About Mary Queen of Peace · Webster Groves, Missouri
Mary Queen of Peace Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 1921 by Archbishop John J. Glennon and first staffed by the Reverend Michael Collins in 1922, the parish grew from 15 families in a 49-by-50-foot frame church to a thriving community served by a parish school and an active calendar of ministries. Today, under Very Reverend Craig Holway V.F., the parish community lives out its mission of being "Closer to Christ by Loving and Serving as Missionary Disciples" through daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for all ages, the parish school, and a wide network of lay ministries including men's and women's groups, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, youth and family programs, and outreach partners like Bridge Bread.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Peace
- Rector
- Very Reverend Craig Holway V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Louis)
Why belong here
Mary Queen of Peace is a century-old parish with deep roots in the Webster Groves community, an active parish school, and a vibrant sacramental life. Worship is offered several times a day — including a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on the 1st and 3rd Mondays with Benediction, and Saturday confessions — making it easy to build prayer into a busy week. Parishioners of every age and stage can find a place: faith formation runs from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and PSR/WFC through the parish school, RCIA, Vacation Bible School, and adult retreats; men's and women's groups like Exodus 90, Beloved 90, ACTS, and the Women's League foster fellowship; and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul food drive, Bridge Bread, and the Respect Life Apostolate keeps the parish looking outward. Under Fr. Craig Holway's High Call to Mission Initiative, every parishioner is invited to be a "missionary disciple."
Mass times at Mary Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- 1st & 3rd Monday, 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM, with Benediction at 9:00 PM
About Mary Queen of Peace Parish
Mary Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Webster Groves, Missouri, within the Archdiocese of St. Louis, dedicated to being "Closer to Christ by Loving and Serving as Missionary Disciples." From its founding in 1921 with 15 families to its present-day life as a community of daily Mass, a parish school, faith formation for all ages, and dozens of lay ministries, the parish's identity has been shaped by a century of faithful Catholic life in suburban St. Louis. The parish is staffed by a pastor, a senior associate priest, a retired priest, and two permanent deacons.
- Archdiocese of St. Louis parish
- Founded 1921
- Mission: 'Closer to Christ by Loving and Serving as Missionary Disciples'
Parish History
On September 25, 1921, Archbishop John J. Glennon decreed the creation of a new parish in Glendale dedicated to Mary, Queen of Peace. The first pastor, Rev. Michael Collins, arrived in 1922 and built a small frame church on Beverly Avenue for 15 families. A 1933 fire destroyed that church; in 1935 a stone Gothic church was built on the same site — it still stands as St. John's Serbian Orthodox Church. Under Msgr. Joseph O'Toole (1946–1976), the parish school opened in 1948 and the present church and rectory were completed in 1955, with school enrollment reaching 1,100 by 1956. The parish continues to grow despite a built-out neighborhood, with near-record infant baptisms and steady enrollment.
- 1921 – Parish decreed by Archbishop Glennon
- 1922 – Fr. Michael Collins arrives; original frame church built for 15 families
- 1933 – Frame church destroyed by fire
- 1935 – Stone Gothic church built on Beverly Avenue (now St. John's Serbian Orthodox)
- 1944 – Kindergarten opened with the Sisters of Loretto
- 1948 – Parish school opened
- 1955 – Present church and rectory completed
- 1956 – School enrollment peaks at 1,100 (2nd largest in the Archdiocese)
- 1963 – Convent built on western parish grounds
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Very Reverend Craig Holway V.F., supported by Senior Associate Rev. Tim Cook, Retired Rev. Kenneth Brown, and Permanent Deacons Thomas Mulvihill and Joseph Wientge. Pastoral and office staff — including a Pastoral Associate — coordinate faith formation, music, outreach, and parish operations, as listed on the parish website's Parish Staff page.
