About Immaculate Conception · Arnold, Missouri
Immaculate Conception Parish was a historic Catholic community in Arnold, Missouri, founded in 1840 to serve immigrants from Alsace, Baden, Bavaria, and the Rhineland. Its third and best-known church building was dedicated in 1895 at 2300 Church Road and served as a spiritual home for generations. In August 2023, Immaculate Conception merged with St. David Parish to form Holy Family Catholic Parish as part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ “All Things New” initiative. The 130-year-old Immaculate Conception church was closed and demolished in 2025 due to long-standing structural damage, while the parish campus continues as the Church Road campus of Holy Family Parish.
- Established
- 1840
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Monsignor Jeffrey Knight (last pastor before the 2023 merger); Rev. Gerald Blessing (pastor of successor Holy Family Catholic Parish)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offered a warm, sacramental community rooted in nearly two centuries of immigrant faith and devotion to Mary; that same spirit now continues at Holy Family Catholic Parish, which welcomes families, lifelong Catholics, and newcomers through the sacraments, faith formation, and outreach.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. at Holy Family Parish Center
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month
- Every Monday 8:40 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
History
Immaculate Conception Parish began in 1840 when Bishop Joseph Rosati established a parish for German and Alsatian immigrants settling in the Arnold area. The first small wooden church was eventually replaced, and the third church—a brick building at 2300 Church Road—was dedicated in 1895. For nearly 130 years it served as the center of Catholic life in the community before long-term water damage made the structure unsafe.
Merger and Closure
In August 2023, Immaculate Conception and St. David parishes merged to form Holy Family Catholic Parish under the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ “All Things New” initiative. In June 2025, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski issued a decree closing the Immaculate Conception church building, and demolition began later that year.
Current Status
The Immaculate Conception parish campus on Church Road remains active as part of Holy Family Catholic Parish, including the parish center, Holy Family Catholic School, and Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Weekend and weekday Masses are now celebrated at the Holy Family Parish Center and campuses.
What Parishioners Loved
- A close-knit, multi-generational parish family
- Strong sacramental life and devotional traditions
- Rich immigrant roots and 19th-century heritage
- Active cemetery and school campus that continue to serve the community
- Seamless transition to Holy Family Parish after the merger