A Brief History of St. Canera Parish, Neosho, Missouri

When the first settlers entered the rugged southwest Missouri wilderness in the 1830's and 1840's, the region was forested and remote. Catholics were a minority among the pioneers and for many decades few priests even visited the area around Neosho. It was not until after the Civil War ended that Mass was said for the first time on March 6, 1866 in Springfield, more than sixty miles away. At that time, all Missouri was part of the St. Louis Diocese. The approach of the "Iron Horse", the railroad that would connect the nation from coast to coast had a local effect on both the future of Catholicism and the growth of Neosho. In June 1870, an article in the local Neosho newspaper mentioned the increased number of new resident,
"As the railroad comes nearer, the tide of immigration steadily increases and we are pleased to note an improvement in the general character of the immigrants."

On March 24, 1871 Archbishop Peter Richard Kendrick of St. Louis announced that the Atlantic and San Francisco Railroad had donated land in the region to be used for churches. The present St. Canera location as well as St. Agnes church and cemetery near Sarcoxie were included in this land grant. The railroad was completed to Neosho that year and the first passenger train arrived on December 7, 1871.

Until a church could be built on Sarcoxie prairie, far northern Newton County was served by a Jesuit priest, Father John Schoensetter, a circuit rider based in St. Paul, Kansas. Father Schoensetter served a wide area including mission churches and Native Americans. He said Mass in the Sarcoxie area twice each year but no priest came as far south as Neosho on a regular basis.

The hill where the church now stands was known as "Lloyd's Hill" and the property may have been part of that owned at one time by Captain Ruark, an early settler. From the hill, a bird's eye view of Neosho could be seen and there were few other buildings nearby.

In late August 1876 a notice that Mass would be said in Neosho for the first time appeared in the local newspaper. On September 8, Father Hennes celebrated Mass in a room at the local public school on what is now Central School Hill. That same year Father Reilly or O'Reilly from Pierce City was granted permission to begin building a church in Neosho at the present site.

Parishioners began building a rock foundation by hand but ran out of funds before further construction could take place. In 1880, several hundred dollars was raised by local Catholic families and businessmen. A committee consisting of A.J. Baurdick, F. Sherman, and I.D. Galbraith was formed in January 1880 to oversee church construction. Also in 1880 the Kansas City diocese was formed and the local parish became a part of that diocese.

Actual construction began in December 1883 with guidance from Father Dennis Kelly of St. Agnes Church, Sarcoxie Prairie. The first church was completed in 1884 for a final cost of $800. That building was 30 by 50. An altar, pews, and choir loft were added a few months after the structure was complete. Until pews were fashioned, parishioners used nail kegs as seats.
The first parishioners numbered one hundred and twenty five. Some of those early parishioners included A.J. Baurdick (a noted local grocer and President of the Neosho Savings Bank, predecessor of Neosho Savings and Loan), F. Sherman, Thomas Collins, Delvin Markey, Simon, John, and Patrick Normyle, John and Michael Falls, John Osler, Patrick Burke, Thomas Roachy, John Delany, Thomas DeVaney, James Murray, John McKnight, James McCabe, Luke Kelly, John Rogers, Joseph Zimmerman, Mrs. Mary Sullivan, Mrs. Flynn, Ambrose Shirk, James Walshe, Anton Isenberg, and Frances Deignan.
In 1885, Father James Wood was assigned as the first parish priest. During his time of service, the church interior was completed and furnished. He was also assigned the mission church at Seneca. In the late 1880's, the parishioners of what would become St. Mary's met in Mc Gannon's hall in Seneca.

On May 23, 1889, Bishop John Hogan, first Bishop of the Kansas City diocese, dedicated the church to St. Canera and the first Confirmations were held at St. Canera on the same day. Later that year, the original title deed was altered by the railroad to exclude a clause that gave the Atlantic and San Francisco permission to lay track across the property. In 1890, many of the local Catholic families moved to Joplin or farther away to other areas to seek a better financial situation.

Father Sheele arrived here in 1895. Father Sheele boarded with the Gittings family about two miles from the church. He was known for his daily trek to and from St. Canera in all weathers. Other early priests included Father William Hoverstadt, Father Alphonse Bishop, Father Sullivan, Father Kelly, Father Donousky, Father Conway, and Father Kennedy. Father PF Donahue served at St. Canera for many years.

In 1902, Father Alphonse Bishop arrived in Neosho. During his time as pastor, the original rectory was built but the debt incurred ($600) remained after he was reassigned to haunt other pastors for several years.

After Camp Crowder, an Army signal corps training camp, opened in late 1941, the number of Catholics increased. Although a Catholic chaplain (Father Walter Mc Grane) was stationed at Crowder, many soldiers came into Neosho to find the Catholic Church. After World War II ended, the present church was built in 1950 to replace the old frame structure. In 1956, a new diocese was created and St. Canera became part of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese which marked the 50th anniversary in 2006.

Today St. Canera parish fulfills the spiritual needs of a growing number of Catholics in Southwest Missouri; many are Hispanic. A mission church in Noel, Missouri is also served by the present pastor of St. Canera Catholic Church.