About Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Vienna, Missouri
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Vienna, Missouri, established in 1867 and part of the Diocese of Jefferson City. The parish worships at 105 N. Main Street in the heart of Maries County and shares pastoral ministry with the nearby Holy Guardian Angels mission in Brinktown. The current pastor is Father Basil Tigga, a priest of the Diocese of Gumla, India (ordained 1992), assisted by Deacon Michael Brooks as Parish Life Collaborator. The parish is known for its strong Catholic school tradition that began in the late 1800s and continues today as the Visitation Inter-Parish School.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Basil Tigga
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a small but active rural Catholic community that has worshiped together since 1867, with the same downtown Vienna church and school buildings still in daily use more than a century after they were built. Members come together for Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and Thursday daily Mass at 8:15 a.m., share Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children, Confirmation prep, a youth program called WINGS for grades 6–12, Christ Renews His Parish retreats, the Knights of Columbus, and outreach through Loaves and Fishes and the Ministerial Alliance. Whether you are a longtime parishioner, a returning Catholic, or a visitor passing through the Ozarks, the parish welcomes you to join in prayer, faith formation, and service.
Mass times at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Sunday Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (scheduled — contact parish office for current times)
About Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Vienna, Missouri, established in 1867 and part of the Diocese of Jefferson City. It serves the faithful of Maries County from its church at 105 N. Main Street. The parish shares pastoral ministry with Holy Guardian Angels mission in Brinktown, and the same pastor and deacon team care for both communities.
- Established 1867
- Diocese of Jefferson City
- Located at 105 N. Main St., Vienna, MO 65582
- Sister parish: Holy Guardian Angels, 37515 Hwy N, Brinktown, MO
Parish History
The parish was organized in 1867 by central-Missouri German Catholic settlers, with Rev. J. W. Graham and Rev. Thomas J. Moran as its first resident priests. Over the next decades a procession of mostly German-surnamed pastors built up the congregation, the church, and a one-room wooden-frame school. Under Rev. Henry A. B. Kuennen the school was established in the late 1800s; under Rev. Jon J. Fugel (pastor 1896–1936) the present school building was constructed and opened in 1926. The parish's original late-19th-century church and school structures 'remain strong and still reliably serve us today' for worship and gathering.
- 1867: Parish established
- Late 1800s: First one-room wooden-frame school built under Fr. Kuennen
- 1898: Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood arrive to teach
- 1916–1926: Present school building constructed and opened in 1926
- 1933: Local public school district joins with Visitation Parish
- 1936–1943: Parish school gym hosts Vienna Public High School basketball
- 1985: Renamed Visitation Inter-Parish School
- 1989: Sisters Adorers conclude 91 years of teaching ministry
Diocesan Shepherds
The parish's history page lists the bishops of the Diocese of Jefferson City who have shepherded Visitation over the years.
- Bishop John Raymond Gaydos
- Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe
- Bishop Joseph M. Marling
- Bishop W. Shawn McKnight (current)
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Basil Tigga as pastor and Deacon Michael Brooks as Parish Life Collaborator. Lay staff handle parish administration, religious education, and the weekly bulletin.
- Pastor: Father Basil Tigga (Diocese of Gumla, India; ordained 1992)
- Parish Life Collaborator: Deacon Michael Brooks
- PSR Coordinator: Amber Bock
- PSR Coordinator: Elaine Brandt (573-728-6564, [email protected])
- Administrative Assistant, Parish & School Bookkeeper: Susan Kleffner
- Parish Bulletin Coordinator & Mass Stipend Coordinator: Peggy Neubert
Parish Ministries
The parish runs a wide range of ministries for sacramental preparation, prayer, youth, fellowship, and outreach. The 'Parish Life' section of the parish website encourages parishioners to volunteer for Mass roles or choir through the Liturgical Resources page, and to join Parish Organizations for broader service.
