About Christ, Prince of Peace · Manchester, Missouri
Christ, Prince of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Manchester, Missouri, in St. Louis County, belonging to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 1971 to serve the growing Catholic population in western St. Louis County, the parish describes itself as "a welcoming, family-friendly community of believers, who find peace in God's presence and joyfully express the Catholic faith through sacramental worship, formation and education, Christian fellowship and social outreach." Its mission statement reads: "Nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we imitate Christ, the Prince of Peace, through unconditional love and service to others." The parish runs an attached K-8 day school (Christ, Prince of Peace School) and a wide network of ministries including St. Vincent de Paul, a Peace & Justice Ministry, Faith Formation, and a long-running Sandwich Ministry.
- Established
- 1971
- Patron
- Christ, Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ, in His title as 'Prince of Peace' from Isaiah 9:6)
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher J. Dunlap
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Christ, Prince of Peace is a family-oriented parish rooted in the Eucharist and built around the idea of growing together as disciples. It offers three Sunday Masses plus a full daily Mass schedule, Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction on Tuesdays and First Fridays, and a Saturday Vigil live-streamed on YouTube. A robust Faith Formation program supports every stage of life — children's First Communion preparation, an 8th-grade Confirmation program with mystagogia, and ongoing adult formation — while Christ, Prince of Peace School provides an award-winning Catholic education on the same campus. Outreach is lived out concretely through the St. Vincent de Paul Conference, a Sandwich Ministry providing over 1,000 sandwiches a month to local food pantries, and a Peace & Justice Ministry working on racial harmony, immigration, and Catholic social teaching.
Mass times at Christ, Prince of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment with the Parish Office)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:45 AM – 6:30 PM (following 8:00 AM Mass, with Benediction at 6:30 PM)
- First Friday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (following 8:00 AM Mass, with Benediction at 9:30 AM)
Our Parish
Christ, Prince of Peace Parish describes itself as 'a welcoming, family-friendly community of believers, who find peace in God's presence and joyfully express the Catholic faith through sacramental worship, formation and education, Christian fellowship and social outreach.' Pastor Rev. Christopher J. Dunlap invites parishioners and visitors to connect with the ministries of the parish community, and assures them that the parish staff is always available to assist with personal or family needs. The parish mission, published on the Archdiocesan page, reads: 'Nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we imitate Christ, the Prince of Peace, through unconditional love and service to others.'
- Mission: 'Nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we imitate Christ, the Prince of Peace, through unconditional love and service to others.'
- Pastor: Rev. Christopher J. Dunlap
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Gerson Parra
- Permanent Deacons: Patrick Belding and Robert Nack
- Located in Manchester, MO, in the Archdiocese of St. Louis
History of Christ, Prince of Peace
Cardinal Joseph Ritter acquired the 10.4-acre Weidman Road site in 1959 in anticipation of growth in western St. Louis County. By 1971 the population had outgrown St. Joseph Parish in Manchester, and Cardinal John Carberry formally erected Christ, Prince of Peace that June, appointing Rev. Vincent A. Stolzer as founding pastor. The parish began worshipping at JFK High School, broke ground for its own church in March 1971, and dedicated the completed church in December 1973. The parish grade school followed in 1979, with a major addition in 1988. The 1996 25th anniversary brought together former pastors and parishioners for a Homecoming Mass with Archbishop Justin Rigali.
- 1959 — Cardinal Ritter purchases 10.4 acres on Weidman Road from the Wissman estate
- June 1971 — Parish formally established by Cardinal Carberry; Fr. Vincent A. Stolzer named founding pastor
- September 11-12, 1971 — Parish opens; Masses celebrated at JFK High School
- March 19, 1971 — Groundbreaking for the new church (Msgr. Joseph M. O'Toole officiating)
- December 15, 1973 — First Mass offered in the completed church (5:00 PM Saturday Vigil)
- 1977 — Preliminary plans for the parish grade school
- September 24, 1978 — Groundbreaking for Christ, Prince of Peace School
- August 1979 — School opens
- 1988 — School addition groundbreaking
- September 15, 1996 — 25th Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Justin Rigali
Sacraments
The parish website offers detailed pages on each of the seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation for children is coordinated by Mrs. Andrea Bonsanti, Director of Family Faith Formation. Marriage preparation must be initiated at least six months in advance per the Bishops of Missouri policy, with the FOCUS survey and pre-marriage programs required. Reconciliation is available every Saturday afternoon or by appointment.
- Baptism — registration and sponsor verification forms online
- First Communion — typically 2nd grade, celebrated April or May
- Confirmation — one-year 8th-grade program with mystagogia
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement with the Parish Office
- Marriage — 6-month notice, FOCUS survey, pre-marriage programs
- Holy Orders — vocation discernment via Parish Office
Faith Formation
Faith formation at Christ, Prince of Peace is described as 'a vital aspect of the spiritual journey for Catholics… a lifelong process that begins in childhood, progresses through adolescence, and remains essential throughout adulthood.' The Director of Family Faith Formation, Mrs. Andrea Bonsanti, oversees programs that engage parishioners in prayer, the sacraments, and spiritual practices so they can encounter the living Christ and grow as missionary disciples.
