Memorial Celebration for All Things St. Aloysius

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 Submitted by Katie Delaney 

The landscape of Baring, MO, was drastically changed by the EF-2 tornado that touched down just before midnight on August 4, 2023. Senior housing apartments, houses, buildings, and businesses were destroyed or greatly damaged. Trees, bushes, and debris were spread in Baring and for miles in the surrounding community. Through some miracle, no one was killed though there were some minor injuries. 

Less than a month prior to this tornado, the landscape of Baring was changed in a different way. The St. Aloysius Catholic Church that had stood for 150 years at the corner of Second Street and Fulton Street was demolished due to being structurally unsound. It was deemed unsafe for occupancy or for further worship. The small congregation made the heartbreaking decision to demolish the structure. Parishioners and the local community emptied the church of anything that could be removed. These items were placed in the storage units that had recently been constructed in Baring. Items considered “blessed” were offered to other Catholic churches. 

St. Aloysius Church has come a long way in its history. A church building committee was formed in 1889. It was determined that there was a definite need for a church. Thus, Archbishop Peter Kenrick, the Archbishop of St. Louis, bought several lots in block 11 from the Santa Fe Town and Land Company in the new and thriving railroad community of Baring. This is where St. Aloysius Church was constructed. The church, completed in October 1893, was dedicated by Archbishop John Kain on Monday, November 13, 1893. The rectory (priest’s residence) was built on additional land that was purchased in August 1894. Parishioners helped to build both the church and the rectory. 

In April 1922, the church expanded its structure and altar to have a seating capacity of 450. In 1926, a brick veneer was added to the exterior of the church as well as stained glass windows in a Gothic style. The windows were donated by families and organizations within the church. 

The parish hall was constructed in 1940 through donated labor. The only expense was for lumber. 

In 1955, the Grotto of the Immaculate Conception was built by parishioners under the direction of Father Stephen Carew. Porous rock from New London, MO, and decorative rocks gathered by many families were used in its construction. 

In 1971-1972, a new rectory was built to replace the old one. The rectory and hall were sold in 2014 to parishioners, Terry and Teresa Flynn Hunolt. 

The church was named for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian Jesuit, who was canonized in 1725, by Pope Benedict XIII. His feast day is June 21. He is declared a patron of youth. 

A memorial celebration for all things St. Aloysius will be held on June 21, 2024, at the Baring Hall from 4PM to 6PM. Light refreshments will be provided. At 4 PM, Father Boniface will open the celebration with prayer. At 5PM, local resident, Lois Hunolt Hunziker, will present a program on the history of St. Aloysius church. Memorabilia and artifacts from the former St. Aloysius church will be available for viewing. Anyone with ties to St. Aloysius is encouraged to attend and to bring their own pictures or other memorabilia to share. 

File Photo by Echo Menges