About Church of the Annunziata · Saint Louis, Missouri
The Church of the Annunziata is a Catholic parish in the Ladue neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 1929 and housed since 1953 in a Romanesque-style sanctuary on Clayton Road, the parish is led today by Monsignor John B. Shamleffer with the assistance of Deacon Thomas J. Gottlieb and Pastor Emeritus Monsignor John J. Leykam. Annunziata is named for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and serves as a Eucharistic, devotional, and charitable community for the surrounding Ladue and west-St.-Louis-County area.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Reverend Monsignor John B. Shamleffer, JCL, MCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Northern Vicariate)
Why belong here
Annunziata offers daily and weekend Mass with a robust traditional schedule (seven morning weekday Masses plus Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses), regular Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays and Thursdays, confession on Saturdays and during Advent/Lent, and a network of active ministries rooted in service — including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Friends of Birthright, the Fleur-de-lis effort, and PSR (Parish School of Religion) for faith formation of children. Set on Clayton Road in Ladue and led by Monsignor Shamleffer, it is a prayerful, family-oriented parish in communion with the Archbishop of St. Louis.
Mass times at Church of the Annunziata
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm
- Last Sunday 10:00 am and 12:00 pm
- Sundays in Lent 10:00 am and 12:00 pm
- Sundays in Advent 10:00 am and 12:00 pm
Adoration times
- Monday 7:30 am — Eucharistic Adoration
- Thursday 1:00 pm — Eucharistic Adoration
About the Parish
The Church of the Annunziata is a Catholic community in communion with the Bishop of Rome and the Archbishop of St. Louis. According to its own mission statement, the faithful of the parish are 'called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be His Church and live His Gospel,' striving to fulfill their baptismal calling through prayer and worship, teaching and sharing the faith, serving others, and fostering unity. Guided by the Holy Spirit and through the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, and St. Joseph, parishioners commit themselves to stewardship of all God's gifts.
- Mission rooted in the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Located in Ladue, an inner-ring suburb of western St. Louis County
History of Annunziata Parish
The parish was founded in 1929 when Father Charleville Benoist Faris was named its first pastor, at a time when many families were building homes in the Village of Ladue. A 1907 house on the corner of Clayton and Cella Roads was purchased and converted — Depression-era poverty made a new church impossible, so the first-floor library became the chapel for the next 24 years. Building plans were announced in 1945, ground was broken in August 1950, and the Romanesque-style sanctuary was dedicated in 1953. A parish school followed three years later, staffed by the Sisters of Divine Providence. Msgr. Faris died in 1963 after 34 years of service and was succeeded by Msgr. James R. Hartnett, who led the parish for 24 years, oversaw major facility upgrades, built the convent (later converted to the rectory in 1973), closed the school in 1979, and inspired the founding of Fleur-de-lis, Friends of Birthright, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Annunziata. Msgr. Robert M. Krawinkel became the third pastor in 1987, with Monsignor John J. Leykam later serving as Pastor Emeritus, and the parish is today led by Monsignor John B. Shamleffer.
- 1929 — Parish founded; Fr. Charleville Benoist Faris named first pastor
- 1929–1953 — 1907 house used as chapel/rectory for 24 years
- 1945 — Plans announced for a permanent church
- 1950 — Ground broken (August)
- 1953 — Romanesque-style sanctuary dedicated (cost $475,000)
- 1956 — Annunziata School construction begins (Sisters of Divine Providence staff it)
- 1963 — Msgr. Faris dies; Msgr. James R. Hartnett becomes second pastor
- 1973 — Convent converted to rectory and parish offices
- 1979 — Annunziata School closes
- 1987 — Msgr. Hartnett retires; Msgr. Robert M. Krawinkel becomes third pastor
- Today — Led by Msgr. John B. Shamleffer
Parish Staff & Clergy
Annunziata is led by Pastor Monsignor John B. Shamleffer, JCL, MCL, who can be reached at [email protected]. He is assisted by Permanent Deacon Thomas J. Gottlieb. Monsignor John J. Leykam continues in residence as Pastor Emeritus.
- Pastor — Msgr. John B. Shamleffer, JCL, MCL (314-606-4181; [email protected])
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon Thomas J. Gottlieb
- Pastor Emeritus — Msgr. John J. Leykam
- Parish phone: (314) 993-4422
Faith Formation
The parish operates a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program for the religious education of parish children. Although the parish school itself closed in 1979, religious education continues through PSR and family-based faith formation, in keeping with the parish's commitment to 'teaching and sharing our faith.'
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — registration available via the website
Outreach & Charitable Ministries
Charitable outreach is central to Annunziata's identity. Several of the ministries most closely associated with the parish — Fleur-de-lis, Friends of Birthright, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society — were launched or seeded under Msgr. James R. Hartnett's pastorate and continue in the parish's tradition of service to those in need.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Friends of Birthright
- Fleur-de-lis
- Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) participation
Architecture & Buildings
The 1953 sanctuary is described by the parish itself as 'a beautiful adaptation of a Romanesque design' and is identified by local architectural historians as French Romanesque Revival. The 1907 house that housed the parish during its first 24 years still stands on the grounds and now serves as the rectory; it features a gambrel roof with dormers. The total construction cost of the 1953 sanctuary was $475,000.
- Romanesque / French Romanesque Revival style
- Sanctuary dedicated 1953
- Cost of construction: $475,000
- Original 1907 gambrel-roofed house now serves as rectory
Visit Us — Contact & Directions
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The church is located at 9305 Clayton Road in St. Louis, Missouri 63124 (Ladue), at the corner of Clayton and Cella Roads. Inquiries and sacramental preparation requests can be made by calling (314) 993-4422.
- Address — 9305 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63124
- Phone — (314) 993-4422
- Fax — (314) 994-7877
- Office Hours — Monday–Thursday 7:30 am – 3:30 pm; Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Website — annunziata.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charleville Benoist Faris (Monsignor)1929–1963
Founding pastor; shepherded the parish through the Depression and WWII, lived in and used the 1907 house as a chapel until the church was dedicated in 1953; died in 1963 after 34 years of service.
- Rev. James R. Hartnett (Monsignor)1963–1987
Second pastor; oversaw facility improvements, built the convent for the Sisters of Divine Providence, converted it to a rectory/parish offices in 1973, closed the school in 1979; inspired parish to spearhead Fleur-de-lis, Friends of Birthright, and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Rev. Robert M. Krawinkel (Monsignor)1987–
Third pastor; succeeded Msgr. Hartnett and invited parishioners to continue the parish's spiritual tradition.
- Rev. John J. Leykam (Monsignor)predecessor to current pastor
Pastor Emeritus; listed in official Archdiocesan directory.
- Rev. John B. Shamleffer (Monsignor), JCL, MCLcurrent
Current pastor.