St. Engelbert
by Sister Carol Marie Wildt, SSND

In the 1800s, the undeveloped area northeast of the city of St. Louis consisted mostly of woods and fields and the German inhabitants engaged in truck or dairy farming. The Catholics in this area attended services at Our Lady of Perpetual Help or Holy Cross in Baden. For some, Calvary and Bellefontaine cemeteries cut them off from Holy Cross Church; roads were bad; transportation was poor; and they were seriously hindered from attending Mass and receiving the sacraments. Several staunch Catholics formed a committee to propose the foundation of a German parish south of the cemeteries. Archbishop Kenrick readily gave permission and Rev. Henry Muehlsieppen, Vicar General, took a personal interest in the formation of the new parish.

In February 1891, Rev. Anthony Pauck was appointed to assume responsibility for organizing the new parish. He would become the first pastor. Six acres of land were purchased for the parish complex in early March. The first meeting of promoters and prospective parishioners met on Easter Sunday, March 30, 1891. In addition to finances, buildings, etc., the subject of the name of the parish was considered. After a lengthy discussion, those present decided upon St. Engelbert since this first meeting was held at the home of Engelbert Schaper, one of the most active promoters for the new parish.

Plans for the combination church [second floor], school [first floor], convent [basement] were approved. The cornerstone was laid on May 31, 1891, and the church dedicated on November 22, 1891. The foundation was of limestone; the church had a seating capacity of 400; the first floor contained four classrooms and two corridors.

On December 18, 1891, three SSNDs arrived at their convent home [basement of the new building]: Sister Amica Fuerst, superior and teacher of lower grades; Sister Ephiphania Koob, organist and teacher of upper grades; and Candidate Annie Boehmer, who attended to household duties. On December 22, 1891, school opened with 35 students. St. Engelbert’s was the last mission in St. Louis accepted by Mother Caroline Friess, who died in July 1892. The sisters lived in what the author of the anniversary booklet described as their “catacomb-like home” from 1891 until they moved into a new convent building in November 1909.

The parish flourished and in 1926 the cornerstone of a new church was laid. Four years later, the cornerstone was laid for a new, and greatly needed, parish school. The original church/school was torn down and the new addition to the sisters’ convent erected on the old foundation. Sisters moved into this “new home” in February 1937.

In August 1988, a day care center was opened in addition to the elementary grades. In April 1989, St. Engelbert School was chosen as one of the sites for the FOCUS program [Federation of Catholic Urban Schools]. A question arose as to where the day care center would move, since all the rooms in the school building were needed for the elementary grades. The convent was a possibility. A new [lay] principal was appointed by the Interim Board of FOCUS and the decision was made that the convent would be renovated for the day care center. By June 19, 1989, the eight sisters living in the convent had received other assignments for living or ministry and moved out of the convent so it could be readied for the day care center opening in August.

More than 220 SSNDs ministered at St. Engelbert during the 98 years they served there. Several sisters also ministered there from 1993-2002. In 1994, the parish merged with Most Holy Rosary and was renamed St. Elizabeth–Mother of John the Baptist. Another consolidation occurred in 2003 when St. Engelbert School and Bishop Healy School merged to become St. Louis Catholic Academy.

[Sources: Chronicle of St. Engelbert; St. Engelbert’s Golden Jubilee, 1891-1941; St. Louis Review, December 1994; April 2003.]

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