- Baptism Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
- Nursing Home Visitation
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
- Confirmation Preparation
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Christ Renews His Parish (Welcome Weekend)
- WINGS Youth Program (Grades 6–12)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Funeral Luncheon
- Visitation Knights of Columbus
- Loaves and Fishes
- Ministerial Alliance
- Life Long Faith Formation
Religious Education & Youth
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious instruction for Catholic children who do not attend Catholic school, helping parents pass on the faith. PSR classes meet Sunday mornings after the 8:00 a.m. Mass on designated dates. The WINGS Youth Program serves students in grades 6 through 12, and teens are also invited into Christ Renews His Parish and other formation opportunities.
- PSR — Sunday mornings after 8:00 a.m. Mass on designated dates
- WINGS Youth Program — Grades 6–12
- Confirmation Preparation
- Christ Renews His Parish retreat/Welcome Weekend
Outreach & Community Life
Visitation reaches beyond its walls through several parish and ecumenical outreach efforts, including food ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, and participation in the local Ministerial Alliance.
- Loaves and Fishes
- Visitation Knights of Columbus
- Ministerial Alliance
- Nursing Home Visitation
- Funeral Luncheon ministry
Visitation Inter-Parish School
Catholic education has been part of the parish since the late 1800s. Today the parish operates the Visitation Inter-Parish School, which since 1985 has welcomed students from neighboring parishes in addition to Visitation families. The school's history traces a century-long partnership with religious and lay teachers that began with the arrival of the Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood in 1898.
- Late 1800s: First one-room wooden-frame school built by Fr. Kuennen
- 1898: Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood begin 91 years of teaching
- 1916–1926: Present school building constructed and opened in 1926
- 1936–1943: Gym hosts Vienna Public High School basketball team
- 1956: First lay teacher hired
- 1985: Renamed Visitation Inter-Parish School
- 1989: Sisters Adorers conclude teaching ministry
Visit, Contact & Get Involved
The parish office is located at the church and welcomes calls and visits during parish life. Anyone wishing to learn more, register as a parishioner, schedule a sacrament, or volunteer for a ministry is encouraged to call (573) 422-3950 or email the parish office.
- Parish Office: 105 N. Main St., PO Box 171, Vienna, MO 65582
- Phone: (573) 422-3950
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://visitationhga.diojeffcity.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Baptist Goeldin1859–1867
Pre-parish mission priest serving the area before Visitation was established
- Rev. J. W. Graham1867–1868
Early pastor at founding
- Rev. Thomas J. Moran1867–1870
Early pastor at founding
- Rev. John Grunder1870–1871
- Rev. Francis X. Deimel1871
- Rev. William Klevinghaus1871–1873
- Rev. Joseph Hellwing1873–1876
- Rev. Peter Bremerich1876–1879
- Rev. Henry Aut Hukestein1879–1880
- Rev. William J. Angenendt1880–1883
- Rev. Peter A. Trumm1883–1884
- Rev. Joseph F. M. Diel1884
- Rev. Henry A. B. Kuennen1885–1896
Built the first one-room wooden-frame school in the late 1800s
- Rev. Jon J. Fugel1896–1936
Long pastorate during which the present school building was constructed (1916–1926)
- Rev. Blase J. Scheffer1936–1944
- Rev. Clement J. Gerbig1944–1951
Year as printed on parish history
- Rev. Guido Nardoni1951–1962
- Rev. Seanan M. O'Connell1963–1966
- Rev. Jerome F. Bestgen1966–1972
- Rev. Henry J. Figge1972–1973
- Rev. Joseph William Starmann1973
- Rev. James Mohan1973–1980
- Rev. Sean J. Smith1980–1981
- Rev. (Martin) Brendan Griffey1981–1982
- Rev. Donald J. Antweiler1982–1985
- Rev. Thomas E. Vaughn1985–1988
- Rev. J. Patrick Flanagan1989–1991
- Rev. (Christopher) Mark Smith1991–1992
- Rev. Thomas E. Vaughn1992–1996
Second term as pastor
- Rev. John J. Schmitz1996–2005
- Monsignor Marion Makarewicz2005–2014
- Rev. Boniface Kasiita Nzabonimpa2012–2013
- Rev. Matthew J. Flatley2014–2020
- Deacon Doug Hemke2013–2019
- Deacon Michael Brooks2020–Present
Parish Life Collaborator
- Father Basil Tigga2020–Present
Current pastor; priest of the Diocese of Gumla, India, ordained 1992