St. Francis Xavier Parish at 245 West Front St., Sikeston, MO 63801 US - HISTORY OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
HISTORY OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
- In 1885, Father Connelly, pastor of New Madrid Parish, journeyed to Sikeston celebrating the first mass for ten Catholics at the home of Frank Heisler. Until 1887, Mass was celebrated once a month. Plans were then drawn and the first Catholic Church was erected. One year later, it was destroyed by a cyclone.
- From 1888 to 1891, various priests from the surrounding parishes came here to celebrate mass for the fifteen member parish. In 1891, the old Methodist church was purchased, remodeled and dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. The parish was established in 1905 and a frame rectory was built for Fr. Conrad Brockmeier as the first resident pastor.
- In 1916, Father George Ryan, the new pastor, purchased a building at the rear of the church and opened a parochial school with three Sisters of Mercy assigned to teach the fifty pupils enrolled.
- With Father Woods as pastor, the Smith residence was purchased in 1930 and converted into a school and convent for the sisters. This building is now the rectory.
- The present church in which we worship was erected in 1938 under the direction of Msgr. J.J. O'Neil who was pastor from 1936 until his death in 1959. Under his direction the present school and convent, located between the church and rectory, was built in 1951. By October 1955, the fiftieth anniversary of the parish, membership had grown to 670 parishioners.
- On August 24, 1956, the Diocese of St. Louis split and we became members of the newly formed Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese. Succeeding Msgr. O'Neil as pastor was Msgr. McGrane (1960-1967) followed by Father Robert Schumacher (1967-1976).
- Father Shibley first served here as an assistant from October 1962 until June 1964. He returned as pastor in September of 1976. Since that time, our parish has grown to over 400 families comprising approximately 1200 people. A pledge drive was completed to build a parish center. Due to poor attendance and the inability to obtain religious for teaching positions, the school was closed in May 1970. In 1987, with the efforts of many dedicated parents, the school was reopened under the direction of Sister Agnes Therese, S.S.N.D. and Father Amel Shibley.
- Msgr. William J. Stanton became our pastor in August 1991, the same time our parish center was completed. From September 1992 to February 1993, Father Edward Byron served our parish as Assistant Pastor. In January 1994, Father Robert Schumacher returned as Senior Priest in Service, remaining until 2000.
- Msgr. Stephen Schneider became our pastor in August 2001 and served our parish until August 2005.
- Msgr. Richard Rolwing became our Senior Priest in Service in August 2003 and remains with us today. Monsignor Rolwing retired from pastoring in 2009.
- Father Scott Sunnenberg became pastor in August 2005 and served our parish until July 2009.
- Father Glenn Eftink became pastor in July 2009.
