–8th grade weekly classroom instruction
- Wednesday evenings, 6:15–7:30 pm, mid-August to early May
- Uses Faith and Life series (Ignatius Press)
- First Reconciliation prepared in 2nd grade
- First Communion received at end of 2nd grade (after Reconciliation)
- Confirmation received toward end of 8th grade
Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation at St. Theodore is built around the home, the parish, and religion classes. First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received during the second-grade year, with preparation beginning in first grade. Confirmation is received toward the end of eighth grade and is described by the parish not as a graduation but as 'a strengthening of faith and a sending forth to proclaim and defend the Kingdom of God.' Preparation includes choosing a sponsor, choosing a Confirmation saint name, Christian service, and participation in a retreat.
- First Reconciliation — 2nd grade
- First Communion — 2nd grade (after Reconciliation)
- Confirmation — 8th grade; sponsor, saint name, service hours, retreat
- Children entering 2nd or 8th grade without prior catechesis should contact Fr. Henry Purcell
St. Theodore Catholic School (K-8)
St. Theodore Catholic School is a parish elementary school serving kindergarten through eighth grade at 5059 Highway P, Wentzville (adjacent to the church). Its mission is to provide a quality education in a Catholic environment that fosters each child's love of God, positive self-esteem, personal responsibility, and respect for others, following the example of Jesus Christ. The school emphasizes parents as 'their child's first and most influential teachers' and offers before- and after-school care.
- Kindergarten through 8th grade
- Address: 5059 Highway P, Wentzville, MO 63385
- Phone: (636) 639-1385; Fax: (636) 327-5115
- Principal: Mrs. Kathy Lause
- Before- and after-school care available
Sacraments Offered
Beyond Mass and Reconciliation, St. Theodore prepares parishioners for and celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments. The parish website gives a particular emphasis to the Holy Eucharist, quoting the Catechism (CCC 1322–1333) and teaching that the Eucharist is the 'source and summit' of the Christian life. Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged by calling the parish office, and a 24-hour emergency line is available for the Anointing of the Sick.
- Holy Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass; First Communion in 2nd grade
- Reconciliation — see schedule above and by appointment
- Baptism — call parish office
- Confirmation — 8th grade
- Marriage — call parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — call parish office; 24-hour emergency line
Worship & Music
Liturgical music is coordinated by Mrs. Carrie Altheimer, Coordinator of Liturgical Music. The parish also maintains a dedicated evangelization and communications function led by Mrs. Tracy Bowler, supporting bulletins, social media, and outreach.
- Coordinator of Liturgical Music: Mrs. Carrie Altheimer
- Bulletin inquiries: [email protected] (legacy address)
Youth Ministry & Community Life
Youth ministry at St. Theodore is staffed by a full-time Director of Youth Ministry, Mrs. Emma Clever (ext. 249). The parish's PSR program and youth ministry together form a continuous path of formation for children and teens, including a 'Teen Mass' that has historically been celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The parish also references an ACTS retreat program as part of its community life.
- Director of Youth Ministry: Mrs. Emma Clever (ext. 249)
- PSR (1st–8th grade) Wednesday evenings
- Teen Mass historically on 2nd and 4th Sundays
- ACTS retreat ministry referenced in parish life
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Theodore by phone at (636) 332-9269 during office hours, with a 24-hour emergency line available for Anointing of the Sick. The parish office is at 5085 Highway P, Wentzville, MO 63385, with the church at 5051 Highway P and the school at 5059 Highway P. The mailing address is P.O. Box 246, Flint Hill, MO 63346. Inquiries can also be sent via the contact form on sainttheodore.org or to [email protected].
- Parish office: 5085 Highway P, Wentzville, MO 63385
- Church: 5051 Highway P, Wentzville, MO 63385
- School: 5059 Highway P, Wentzville, MO 63385
- Mailing: P.O. Box 246, Flint Hill, MO 63346
- Phone: (636) 332-9269
- School phone: (636) 639-1385
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: sainttheodore.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Theodore Krainhardt1868–1899 (as pastor of St. Joseph, Josephville; he began traveling to Flint Hill for Mass in early 1880s and the parish was named in his honor)
Founded the mission that became St. Theodore.
- Rev. Henry Brockhagen1883
Commissioned to lay the cornerstone; blessed the first St. Theodore church on Aug. 15, 1883.
- Rev. August von Brunnarrived September 1898
Built the present 1900 church, preached in German and English, oversaw a parish fire confined to the sacristy.
- Rev. Gary Vollmerearlier era (listed on legacy/education subdomain)
Listed as pastor on the older education.sainttheodore.org site.
- Rev. Henry Purcellcurrent
Current pastor; oversees PSR, sacramental preparation, and school.