About St. Vincent de Paul · Perryville, Missouri
St. Vincent de Paul Parish is the Catholic heart of Perryville, Missouri — a Vincentian mission church rooted in one of the earliest Catholic settlements west of the Mississippi. The parish traces its origin to 1817, when English-speaking Catholic settlers from Kentucky (formerly from Maryland) petitioned Bishop William Dubourg for a resident priest and welcomed the Vincentian Fathers from Italy to 'The Barrens' of Perry County. The present church building on Rosati Court was completed and first used for Mass on May 30, 1965, unifying the historic St. Mary's of the Assumption and St. Boniface parishes. Today the parish operates a Pre-K through Grade 12 Catholic school system, daily Mass, perpetual adoration from Monday through Friday, and outreach to the wider Perry County community through its food pantry and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
- Established
- 1817
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Geders, C.M.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a missionary Vincentian parish with more than two centuries of Catholic life in Perry County and a wide range of ways to get involved. You can pray at daily Mass, sit with the Blessed Sacrament in nearly twenty-four-hour adoration, walk your children through First Communion and Confirmation, enroll them in the parish's nationally ranked Pre-K-12 Catholic school, or join one of more than a dozen ministries — from the youth group, to the Ladies of Charity, to the food pantry and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is a parish that clearly takes its patron's call to serve the poor seriously while keeping the sacraments central to parish life.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday after the 8:00 am Mass (Wednesday through Saturday are listed on the parish site)
- Saturdays 3:30–4:10 pm (Archdiocese lists 3:30–4:20 pm)
- Mondays 8:30 am
- Tuesdays 8:30 am
- Wednesdays 8:30 am
- Thursdays 8:30 am
- Fridays 8:30 am
- Seasonal Parish Reconciliation Services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Mondays 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Tuesdays 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Wednesdays 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Thursdays 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Fridays 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Blessed Sacrament exposed from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in the chapel (parish notes that for many years this was 24/7)
Welcome to St. Vincent de Paul Parish
St. Vincent de Paul Parish shares its Catholic faith with the North Perry County community through its parishes and its Pre-K through Grade 12 Catholic school system. The parish — along with the sister parishes of St. Rose of Lima, St. James, St. Joseph, Christ the Savior, and Our Lady of Victory — is served by the Vincentian Fathers (C.M.) and welcomes new members by phone at 573-547-4300 or by completing an online Membership Form.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Geders, C.M.
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Fredrick Wandera, C.M.
- Permanent Deacons: Deacon John Darin, Deacon Direk Hunt
- Parish Office: 1010 Rosati Court, Perryville, MO 63775
- Phone: 573-547-4300 — Office hours 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday–Friday
Our History: From 'The Barrens' to Rosati Court
St. Vincent de Paul has roots in one of the earliest Catholic settlements west of the Mississippi. English-speaking Catholic families from Maryland (via Kentucky) settled in a treeless prairie called 'The Barrens' in the early 1800s. In March 1817 Bishop William Dubourg visited the community and arranged for Vincentian priests he had recruited in Italy to come from Kentucky to Perry County — beginning a Vincentian presence that continues more than two centuries later. The first log church was blessed in 1820, the foundation stone for a permanent brick church was laid in 1827, and St. Mary's of the Assumption was consecrated by Bishop Rosati on October 29, 1837. By 1839 the parish was the largest outside of St. Louis with about 3,400 parishioners.
- 1817 — Catholic settlers petition Bishop Dubourg for a resident priest; Vincentians arrive from Kentucky
- 1820 — First house and log church blessed
- 1827 — Foundation stone laid for a permanent church
- 1837 (Oct 29) — St. Mary's of the Assumption consecrated by Bishop Joseph Rosati
- 1839 — Parish reported as the largest outside of St. Louis (~3,400 parishioners)
- 1865/1868 — German Catholics establish St. Boniface Church; Rev. Henry Grall builds the church
- 1947 — Vincentians take responsibility for both Assumption and St. Boniface parishes, which are merged
- Early 1960s — New church site selected and named in honor of St. Vincent de Paul
- May 30, 1965 — First Sunday Mass celebrated in the present St. Vincent de Paul Church
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Sacramental preparation for First Communion takes place in second grade through St. Vincent Elementary School or the PSR Program; Confirmation is prepared in eighth grade through St. Vincent Jr. High School or PSR; adults interested in Confirmation should contact Sister Delores Schilli.
