About Holy Redeemer · Webster Groves, Missouri
Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic parish in Webster Groves, Missouri, part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 1886 by forty-five families who petitioned Archbishop Kenrick, the parish has grown from a simple wooden frame church at Lockwood and Selma into a thriving community with a stone church at Lockwood and Joy Avenues, a parish school (Pre-K through 8th grade), and full faith-formation, youth, and music ministries. The parish is guided today by Parochial Administrator Fr. Freddy Devaraj and a deacon staff, and its mission statement — rooted in worship, teaching, service, and stewardship — reflects the parish's classic parish-school model of Catholic life in suburban St. Louis.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- The Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Redeemer) — the parish's official name is 'Our Holy Redeemer.'
- Rector
- Reverend Fredrick (Freddy) Devaraj — Parochial Administrator
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer offers the classic Catholic parish experience — multiple Sunday Masses (Saturday 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.) plus daily Mass, weekly confession, and a full day of Eucharistic Adoration from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning. A parish Catholic school (Pre-K through 8th grade), a faith-formation program, an OCIA (RCIA) process for adults, a vibrant youth ministry (EDGE for middle school, LifeTeen for high school) and choirs, cantors, and handbells keep the parish multigenerational. Active stewardship and service round out a community that describes itself as worship, fellowship, and community for families in Webster Groves.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (see calendar for additional times throughout the year)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM through Wednesday 6:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
Holy Redeemer's story begins in 1886, when forty-five families in the Webster Groves area petitioned Archbishop Kenrick to form a new parish. The first pastor, Rev. C. F. O'Leary, celebrated the inaugural Mass in the Lockwood schoolhouse and began construction of a frame church. He was succeeded in 1887 by Rev. Patrick J. Kane, who shouldered roughly $2,000 of debt, became sole trustee of parish property, and over the next decade acquired the parish's Lockwood–Joy Avenue grounds. The cornerstone of the present limestone church was laid in 1895 and the building dedicated in 1897. A parish school opened in the early 1900s, staffed by the Sisters of Loretto and then the Dominican Sisters of Sparkhill, and grew rapidly through the twentieth century.
The 1897 Stone Church
The parish's current church is built of Merrimac Highlands limestone, with the cornerstone laid on September 8, 1895, and the formal dedication on May 2, 1897. A larger church was constructed in the 1960s to keep pace with the parish's explosive post-war growth.
Holy Redeemer Catholic School
Holy Redeemer Catholic School has been educating children in Webster Groves continuously since the early 1900s, with the sisters of Loretto and then the Dominican Sisters of Sparkhill teaching the earliest pupils. Enrollment topped out at 964 students in 1961; today the school serves roughly 270 students from Pre-K through 8th grade in small classes with tuition assistance, welcoming children of all faiths. Major construction and renovation of the school building were completed in 2005–06.
- Founded as a parish school in 1901; new building completed September 1910 with four classrooms and a convent
- Reached 66 students in eight grades by 1907; 150 by 1916; 641 by 1951; peak of 964 in 1961
- First lay principal hired in the 1980s under Msgr. Robert Kaletta; faculty transitioned to fully lay
- Celebrated 100 years of academic excellence in 2001–02
- Building underwent major construction and renovation in 2005–06
- Address: 341 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119; 314-962-8989
Children's Liturgy of the Word
From September through May at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, volunteer catechists gather children from preschool through 1st grade in the church meeting room to hear the Word of God proclaimed from the Lectionary for Masses with Children, using creative methods tailored to young learners. The children return to the congregation after the General Intercessions. Contact Laura Welch at [email protected] to volunteer.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry is central to life at Holy Redeemer, with several ensembles serving different Masses and seasons. The parish choir sings every other weekend from September through Pentecost with a repertoire spanning Gregorian chant, Renaissance and classical motets, hymnody, and modern liturgical music; rehearsals are held Thursday evenings. Cantors serve as psalmist and song-leader and audition with the Music Director, while the handbell choir and various instrumentalists add festive color on special feast days.
