About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Ferguson, Missouri
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is a bilingual Catholic community in Ferguson, Missouri, part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. It functions as a personal parish for the faithful of Hispanic origin or language, while warmly welcoming people of all backgrounds, and is especially known for its vibrant Spanish-language and bilingual Masses, ministries, and a culture of encounter across cultures. The parish takes its name from the 1531 apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City. Founded in 1954, the parish has long been tied to the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who originally sold the land to the Archdiocese and who staffed the parish school for decades.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, commemorated for her apparition to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, Mexico, in December 1531)
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick Hayden
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Louis)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a parish where cultures meet at the altar. If you are Hispanic, it is a personal parish where the Spanish Mass, ministries, and Quinceañera and marriage preparation are offered in your language. If you are not Hispanic, you will find a community that has deliberately built a bilingual liturgical life, an active St. Vincent de Paul food pantry serving Ferguson neighbors, social and service clubs (EMAUS Ladies, EMAUS Men, the 50+ group), a dance ministry, a parish school legacy, and parish council and finance structures that welcome new members. In short: a parish whose own mission is 'acceptance and hope.'
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 pm (Bilingual English/Spanish)
- Thursday 7:00 pm (Bilingual English/Spanish)
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 pm (Bilingual English/Spanish)
Parish Overview and Mission
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish sits at 1115 S. Florissant Road in Ferguson, in north St. Louis County, and is part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Archdiocese describes it as a personal parish for the faithful of Hispanic origin or language, where people of all backgrounds engage fully in the life of the parish, supporting Hispanic ministry throughout the archdiocese. The parish's own homepage pairs the story of the 1531 apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill with a clear invitation: 'All are welcome to share in this special ecclesial mission that unites us as a parish.' The parish mission is summed up in two words — acceptance and hope.
- Personal parish for Hispanic faithful within the Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) worship and ministry
- Mission: acceptance and hope
History of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The parish was established in 1954 with Father Francis Kelly as founding pastor. The Archdiocese of St. Louis bought the property from the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a community that has remained deeply connected to the parish's story and to the staffing of the parish school for decades. The church building and eight classrooms were completed in the autumn of 1955; the school opened that same year, despite unfinished floors and temporary heating — early challenges that helped build the parish's community spirit.
- 1954: Parish established; Father Francis Kelly becomes founding pastor
- Property purchased from the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- 1955: Church and first eight classrooms completed; school opens with temporary facilities
- 1959: Eight more classrooms added
- 1961: Convent built
- 1969: Additional Franciscan Sisters property purchased to complete the Athletic Field
- Rectory at 17 Hawkesbury Drive was formerly the convent
Clergy and Staff
The parish's clergy and staff are listed on the official website and in the Archdiocese of St. Louis parish directory. The parish secretary handles the main office line, while a dedicated Hispanic Minister and Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) supports the bilingual life of the community.
- Rev. Patrick Hayden — Pastor
- Carol Dixon — Parish Secretary (314-522-9264)
- María Lourdes Murillo — Hispanic Minister and CRE (314-522-9264, ext. 5)
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
The parish offers a bilingual schedule of Masses, with English, Spanish, and bilingual celebrations, plus regular confession and Eucharistic Adoration. Holy Days and Christmas have their own published schedules. Parishioners can also call the parish office for current bulletin information about special Holy Day schedules.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 am (English), 9:30 am (Spanish)
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm
- Weekday Masses: Mon 8 am, Tue 8:30 am & 6:30 pm (bilingual), Wed 8 am, Thu 8 am (bilingual), Fri 8 am
- Holy Days: 7:00 pm (bilingual)
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 pm (bilingual), Thursday 7:00 pm (bilingual)
- Eucharistic Adoration: Thursday 7:00 pm (bilingual)
Christmas and Holy Day Schedule
The Archdiocese of St. Louis lists the parish's Christmas and Christmas Eve schedule, with English and Spanish options to serve the bilingual community.
- Christmas Day: 8:00 am (English), 10:00 am (Spanish)
- Christmas Eve: 5:00 pm (English, Church); 6:30 pm (Spanish, Church); 11:55 pm (Spanish)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments in both English and Spanish, with preparation programs for each. Couples must contact the parish at least six months before a planned wedding, and parents are required to attend a Baptismal Preparation Class before a child's baptism.