- Director of Family Faith Formation: Mrs. Andrea Bonsanti (ext. 313)
- Family Faith Formation for children and families
- First Communion preparation (2nd grade)
- Confirmation preparation (8th grade, with mystagogia)
- Adult faith formation and spiritual direction available
Christ, Prince of Peace School
Christ, Prince of Peace School is the parish's K-8 day school, located at 417 Weidman Road directly next to the parish. Founded in 1979 (eight years after the parish itself), it serves about 221 students ages 3 through grade 8 with strong student-teacher ratios (10:1 in the Early Childhood Center, 11:1 in K-8, 18:1 classroom ratio K-8). The school offers Early Learning Centers for 3- and 4-year-olds, full-day Kindergarten through 8th grade, and Specials in Computer/IT, Physical Education, Music, Art, Library Science, STEM, Spanish, and Band. Faculty members Joan Patton and Christy Ambrose have received the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, and the school has produced West Newsmagazine 'Teacher of the Year' honorees.
- Principal: Mrs. Cindy Fichter (636-394-6840 x 102)
- Address: 417 Weidman Road, Manchester, MO 63011
- Website: https://cpopschool.com
- Grades: Early Learning Center (3 & 4) through 8th grade
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 in K-8; 10:1 in Early Childhood Center
- Specials: Computer/IT, PE, Music, Art, Library Science, STEM, Spanish, Band
- School Counselor: Mrs. Katie Tamborski
- Learning Center / Student Resource staff supporting diverse learners
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Christopher J. Dunlap, with Associate Pastor Fr. Gerson Parra and Permanent Deacons Patrick Belding and Robert Nack. The lay staff team directs Family Faith Formation, Liturgy and Music, and Communications & Evangelization, supported by an Administrative Assistant and the parish school principal. The staff page also features Ms. Piper Dunlap, listed as 'The Parish Dog.'
- Rev. Christopher J. Dunlap — Pastor (ext. 308)
- Fr. Gerson Parra — Associate Pastor (ext. 309)
- Deacon Patrick Belding — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Robert Nack — Permanent Deacon
- Mrs. Andrea Bonsanti — Director of Family Faith Formation (ext. 313)
- Mr. Dominic Richards — Director of Liturgy and Music (ext. 315)
- Mrs. Fernanda Thurmond — Director of Communications & Evangelization (ext. 317)
- Mrs. Nancy Zoia — Administrative Assistant (ext. 307)
- Mrs. Cindy Fichter — Day School Principal (636-394-6840 x 102)
- Ms. Piper Dunlap — The Parish Dog
St. Vincent de Paul Society
The Christ, Prince of Peace St. Vincent de Paul Conference is dedicated to 'answering the Gospel call to serve the poor, suffering, and marginalized.' The conference organizes Home Visits, Adopt-a-Family at Christmas, support for St. Anthony's Food Pantry, Blessing Bags for the Homeless distributed at the Old Cathedral, monthly Donut Sunday fellowship, and Heat Up St. Louis volunteering. The group's three pillars are Spirituality, Friendship, and Service.
- Home Visits to families in need
- Adopt-a-Family at Christmas
- St. Anthony's Food Pantry support
- Blessing Bags for the Homeless (Old Cathedral)
- Donut Sunday fellowship after Mass
- Heat Up St. Louis volunteer events
- Contact: Tom Mueller ([email protected])
Peace & Justice Ministry
Working with the Archdiocesan Peace and Justice Commission, the parish's Peace & Justice Ministry helps parishioners put Catholic social teaching into action. Initial focus areas have been racial harmony — exploring inequities in housing, banking, and generational wealth — and immigration, including a screening of the film Cabrini and collections for Welcome STL. The ministry continues to provide programs grounded in the principles of Catholic social teaching.
- Racial Harmony program (housing, banking, generational wealth)
- Immigration focus (Cabrini film screening, Welcome STL support)
- Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching themes: sacredness of life, human rights, option for the poor, solidarity, stewardship of creation
- Contacts: Cathy Gilbert (314-922-8367), Mary Hastings (314-853-8556)
Sandwich Ministry
Since June 2014, the parish Sandwich Ministry has mobilized volunteers and schoolchildren to make more than 1,000 sandwiches a month for distribution to local food pantries. Parishioners commit to making one or more loaves of sandwiches once a month, dropping them in the refrigerator in the church basement, where volunteers pack and deliver them on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.
- Begun June 2014
- 1,000+ sandwiches per month
- Beneficiaries: St. Anthony's Food Pantry, Fr. Bryon's Caritas Connection, Fr. Bob's Outreach, Circle of Concern
- Volunteers drop off on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
- Contacts: Bev Young (636-227-4070), Pat Ackerman (314-965-5084)
Contact & Visit
The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM to noon. Visitors can reach the parish by phone, fax, or in person, and the parish school has its own entrance and office on Weidman Road. Live-streamed Masses on YouTube and active social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter) extend the parish's reach beyond Manchester.
- Parish Office: 415 Weidman Road, Manchester, MO 63011
- Phone: (636) 391-1307 | Fax: (636) 391-1319
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM – Noon
- School Office: 417 Weidman Road, Manchester, MO 63011 | (636) 394-6840
- Archdiocesan parish boundary map available on archstl.org
- Saturday Vigil Mass live-streamed on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincent A. Stolzer1971 – c. 1985 (14 years)
Founding pastor; appointed by Cardinal Carberry in June 1971. Oversaw groundbreaking (March 1971), parish opening at JFK High School (Sept 1971), completion of the church (Dec 1973) and the opening of the school (1979).
- Father Scheid
A former pastor of Christ, Prince of Peace, remembered at the 1996 25th anniversary; the Princely Players reprised their first production in his memory.
- Father Joe Wormek
Celebrated the 20th Jubilee of his priesthood at the parish's 25th anniversary in 1996.
- Fr. Bob Corbett
Marked 45 years as a priest at the 1996 25th anniversary celebration.