- Parish Choir — sings every other weekend (typically 9:00 AM Mass) Sept–Pentecost; Thursday 7:15 PM rehearsal; high-school-age and older; music reading helpful but not required
- Cantors — psalmist/song-leader role; audition required; concurrent membership in choir encouraged
- Handbell Choir — three-octave Schulmerich handbells; rehearses Thursdays 6:15 PM; performs several times a year on feast days
- Instrumental ministry — instruments engaged throughout the year for special feasts
- Music Director: Todd Senzig, [email protected]
Faith Formation and OCIA
Holy Redeemer's Faith Formation office oversees the Parish School of Religion (PSR) and welcomes adults inquiring about the Catholic faith through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) — formerly RCIA. OCIA is open to unbaptized catechumens, baptized candidates from other traditions, and baptized Catholics seeking to complete their sacraments. After the Easter Vigil and Mystagogy, new Catholics are welcomed into the parish's many ministries and activities.
- Director of Faith Formation: Susanne Doran, [email protected], 314-962-0038
- OCIA phases: Pre-Catechumenate (inquiry), Catechumenate (formation with sponsor), Sacrament of Initiation (Easter Vigil), Mystagogy
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and Penance
Youth Ministry (EDGE and LifeTeen)
Youth Ministry at Holy Redeemer is led by Director Molly Berra and serves middle and high school teens year-round. The program opens each October with the parish's signature Luke 18 Retreat for 7th graders, led by the CORE Team of adult volunteers and high school teens. Junior high students continue in EDGE on Thursday evenings, while high schoolers meet for LifeTeen with additional events like the Steubenville conferences.
- Luke 18 Retreat — annual October retreat for incoming 7th graders, led by CORE Team and high school teens
- EDGE (junior high) — Thursdays 5:30–6:30 PM in the cafeteria during the school year
- LifeTeen (high school) — most Thursday evenings, 7:00–8:30 PM in the church meeting room
- Director of Youth Ministry: Molly Berra, [email protected], 314-962-0038
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance (Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM), Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. Expectant and new parents wishing to baptize a child must register and attend a baptismal preparation class (unless previously attended), reflecting the parish's commitment to faith formation of the whole family.
- Baptism — registration and baptismal class required; contact the Rectory
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM (see calendar for additional times)
- Eucharist — celebrated at all Mass times listed above
- Confirmation — preparation coordinated through Faith Formation office
- Matrimony — contact the Rectory to begin preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Rectory
- Holy Orders — vocations information via the Archdiocese of St. Louis
Parish Staff and Leadership
Holy Redeemer's pastoral team is led by Parochial Administrator Fr. Freddy Devaraj and supported by two permanent deacons. School Principal Linda Pahl leads the parish school, with Mary Ann Gaffney serving as school secretary. Parish operations are supported by secretary Laurie Medley, bookkeeper Carol Herber, Music Director Todd Senzig, Director of Youth Ministry Molly Berra, and Director of Faith Formation Susanne Doran.
- Father Freddy Devaraj — Pastor / Parochial Administrator; [email protected]
- Deacon Stephen Murray — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Patrick Waldschmidt — Permanent Deacon; [email protected]
- Laurie Medley — Parish Secretary; [email protected]; 314-962-0038
- Carol Herber — Parish Bookkeeper; [email protected]
- Todd Senzig — Music Director; [email protected]
- Molly Berra — Director of Youth Ministry; [email protected]
- Susanne Doran — Director of Faith Formation; [email protected]
- Linda Pahl — School Principal; [email protected]; 314-962-8989
- Mary Ann Gaffney — School Secretary; [email protected]; 314-962-8989
Visit, Office Hours, and Contact
Parish Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The parish encourages visitors to join weekend Masses (Saturday 5:00 PM; Sunday 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 AM) and notes that weekday Masses are offered Monday through Friday at 6:15 AM (and 8:15 AM September–May) — making daily Mass available for working parishioners and school families.
- Address: 17 Joy Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119
- Rectory: 314-962-0038
- School: 314-962-8989
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. C. F. O'Leary1886–1887
First pastor; appointed October 1886, celebrated first Mass in the Lockwood schoolhouse, began the frame church.
- Rev. Patrick J. Kane1887–
Succeeded O'Leary; paid off parish debt, became sole trustee, oversaw the 1897 Merrimac Highlands limestone church and the 1910 school building.