- Baptism — English and Spanish preparation classes; call the office to register
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation — prepared through age-appropriate Spanish catechism classes (ages 6–14) and the wider religious education program
- Marriage — arrange with the priest at least six months in advance; preparation in English or Spanish
- Quinceañera — preparation and celebration coordinated through the parish office
- RCIA / RCIC — Sundays, in English and Spanish, for adults and children; culminates in initiation at Easter
Parish Organizations and Ministries
The parish maintains an extensive network of organizations and ministries, which it lists on its website under 'Organizations & Ministries.' These groups cover parish governance, Hispanic ministry, social and service clubs, faith formation, liturgical roles, music, prayer, and outreach to those in need.
- Parish Council (9 elected + 2 appointed members)
- Hispanic Leadership Committee
- Parish Finance Committee
- Liturgy Committee
Outreach and Charity
Outreach to neighbors in need is a major part of parish life. St. Vincent de Paul runs a food pantry, and the Hispanic Fund assists recent Spanish-speaking immigrants. The Bereavement Committee provides meals on the day of a funeral.
- St. Vincent de Paul — parish food pantry and utility assistance (314-286-5212); food collected the first Sunday of each month
- Hispanic Fund — addresses immediate material needs of recent Spanish-speaking immigrants
- Bereavement Committee — provides a meal on the day of the funeral for grieving families
- Pro-Life representatives
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at the parish is offered in both English and Spanish, and the parish continues to prepare children, youth, and adults for the sacraments and for adult Christian life.
- RCIA / RCIC (English and Spanish)
- Catechism Classes in Spanish (ages 6–14)
- Adult Faith Development
- Baptismal Preparation Classes (English and Spanish)
- Marriage Preparation (English and Spanish)
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical roles at Mass are filled by trained parishioners. Servers must be in 4th through 8th grade; lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and greeters are open to adult parishioners.
- Servers (4th–8th grade)
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers and Greeters
Music, Dance, and Culture
Our Lady of Guadalupe is notable for combining traditional Catholic liturgy with Mexican and Hispanic cultural expression, especially through music and folkloric dance.
- Music Ministry — organ, piano, and guitars at weekend Masses, with cantors and chorus
- Ministry of Dance Guadalupe / Ballet Folklórico — promotes Mexican culture through music, dance, and typical costumes, with the mission of acceptance and hope
Social and Service Clubs
The parish has a number of social and service clubs that bring parishioners together for prayer, fellowship, and service projects.
- EMAUS Ladies Club — first Wednesday of the month
- EMAUS Men's Club — second Wednesday of the month (service projects such as chicken dinners)
- 50+ Club — social group for parishioners age 50 and over
- Athletic Association — recreational sports for children and adults
Prayer Ministries
Several ministries center specifically on prayer, including a phone prayer network and confidential post-Mass prayer.
- Prayerline — phone-chain network lifting up the needs of the parish family
- Jonah Prayers — two parishioners pray briefly with anyone after Sunday Mass; prayers are kept confidential
- Heavenly Dusters — parishioners who keep the church clean and welcoming
Contact, Location, and Practical Information
The parish shares its contact information openly on its website, with both English and Spanish contact pages. There is no public email address listed; phone is the primary way to reach the office. The parish office encourages joining the parish email group by calling the office.
- Address: 1115 S. Florissant Rd, Ferguson, MO 63121
- Parish phone: 314-522-9264
- Parish fax: 314-522-8461
- Hispanic Minister extension: ext. 5
- Gateway Metro Credit Union: 314-621-4575
- To receive frequent parish email updates, call the parish office
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The parish takes its name from the famous Marian apparition. According to the parish's own website, on December 12, 1531, the Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. When the Bishop of Mexico City asked for a sign, Juan Diego was told to bring the bishop roses that were blooming in winter. When he opened his tilma to show the flowers, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted on his cloak. The original image is venerated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
- December 12, 1531: Apparition to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill
- Sign: Castilian roses blooming in winter
- Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously imprinted on Juan Diego's tilma
- Original image venerated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Kelly1954 (founding)
Founding pastor; established the parish and oversaw the construction of the church and school.
- Father Ralph Zimmer
Listed in the parish's succession of pastors.
- Father John Geoghegan
Listed in the parish's succession of pastors.
- Father John Klocker
Listed in the parish's succession of pastors.
- Father Jack Schuler
Listed in the parish's succession of pastors.
- Father Jim Foster
Listed in the parish's succession of pastors.
- Father John-Paul Hopping
Listed in the parish's succession of pastors.
- Father Eric Olsen
Preceded the current pastor.
- Father Patrick Hayden
Current pastor.