About Our Lady Queen of Peace · House Springs, Missouri
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in House Springs, Missouri, in the northwestern part of Jefferson County, belonging to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish was formed from the 1959 merger of St. Philomena and St. Columbkille and was dedicated under its current name on July 20, 1961 by Joseph Cardinal Ritter. Today it shares a pastoral team with its sister parish, St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge, and serves Catholics across a wide swath of Jefferson County with weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children, and an active OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults seeking to enter the Church.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Peace (Our Lady, Queen of Peace)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas C. Miller
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
OLQP is a small but vibrant Catholic community serving Catholics across northwestern Jefferson County, with two Sunday Masses (8:00 and 10:00 a.m., the latter livestreamed), Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction and Vespers, and a full weekday Mass schedule shared with sister parish St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge. Families can enroll children K–8 in the Parish School of Religion, parents can bring little ones to monthly Pray and Play mornings, and adults seeking the faith — or wanting to complete their sacraments — can join OCIA (formerly RCIA). With a long history rooted in 19th-century Irish Catholic settlement and a parish mission that 'follows God's will and the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially through Sunday worship, the care of parishioners for one another, and by connecting life and faith on a regular basis,' OLQP offers a real sense of family in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:15–4:45 p.m. (or by appointment)
- Saturday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony of Padua
Adoration times
- Wednesdays following 8:00 a.m. Mass until Benediction and Vespers (approximately 8:00 p.m.)
Parish History
Our Lady Queen of Peace has deep Catholic roots in northwestern Jefferson County that stretch back to the early 1800s, when Irish Catholic settlers moved into the country between the Meramec and Big Rivers. In 1844, Bishop Kenrick — the first Archbishop of St. Louis — established St. Patrick's of Down as the area's first parish, on the Meramec River about four miles south of Pacific. As the population shifted, St. Patrick's was no longer centrally located, and on September 18, 1959 the parishes of St. Philomena and St. Columbkille were merged into a single new parish, New St. Philomena. Ground was broken for a new church on April 10, 1960, and after the Roman calendar of saints was reorganized, Joseph Cardinal Ritter dedicated the new building on July 20, 1961 under the name Our Lady Queen of Peace. Fr. James Curtin was pastor at the dedication; Fr. Thomas Woracek succeeded him in September 1961.
- 1844 — Bishop Kenrick establishes St. Patrick's of Down
- 1959 — St. Philomena and St. Columbkille merge
- April 10, 1960 — Ground broken for new church
- July 20, 1961 — Cardinal Ritter dedicates Our Lady Queen of Peace
- September 1961 — Fr. Thomas Woracek becomes pastor
- 1986 — 25th Anniversary; parish school and PSR thriving
- March 30, 2003 — Sanctuary expansion completed; seating doubled 300→600
- 2018–2019 — Parish school closes after final year
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
OLQP shares its pastoral team with sister parish St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge. Fr. Thomas C. Miller is pastor of both parishes and resides at the OLQP rectory; Fr. H. John Reiker serves as senior associate pastor of both parishes and resides at the High Ridge rectory. Two deacons — Deacon Paul Turek (Senior Deacon) and Deacon Thomas Gerling (Permanent Deacon) — assist with liturgy and parish life. The staff includes a Music Director (Caroline Sparks), Assistant Music Directors (Jayne Beck and Judi Oliver), PSR Coordinator (Terry Ostlund), Youth Minister (James Bolte), Business Manager (Christopher Soer), and Communications Coordinator (Joshua Carbone).
- Fr. Thomas C. Miller — Pastor (2023–Present)
- Fr. H. John Reiker — Senior Associate Pastor
- Deacon Paul Turek — Senior Deacon
- Deacon Thomas Gerling — Permanent Deacon
- Caroline Sparks — Music Director
- Jayne Beck & Judi Oliver — Assistant Music Directors
- Terry Ostlund — PSR Coordinator ([email protected], 314-566-8363)
- James Bolte — Youth Minister
- Christopher Soer — Business Manager
- Joshua Carbone — Communications Coordinator ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
OLQP supports parents as the primary faith educators of their children through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), a Catholic education program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Classes meet on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. during the school year and combine religious instruction with sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation (December), First Communion (spring) and Confirmation (May). The parish also offers Family Catechesis lessons (e.g., Holy Week and Lent/Christ's Baptism) and a monthly 'Pray and Play' morning for children ages 2–5 and their siblings, which combines playtime, a parent-and-child craft, a Bible story and prayer.
- PSR for K–8th grade — Mondays 6:00 p.m. during the school year
- Family Catechesis for parents and catechists
- Pray and Play — 3rd Saturday of the month, 9:30–11:00 a.m. (ages 2–5 + siblings)
- 1st Reconciliation preparation
- 1st Holy Communion preparation (culminates in May)
- Confirmation preparation
- All volunteers must complete Protecting God's Children
OCIA / OCIC (Becoming Catholic)
Following the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' updated translation, OLQP runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for teens and adults and the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC) for children 7 and older. The OCIA/OCIC team provides systematic religious education for non-Catholics seeking to enter the Church, Catholics wanting to complete the Sacraments of Initiation, Catholics wanting to refresh their knowledge of the faith, and older children preparing for sacraments. OCIA classes typically begin on a Monday in September at 6:30 p.m.; interested families should contact the parish office or pastor.
