History

The city of Troy in Lincoln County is on Highway 47, fifty miles northwest of St. Louis, and is one of the most picturesque and fertile spots in the state of Missouri. This city was surveyed and laid out September 6,1819. The original town contained 200 lots. In 1830, Troy consisted of two general stores, two hatter shops, two tailor shops, two blacksmiths, a tannery, a brick hotel, a post office, a jeweler, a corn mill and a distillery. The last two were here only a short time. The Presbyterians and Christians both had church organizations at that time but no church building.

Six Catholic families from Czechoslovakia moved to the United States in the year 1848, and settled six miles northwest of Troy, Missouri. The land was a good location for farming and after the year 1850 more and more immigrants moved in until there were about thirty families. Twelve of these settled around Millwood, Missouri, but they came to Mashek to attend church services on Sunday in a private home. The Millwood pastor would come six times a year to say Mass for these Bohemian people. In the year 1864, after the Civil War, they built a little frame church (St. Mary's)in the Mashek area and Rev. Joseph Hessoun of St. Louis, Missouri came once a year to preach and have services. As the parish grew larger, Rev. Father Hessoun or his Chaplains would come twice, sometimes four times a year, to render services to these families.

In 1874, the Catholic Congregation of Troy was organized as a mission by Rev. Thomas Cleary, then pastor of Millwood, MO. The first church building in Troy was purchased in that same year from the Troy School Trustees who had obtained the building from the Presbyterian Church.

At stated intervals Father Cleary came over from Millwood to minister to the spiritual needs of his little flock in Troy. Later on, when the number of communicants increased, a priest would come from St. Charles once a month on specified Sundays, and religious services were held in this building.Various priests ministered to the parishioners until1891 when Rev. E. J. Lemkes was appointed the first resident Catholic priest of Troy, Missouri. After several months, he was succeeded by Rev. Phil Carroll.

After Father Carroll, there was a succession of pastors assigned to the Mission Church. Then in 1903, Reverend L. F. Schlathoelter was appointed to serve the Parish. It was during his pastorate that the cornerstone for a church was laid in 1906.