- Rev. Craig Holway – Pastor
- Rev. Tim Cook – Senior Associate
- Rev. Kenneth Brown – Retired
- Deacon Thomas Mulvihill – Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Joseph Wientge – Permanent Deacon
Parish School
Mary Queen of Peace has operated a parish school since 1948. Once the second-largest elementary school in the Archdiocese of St. Louis (1,100 students in 1956), it has continued to serve families through full-time and part-time programs. The school is currently engaged in the Archdiocesan School Improvement Process to enrich its education apostolate. Wednesday 8:15 AM All-School Mass is a regular part of school life.
- School founded 1948
- Wednesday 8:15 AM All-School Mass
- Archdiocesan School Improvement Process underway
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Mary Queen of Peace spans cradle to grave. The youngest children encounter the Lord through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; school-age children and their families are served through PSR/WFC (Parish School of Religion / Whole Family Catechesis), Vacation Bible School, and sacramental preparation; teens continue through Confirmation preparation; adults can join RCIA, the Formed subscription, men's and women's discipleship programs, retreats, ACTS, and the Exodus 90 / Beloved 90 cohorts. The parish also offers Protecting God's Children / Prevent and Protect compliance for volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- PSR / WFC (Parish School of Religion / Whole Family Catechesis)
- Vacation Bible School
- RCIA
- Adult Faith Formation, Retreats, White House Retreats
- ACTS, Exodus 90 (men), Beloved 90 (women)
- Formed subscription
- Protecting God's Children / Prevent and Protect
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music and liturgical service are central to parish life. Children's and Adult Choirs support parish liturgies, and the parish maintains a pipe organ with published organ specifications on its website. Liturgical lay ministries include Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, the Liturgy Committee, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and the Altar Society.
- Children's Choirs
- Adult Choirs
- Pipe Organ with published specifications
- Altar Servers
- Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Liturgy Committee
- Altar Society
Outreach, Charity & Parish Life
The parish's outreach mission is carried out by groups including the St. Vincent de Paul Society (which runs a monthly food drive), Bridge Bread, the Respect Life Apostolate, the Athletic Association, the Men's Club, the Women's League, and the Young Families Ministry. The parish also participates in the Archdiocese's 'All Things New' pastoral planning initiative.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) – Monthly Food Drive
- Bridge Bread
- Respect Life Apostolate
- Men's Club
- Women's League
- Young Families Ministry (birth – age 5)
- Athletic Association
- All Things New (Archdiocesan initiative)
Sacraments
Mary Queen of Peace celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. The parish website has dedicated pages for Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders, in addition to a page on Eucharistic Adoration. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish office to begin preparation.
- Baptism
- Holy Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Eucharistic Adoration
Stewardship & Giving
Parishioners can support Mary Queen of Peace through Online Giving, RaiseRight (gift card fundraising), the MQP Athletic Association, and contributions to the Stewardship Committee and Finance Council. The parish hosts events like 'Flock the Block' to support parish initiatives such as scholarships.
- Online Giving
- RaiseRight (gift cards)
- Stewardship Committee
- Finance Council
- MQP Athletic Association
- Flock the Block fundraiser
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 676 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119, by phone at (314) 962-2311, or by email at [email protected]. The parish's full schedule of Masses, Confession, and Adoration is available at www.mqpwg.org/mass-times, with live updates on the parish calendar and Sunday bulletin.
- Address: 676 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119
- Phone: (314) 962-2311
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.mqpwg.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Michael D. Collins1922–1939
Founding pastor; sent from a parish in Jacksonville, MO; built the original 49x50 frame church on Beverly Avenue for 15 families.
- Reverend Sylvester I. Tucker1939–1946
Arranged with the Sisters of Loretto to open a kindergarten in 1944.
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph M. O'Toole1946–1976
30-year pastor; oversaw construction of the current school (1948) and the present church and rectory (1955).
- Rev. Msgr. Jasper J. Chiodini1976–1985
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Woracek1985–1997
- Rev. Gerald A. Meier1997–2010
- Rev. Robert J. Reiker2010–2015
- Rev. John R. Vien2015–2021
- Rev. Craig Holway2021–
Current pastor; leading the High Call to Mission Initiative.