About Little Flower · Richmond Heights, Missouri
Little Flower Catholic Church is a Eucharistic-centered parish of approximately 550 households in Richmond Heights, Missouri, in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 1925 — the very year St. Thérèse of Lisieux was canonized — it proudly counts itself among the first churches in the world named in her honor. The parish is best known for its striking round church building, dedicated in 1949 and modeled on the ancient fifth-century Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome, with the altar and tabernacle standing at the center of a complete circle of pews. Today the parish is led by Very Reverend Craig Holway as Canonical Pastor and is part of a four-parish cluster with Immaculate Conception (Maplewood), St. Luke the Evangelist (Richmond Heights), and St. James the Greater (Dogtown).
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux ("the Little Flower")
- Rector
- Very Reverend Craig Holway
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Little Flower is a diverse, mid-sized parish of about 550 households that intentionally welcomes travelers, newcomers, and lifelong Catholics alike into a community rooted in St. Thérèse's 'Little Way' of humble, loving service. Worship centers on a striking round church where the altar stands in the middle of the congregation, supported by a robust schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration every Friday, the Rosary each Saturday, and the Liturgy of the Hours each morning. A vibrant liturgical life — with lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, and gift bearers — is paired with faith formation for adults (OCIA / 'Becoming Catholic'), the St. Vincent de Paul outreach conference, and a Parish Council of twelve members guiding five commissions. As part of a cluster with Immaculate Conception, St. Luke the Evangelist, and St. James the Greater, the parish shares resources across central St. Louis County while retaining its own close-knit identity.
Mass times at Little Flower
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM (prior to the 10:30 AM Mass)
- By appointment — contact the rectory to meet with a priest
Adoration times
- Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About Little Flower Church
Little Flower is a Eucharistic-centered Catholic community of approximately 550 households located in the mid-town area of St. Louis County in Richmond Heights, Missouri. The parish mission is to deepen its members' relationship with God and with one another, to witness to and reveal Jesus Christ and His Good News, and to serve as a model of Catholic Christian community that values the diversity of backgrounds and shares the gifts of its varied members. The community is self-described as beautifully diverse — uniting old and young, married and single, people of varied races and neighborhoods.
- Approximately 550 households
- Mid-town St. Louis County location with easy access across the metro
- Twelve-member Parish Council, with members selected by lot
- Five active Commissions: Administration & Finance, Community, Christian Service, Christian Formation/Evangelization, and Liturgy
Our Patroness: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
The parish takes its name from St. Thérèse of Lisieux, popularly known as 'the Little Flower,' who described herself as one little flower among many in God's garden — a sign of her humility and her awareness of human diversity. The parish was founded in 1925, the same year she was canonized (May 17, 1925), and the community considers it a profound honor to be one of the first churches in the world to bear her name. Her 'Little Way' motto — 'Do everything — no matter how trivial or insignificant — out of the motive of love of God' — continues to guide parish life.
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux, OCD — Doctor of the Church
- Feast day: October 1
- Canonized May 17, 1925 — same year as the parish's founding
- Parish motto drawn from the 'Little Way'
A Church in the Round
The physical structure of the parish church is uniquely striking. Formally dedicated on December 18, 1949, and designed by architect Harry Hellmuth, it is built entirely in the round, with the altar standing at the very center of the building and the pews forming a complete circle around it. The design is often thought of as a futuristic predecessor to post-Vatican II churches, but it is actually ancient, based on the historic fifth-century church in Rome, Santo Stefano Rotondo. Inside, the limestone structure is arranged around a circular sanctuary ringed with Gothic arches and topped with a shallow reinforced concrete dome; exposed stone walls lend the space a serene air. The layout beautifully reflects the parish's core belief that everything about the community is tightly focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus celebrated in the Holy Eucharist.
- Architect: Harry Hellmuth
- Dedicated: December 18, 1949
- Modeled on Santo Stefano Rotondo, Rome (5th century)
- Limestone, octagonal exterior; circular interior
- New Kegg Pipe Organ completed January 26, 2021
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The parish welcomes those interested in joining the Catholic Church or completing their sacraments through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), the process formerly known as RCIA. The journey is described as a beautiful, supportive community process filled with shared Catholic teaching, prayer, Scripture study, spiritual formation, and holy rituals, leading to the Easter Vigil when catechumens and candidates are baptized, confirmed, and receive First Holy Communion.
- Stage 1 — Pre-Catechumenate (Inquiry / 'Come and See')
- Stage 2 — Catechumenate (deeper study of Jesus, the Sacraments, morality, and daily faith)
- Stage 3 — Purification and Enlightenment (during Lent)
- Stage 4 — Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Stage 5 — Mystagogia (the fifty days from Easter to Pentecost)
- Open also to baptized adults seeking Confirmation
- Email the parish office to inquire
Liturgical Ministries
Little Flower is blessed with many dedicated laypeople who help its parish celebrations flourish. Training guidelines and scheduling resources are published online for each liturgical ministry, and the parish actively invites new members to take part.
- Altar Servers — assisting the priest at the altar
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — distributing the Body and Blood of Christ
- Lectors (Readers) — proclaiming the Liturgy of the Word
- Hospitality & Ushers — welcoming, seating, and orderly worship
- Gift Bearers — presenting the bread, wine, and offerings at the Offertory (families encouraged)
- Parish Choir / Sacred Music program under Director of Music Chuck Chauvin
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond Sunday worship, Little Flower fosters community life through ongoing faith formation, hospitality, and outreach. The parish maintains a St. Vincent de Paul conference that offers assistance to those in need, and a Parish Cluster that joins it with three neighboring parishes to share resources, gifts, and talents.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — Assistance Hotline: 314-289-6101 ext. 2236
- Catholics Returning Home program
- Protecting God's Children safe-environment resources
- Parish Cluster with Immaculate Conception (Maplewood), St. Luke the Evangelist (Richmond Heights), and St. James the Greater (Dogtown)
- Weekly bulletin and newsletter mailing list
- Parish registration for new members
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a small team of clergy and lay staff who coordinate worship, music, communications, and facilities. Inquiries can be directed to the parish office, which will route them to the appropriate contact.
- Very Rev. Craig Holway — Canonical Pastor
- Rev. Lawrence Herzog — Senior Associate Pastor
- Rev. Robert (Bob) Evans — In Residence
- Deacon Allen Love — Parish Life Coordinator (314-645-1445 ext. 16)
- Chuck Chauvin — Director of Sacred Music (314-645-1445 ext. 12)
- Eric Seiffert — Communications Coordinator
- Greg Chulick — Maintenance Technician
- Jill Smith — Office Administrator
Location & Parish Boundaries
Perfectly situated in the mid-town area of St. Louis County, the campus offers convenient access to the entire metropolitan area. The parish's official boundaries extend on the north from Clayton Road to Big Bend Road; on the east from Big Bend to Folk Avenue; on the south from Folk to Laclede Station Road to West Bruno Avenue to Hanley Road; and on the west along Hanley Road, including Hanley Downs and Lake Forest.
- Address: 1264 Arch Terrace, St. Louis, MO 63117
- Located in Richmond Heights, inner west St. Louis County
- Parish boundary map and description published on the Archdiocese of St. Louis parish page
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to contact the parish office by phone or email, or to complete the online contact form on the parish website. The parish also livestreams its Masses for those who cannot attend in person, and publishes a weekly bulletin with the latest news, financial updates, and spiritual reflections.
- Phone: (314) 645-1445
- Fax: (314) 645-3258
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: littleflowerstl.org
- Instagram: @littleflowerstl
- Mass livestreams and most-recent bulletin available online