- OCIA for teens and adults
- OCIC for children 7 and older
- Includes Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and/or Holy Communion for those entering or completing initiation
- Classes typically begin in September on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
- Contact the parish office or pastor to attend
Youth & Family Programs
Beyond PSR and OCIA, OLQP offers several summer and family-focused programs. Vacation Bible School is held each summer for younger children, and Hope Builders Camp is offered for 7th graders through adults (cost and training details are announced each year; Protecting God's Children is required for volunteers). The monthly Pray and Play mornings serve as a gentle entry point for the parish's youngest children and their parents or grandparents.
- Vacation Bible School
- Hope Builders Camp (7th grade through adulthood)
- Pray and Play monthly gatherings for ages 2–5 with siblings
- Youth Ministry (led by James Bolte)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at OLQP is led by Music Director Caroline Sparks, with Assistant Music Directors Jayne Beck and Judi Oliver. The 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel so that homebound parishioners and those who cannot attend in person can worship with the community. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 10:00 a.m. Mass for younger parishioners.
- Music Director — Caroline Sparks
- Assistant Music Directors — Jayne Beck, Judi Oliver
- Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass livestreamed on YouTube
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass
Sacraments
OLQP prepares children and adults for the seven sacraments. Children typically receive First Reconciliation around age seven (second grade), with a communal celebration in November, and First Holy Communion in second grade, culminating in a communal celebration usually in May. Older children (grades 3–8) who have not yet received these sacraments should contact the PSR Coordinator. Adults and teens enter the Church through OCIA; children 7 and older enter through OCIC. Ongoing Confession is heard Saturdays 4:15–4:45 p.m. or by appointment; the parish also celebrates Matrimony (couples should contact the parish office) and Baptism.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation (around age 7 / second grade)
- First Holy Communion (second grade, May)
- Confirmation
- Ongoing Reconciliation (Saturdays 4:15–4:45 p.m.)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
Sister Parish: St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge
OLQP shares its clergy and some of its liturgy with its sister parish, St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge, Missouri. Fr. Thomas C. Miller is pastor of both parishes (residing at the OLQP rectory) and Fr. H. John Reiker is the senior associate pastor of both (residing at the High Ridge rectory). Weekday Masses are split between the two parishes — Monday through Wednesday 8:00 a.m. at OLQP and Thursday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua — and Reconciliation is also offered after the Saturday 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony. On Sundays the two parishes stagger Masses at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
- Fr. Thomas C. Miller — Pastor of both parishes (resides at OLQP)
- Fr. H. John Reiker — Senior Associate Pastor of both parishes (resides at High Ridge)
- Weekday Masses split: M/T/W at OLQP, Th/F/Sat at St. Anthony of Padua
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m. OLQP, 9:00 a.m. St. Anthony, 10:00 a.m. OLQP
- Confession after the Saturday 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony
Visiting & Contact Information
Our Lady Queen of Peace is located at 4696 Notre Dame Lane, House Springs, Missouri 63051, with the parish office reachable at (636) 671-3062 and [email protected]. The 2003 sanctuary expansion added an elevator for the handicapped and a new gathering area that also serves as a cry room, and parking was expanded and re-landscaped at the same time. Visitors are welcome at any Mass; the parish website (olqpmo.org) maintains a current bulletin and calendar, and the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
- Address: 4696 Notre Dame Lane, House Springs, MO 63051
- Phone: (636) 671-3062
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.olqpmo.org/
- Facebook: Our Lady Queen of Peace, House Springs
- Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass livestreamed on YouTube
- Handicap-accessible elevator added in 2003 expansion
- Expanded parking and cry room / gathering area
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Curtin1961
Pastor at the dedication of the new church as Our Lady Queen of Peace on July 20, 1961
- Fr. Thomas Woracek1961–1972
Took over as pastor in September 1961
- Fr. Robert L. Roedig1972–1983
- Fr. Hubert E. Creason1983–1989
- Msgr. Norbert A. Ernst1991–2004
Oversaw the 2003 $2.2 million sanctuary expansion that doubled seating capacity to 600
- Fr. Ferdinand J. Wes2004–2008
- Fr. Patrick Christopher2008–2010
- Fr. Michael G. Murphy2010–2016
- Fr. Dennis C. Schmidt2016–2023
Parish school closed at end of 2018–2019 school year during his tenure
- Fr. Thomas C. Miller2023–Present
Currently pastor of OLQP and St. Anthony of Padua, High Ridge; resides at the OLQP rectory