- Baptism — Sunday at 12:30 pm (except Lent); Prep Session 2nd Sunday at 1:00 pm
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule
- 1st Communion — 2nd grade (Randy Dickmann, ext. 106, [email protected])
- Confirmation — 8th grade (Sister Delores Schilli, ext. 104)
- Marriage — contact Parish Office at least one year in advance; Archdiocesan prep classes required
- Anointing of the Sick — Healing Mass twice a year
- Holy Orders — speak with one of the parish priests
- RCIA — September through Easter Vigil (Sister Delores Schilli, ext. 104)
St. Vincent Catholic Schools
Operated by St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the St. Vincent Catholic Schools have been a cornerstone of the Perryville community since the late 1800s. The system offers Preschool, Elementary, and Junior/Senior High schools, and follows the Vincentian Philosophy of Education — proclaiming the Gospel in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and forming people to bring the Good News to the poor.
- Preschool, Elementary (K–5), and Junior/Senior High School (6–12)
- St. Vincent High School nationally accredited since 1933 (North Central Association)
- Ranked in the top 5% of Catholic schools nationally; recognized among 300 high-performing Catholic high schools
- 97% of graduates enroll in college
- President: Mr. Zach Stobart (ext. 233, [email protected])
- Junior/Senior High Principal: Rev. Ranjan Lima, C.M. (ext. 232, [email protected])
- School theme: 'Then, Now, Beyond' — based on Psalm 78:4
- Student activities include Sodality, SVDP Society, Students for Life, National Honor Society, Drama, Chess, Spanish, SADD, Pep Club, Yearbook/Tribe, Student Council
Faith Formation
Catholic formation is offered through the parish school system and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children in parish public schools. Adult faith formation is available through RCIA, Bible studies, DVD/video programs, parish missions, and a charismatic prayer group.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) — grades 1–8, Wednesday evenings 6:00–7:20 pm at St. Vincent Elementary School
- 1st Reconciliation & 1st Eucharist preparation in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation in 8th grade
- RCIA — weekly meetings beginning the first Wednesday in September; rites culminate at Easter Vigil
- Adult Faith Education — Sr. Delores
- St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Group — charismatic, Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm in the parish office
Music & Liturgical Ministry
Liturgical life at the parish is supported by choirs open to adults, teens, and anyone wishing to serve. Liturgical ministers serve weekday and weekend Masses, and a summer choir sings for the 9:00 am Sunday Mass.
- Vincent Adult Choir — rehearsals for the 9:00 am Mass; summer choir also available
- Music Ministry contact: Maureen Matting
- Liturgical Ministry — volunteers needed for Mass
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish invites parishioners into more than a dozen ministries of prayer, formation, and service. Outreach efforts include the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the parish food pantry, supported in part by funding from the Annual Catholic Appeal. The Ladies of Charity assists the poor and needy of Perry County.
- Ladies of Charity — contact Terry Rousseau, ext. 107 ([email protected])
- The Food Pantry — serves poor and needy of the area
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — parish conference
- Ministry of Prayer & Praise — daily prayer commitment for parish intentions (Christy Presnell)
- Youth Group — 7th–8th grade Sundays 1:00–2:00 pm; 9th–12th grade Sundays 3:00–4:00 pm in the Parish Center (Emily Hager)
- Seminary Picnic Workers — major annual fundraiser for the parish (committee meets second Thursday each month)
- Annual Catholic Appeal (formerly ADA) — held April/May; supports Catholic high school, tuition assistance, food pantry
Memorial Garden & Endowment
The parish maintains a Memorial Garden where loved ones can be remembered with engraved pavers along the walkway. The parish also partners with the Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri to build an endowment fund for St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church's mission.
- Option 1: 8" x 8" pavers — $350 (4 lines, 12 characters/line)
- Option 2: 8" x 5" pavers — $175 (3 lines, 12 characters/line)
- Option 3: 5" x 5" pavers — $100 (2 lines, 7–8 characters)
- Contact the Parish Office at 573-547-4300 to reserve a paver
- Online giving available through the parish website
North Perry County Catholic Parishes
St. Vincent de Paul shares its Catholic mission with five sister parishes in the area, each with its own Mass schedule and parish identity. The parish family ensures Catholic presence in every corner of Perry County.
- St. Vincent de Paul (Perryville)
- Christ the Savior — Sunday Rosary 7:30 am, Mass 8:00 am
- Our Lady of Victory — Sunday Mass 10:00 am
- St. Rose of Lima
- St. James
- St. Joseph