This afternoon, March 16th, at 4:30 I received an e-mail from Archbishop Robert Carlson. The Archbishop states that “in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, I am mandating the suspension of all public Masses in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Pending updates and guidance from local and state government and health officials, we have preliminary plans to resume Masses beginning April 6th; however, we will re-evaluate at a later date.”

Please know our Church will be open for individuals to come for personal prayer and devotions from 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. during weekdays, from 6:45 to 5:00 on Saturdays, and from 6:45 to Noon on Sundays. Confessions will be held at the usual time on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Our Eucharistic Chapel, next to Faris Hall, will be closed until Masses resume. Our Lenten Benediction on Wednesday evenings, Stations of the Cross on Fridays, and our Parish Lenten Mission are cancelled.

Our St. Vincent de Paul Hotline remains in operation to help those in need. The number is 314-993-8133 ext. 225. We will continue to publish a Sunday bulletin which will be online. In addition, please continue to consult this website for updated information concerning our parish.

This is a strange and challenging time, but right now, the most important thing to remember is that we are all in this together. We focus on Christ, our Savior, and pray for an end to this pandemic, through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother, we pray for all who are sick, for our Doctors, Nurses, Health Care Givers, and for wisdom and trust in the power of Almighty God. (The Prayer composed by the Bishops of our Church is included on our website.)

Yes, there is actually a St. Corona whose remains are in Northern Italy. In the ninth century, at the age of 16, St. Corona gave her life to comfort a fellow Christian. Ironically, St. Corona is considered as one of the patron saints of pandemics. Let us pray through her intercession that this pandemic subsides.

God Bless you!
Fr. John Leykam