Demolition Begins at Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) — Crews began demolishing Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Monday, bringing down a building that has served generations of Jackson families for more than 60 years.

Parish leaders say the demolition marks the beginning of a new chapter as the growing congregation prepares to move into a larger church.

“It’s a very exciting time,” Deacon Al Stoverink said. “I know there’s a lot of mixed feelings that people have seeing the old come down, but life is full of new steps on the journey, and we’re very blessed that God has blessed us with this opportunity.”

The church dedicated the building on Aug. 15, 1962. Since then, thousands of families have gathered there for Mass, sacraments and community events.

For Stoverink, the transition is personal.

He attended the final First Communion class in the parish’s previous church. He later joined the first confirmation class in the current church after it opened.

“It’s been central to the lives of so many people,” Stoverink said. “It’s where people received all their sacraments. People are born into the church and into the kingdom of God here. They’re nourished through the sacraments here and able to pray together and work together in community.”

Parish leaders say growth drove the decision to build a new church.

Attendance increased over the years, and the church struggled to keep up with demand. During some Masses, parish leaders placed chairs in the aisles to create additional seating. The parish also moved Christmas Eve services to the gym because the church could not accommodate everyone who attended.

Church leaders also cited accessibility issues, limited parking and the building’s age.

“The main factor was space,” Stoverink said. “There are many, many Masses when we have to put chairs out in the aisles and we have to do our Christmas Eve Mass over in the gym.”

Parish leaders began planning the new church campus in the late 1990s. They expected continued growth and recognized limitations within the existing building.

Stoverink said the church would have needed millions of dollars in renovations. Even then, the building still would not have provided enough space for the future.

Parish leaders believe the new church will better serve current members and future generations.

“I really see it as a draw for the larger community of Jackson and for the Catholic Church here in Jackson,” Stoverink said. “I think with the space, with the type of design, with the beauty that’s going to be within this structure and God’s presence there, that it will draw people into that relationship with God.”

As crews continue demolition, Stoverink hopes people remember the moments that took place inside the church.

“I hope people will remember the holy moments,” he said. “I hope they will remember the times they were here for Mass, the times they were able to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, and the times they were able to be part of a sacrament of baptism or matrimony.”

TO LEARN MORE VISIT: Building_Our_Church.com

A History of Immaculate Conception Parish

Immaculate Conception Parish traces its history in Jackson back more than 175 years.

Father Joseph Timon, a Vincentian missionary from Perryville, celebrated the first Catholic Mass in Jackson in 1850. He held the service in the basement of the courthouse.

Church leaders purchased property in 1854 and built the first church. They dedicated it to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Priests from St. Vincent’s College celebrated Mass there once each month.

The mission became a parish in 1874. Father Rheingold served as its first pastor.

The congregation continued to grow throughout the 20th century. Church leaders determined they needed a larger building and dedicated the current church and rectory on Aug. 15, 1962.

The parish also built a strong tradition of Catholic education.

Ursuline Sisters directed the parish school from 1880 to 1913. A lay teacher later taught students in a one-room school from 1922 to 1927. The parish reopened its school in 1943 with help from the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

The parish added four classrooms and a multipurpose room in 1970 to accommodate growth. It added kindergarten in 1988 and dedicated a new education building in 2002.

Over the years, parish members supported numerous ministries and organizations, including RCIA, Vacation Bible School, youth ministry, the Knights of Columbus, Birthright, the Jackson Ministerial Alliance and St. Ann’s Sodality.

A tornado struck Jackson on May 6, 2003. The storm damaged the parish’s new educational facility and destroyed much of the old school building and gymnasium. Parish members worked together to rebuild after the storm.

Community Support

Stoverink credited parish members, volunteers and donors for helping make the project possible.

He thanked people both inside and outside the parish who contributed financially to the new church.

Stoverink also highlighted the efforts of approximately 60 volunteers who helped move the congregation from the church into the parish center.

“We had 60 people show up, and we were able to make that move in half a day,” Stoverink said. “That was just miraculous.”

He also thanked Father Randolph Tochtrop, diocesan leadership and community volunteers for their support throughout the project.

“I can’t say enough thank you to all the people who volunteer, all the people who have contributed money and to the leadership of our pastor, Father Randolph Tochtrop,” Stoverink said. “None of it would happen without all of those people.”