First MassMay 28, 1838
| Location | 4277 Hwy U, Rich Fountain, MO 65035 |
|---|---|
| State/Territory | Missouri |
| Modern Diocese | Diocese of Jefferson City |
| Historical Diocese | Diocese of St Louis |
| Date | May 28, 1838 |
| Priest | Fr. Ferdinand Helias, S.J. |
| Religious Order | Society of Jesus (Jesuits) |
| Rite | Roman (Latin) Rite |
| Confidence | confirmed |
| Submitted by | @_catholicwest |
Photos
Documentation
Notes
Fr. Ferdinand Helias, a Belgian Jesuit, came to the area now known as Taos in the summer of 1838 to serve German immigrant families. He offered Mass for the first time on May 28, 1838, for approximately twenty families. Per Sr. Loretta Pastva, SND (Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri, 2006), this Mass inaugurated Catholic worship among this German-speaking community in central Missouri. This entry came out of a search of the Diocese of Jefferson City's own website, which details Fr. Helias's pastoral visits and credits Pastva's scholarship for the specific dates and community context. Further sources: Sr. Loretta Pastva, SND, Proclaiming the Good News in the Heart of Missouri (2006)
← Back to the full map & timeline