Key site in the history of the Congregation of the Mission in the US – Listed in National Register of Historic Places April 12, 1982
The story of the Catholic faith in Cape Girardeau began in 1821 when priest began to make periodic visits to settlers in the area. By 1833 the church had secured the land where Old St. Vincent’s stands today. By 1836 the town had its first resident priest, Reverend John Odin.
In April, 1838, the cornerstone for the church building was laid on the site by Bishop Rosati of St. Louis. Though this first church was of substantial stone construction, it was destroyed by a tornado in 1850. The present church was constructed over the foundation of the old church in 1853.
