About Most Sacred Heart · Eureka, Missouri
Most Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Eureka, Missouri, founded in 1889 as a mission reaching out from the LaSalle Institute in Glencoe. Today it serves the Eureka area and the surrounding western St. Louis County communities from its campus at 350 E. Fourth Street, where the parish church sits alongside Most Sacred Heart School (preschool through 8th grade), a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program, and parish offices. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is currently pastored by Father Joseph (Joe) Kempf, with Father Leo Spezia assisting as a retired priest in residence and Deacon Timothy Michaelree serving as Permanent Deacon. Its motto, displayed on the parish website, is "Loved by God, we love this world."
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Kempf
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Most Sacred Heart is a long-established parish (since 1889) that combines a historic church, an attached Catholic elementary school (Pre-K through 8th grade), a Parish School of Religion for public-school families, and a real parish school community — all on one campus in downtown Eureka. Parishioners can attend multiple Sunday Masses, send their children to a Catholic school on-site, join faith-formation classes from kindergarten through Confirmation, and participate in parish traditions like the annual fish fry, with Mass and confession posted weekly and live-streamed on YouTube.
Mass times at Most Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (typically until 4:15 PM)
- Sunday 7:30 AM (before Mass)
Adoration times
- First Wednesday 8:00 AM (First Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, per Archdiocese schedule)
History of Most Sacred Heart Parish, Eureka
Most Sacred Heart Parish was founded in 1889 in Eureka, Missouri, in St. Louis County. Early sacramental records (Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, Death) begin in 1891/1892, with earlier records belonging to the LaSalle Institute in nearby Glencoe — a Christian Brothers charitable institution for orphan boys founded in 1872. The church was built on what was formerly the Claffey Farm: the farmhouse basement became the Sisters' House, a parish school was opened on the grounds, and Franciscan friars initially staffed the parish before their residence was converted into what is now the rectory and parish offices. The parish grew steadily through the 20th century and today anchors an integrated campus of church, school, and parish offices in downtown Eureka.
- Founded 1889
- Earliest parish records from 1891–1892
- Predecessor records at LaSalle Institute, Glencoe (founded 1872)
- Original site was the Claffey Farm
- Franciscan friars originally staffed the parish
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor and assisted by a retired priest in residence and permanent deacons. The pastor is the spiritual leader and chief administrator of the parish and of Most Sacred Heart School.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph (Joe) Kempf
- Retired / Senior Associate Pastor: Rev. Leo Spezia
- Permanent Deacon: Timothy Michaelree
- Additional parish deacons listed in the directory: Leo Fehner, Alan Whitson, Tom Eultgen
- PSR Director: Michele Geatley ([email protected])
Most Sacred Heart School (Preschool–8th Grade)
Most Sacred Heart Catholic School is a parish-supported Catholic elementary school serving preschool through 8th grade on the parish campus at 350 E. 4th Street. Its mission is to provide a quality Catholic education for the children of registered, active parishioners. The school offers before- and after-school care and reports a student-teacher ratio of about 14:1.
- Grades: Preschool through 8th
- Phone: (636) 938-4602
- Email: [email protected]
- Principal: Mrs. Elizabeth Hayes
- Before- and after-school care available
Parish School of Religion (PSR) / Faith Formation
For children who attend public schools, the parish runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program for Grades K-8 on the parish campus. PSR classes meet in person on Sundays (10:30–11:30 AM) and Mondays (5:30–6:30 PM) during the school year. Tuition is set per family with multi-sibling discounts, and new students must submit a Baptismal certificate.
- Grades K–8
- Sessions: Sun 10:30–11:30 AM and Mon 5:30–6:30 PM
- PSR Director: Michele Geatley
- Phone: (636) 938-9507
- Email: [email protected]
Sacraments
As a parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Most Sacred Heart prepares and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Sacramental records from the parish's earliest years (Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, Death) are preserved in the Archdiocesan Archives along with a long run of First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Death registers into the late 20th century.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders / Vocations support (parish level)
Parish Life & Traditions
The parish motto on the website — "Loved by God, we love this world" — frames a community life that centers on Sunday worship, faith formation for children, and a few long-running traditions. The annual Fish Fry is one of the most recognizable parish events, drawing the wider Eureka community to the parish grounds.
- Parish motto: "Loved by God, we love this world."
- Annual parish Fish Fry
- Live-streamed Masses via YouTube
- Parish Facebook presence (MSHEureka)
Visit, Contact, and Parish Office
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the parish address on East Fourth Street in Eureka. The school office and PSR office have separate phone lines and email addresses for enrollment and faith-formation questions.
- Address: 350 E. Fourth Street, Eureka, MO 63025
- Parish phone: (636) 938-5048
- Parish fax: (636) 938-5002
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: M–F 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- School phone: (636) 938-4602