In 1817, the Catholic settlers learned that the new Bishop of Louisiana intended to establish a diocese in St. Louis.

In March 1817, the bishop arrived in The Barrens and, being impressed by the prospects, arranged for the Vincentian priests which he had recruited in Italy to move from Kentucky to Perry County, Missouri.

Desire for a more permanent structure led to plans for a new church, with the foundation stone being laid in 1827.

In the early 1960s a new site was selected for the construction of a new church, which was to be named in honor of St. Vincent de Paul.

Boniface., when the Precious Blood Sisters, a German Catholic female order opened a school for these children in 1887.

Later the Ursulines, another female order, replaced the Precious Blood Sisters and opened a boarding school for the girls of St. Boniface Parish.

In 1907, four Daughters of Charity arrived from Emmitsburg, Maryland, to teach at St. Vincent's, and remained for about 90 years.

Kindergarten through sixth grade were housed in the a new primary building, now called St. Vincent Elementary School.