Fr. Ferdinand Helias: “The Grandfather of all Central Missouri Catholic Parishes”
When telling the history of Central Missouri, it is impossible to leave out Father Ferdinand Helias. Fr. Helias established many Catholic parishes throughout central Missouri. His work has been influential to the state and to its residents. So who is he, and how did he earn the title, “The Grandfather of all Central Missouri Catholic Parishes?”
Ferdinand Benoit Marie Guislain Helias d’Huddeghem was born on August 3, 1796 into a noble Belgian Family. He was called to religious life, and became a Jesuit Priest.
It wasn’t until 1833 that he came to the United States, where he lived and ministered to the people in the Maryland providence. In 1835, he was assigned to the “Missouri Mission:” the Jesuits sent him to St. Louis to teach German, French, canon law, and moral theology.
Three years later, he would begin the work that he is well known for. Father Helias was assigned to a small town in Osage County named Westphalia. He brought the mass, as well as the sacraments of holy matrimony, reconciliation, confirmation, baptism, and the anointing of the sick to the German immigrant population.
By 1845, the “Apostle to Central Missouri” had established seven parishes in Westphalia, Haarville, Rich Fountain, Jefferson City, Cedron, Indian Bottom, and Loose Creek. He also began over 20 missions and visited Catholics in eleven different counties. These counties include Franklin, Gasconade, Osage, Cole, Moniteau, Cooper, Warren, Montgomery, Callaway, Boone, and Howard counties. The first parish he established was St. Joseph in Westphalia.
Father Helias served German and Irish Catholic immigrants to central Missouri. These populations were rapidly growing in this time period, becoming more and more dominant. Religion was of the utmost importance to these people. The church was the center of community and social life, as well as education and charitable organizations.
“Piety, simplicity, sobriety, loyalty to their pastors, a fondness for fine churches and impressive services, these traits, among others characterized [the German Catholic immigrant population]. Moreover, they built their own hospitals, orphan-asylums, and parish-schools.”
For example, Father Helias was the first Catholic Priest to minister to inmates of the Missouri State Penitentiary, giving hope and comfort to those sentenced to death.
With the approval from his superiors, he also adopted a young, orphaned boy whose parents had died from cholera. In his memoirs, he writes:
“The cholera has just earned off the parents of a young Belgian lad from the neighborhood of Eecloo. I am his tutor and young Pierre has become my adopted child. If God should call me away, this orphan boy would be in a sad plight He has nothing here, nor anything, I believe, to look for in Belgium. However, Deus providebit, I rely on Providence. I commend this child to your care, in the event of my death …”
And in 1844, a widespread sickness would envelop central Missourians. Although the disease was often fatal and highly contagious, Father Helias would visit his sick and dying parishioners.
“The one compensating circumstance was that it was a season of divine grace for many of the victims, who found their way back to God as the shadows of death crept upon them. Helias himself was not to escape the consequences of the great physical strain and constant exposure to infection put upon him by the exercise of his ministry at this critical time.”
Father Helias became sick with this disease, and later made a recovery. Once he recovered, he resumed his visits to the sick and dying. Again, he fell sick and it seemed as though he was on his deathbed. He entered a coma. However, one parishioner was able to administer medicine to him, and he made a second recovery. He knowingly risked his life again and again, in order to bring hope, peace, and the message of Christ to his people.
These stories are just a few of many stories that detail the compassion Father Helias had for all the people he encountered.
Father Helias’ influence is still felt today in Central Missouri. The churches he established are still here, and many of his missions later became their own parishes. The German immigrants he ministered to set down deep roots; there are many family names that are still around from the time of Father Helias. Father Helias even has a high school named for him in Jefferson City, Missouri: Helias Catholic High School. He is celebrated across the state, and is far from forgotten.
