About Sacred Heart · Florissant, Missouri
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Florissant, Missouri, within the Archdiocese of St. Louis, that traces its roots to 1866 when German-speaking families settled in the predominantly French town and requested permission to found their own church. The parish serves its community today from 751 North Jefferson Street with a full Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, an affiliated Catholic grade school, faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is a bilingual-influenced historic parish whose current Gothic-style church — built 1893 — continues as the worship home for nearly 1,600 families.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Reverend William (Bill) Kempf
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Sacred Heart welcomes Catholics and inquirers alike into a 150‑plus‑year‑old community rooted in Florissant's German‑Catholic heritage, with a 1,600‑family parish, an attached K‑8 school, and a robust set of ministries for every age and stage of life. Daily and Sunday Masses are offered in a landmark 1893 Gothic church whose 175‑foot steeple still anchors the Jefferson Street skyline, and the parish reaches beyond its walls through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Visitors can also take part in faith formation for children and youth, RCIA for those becoming Catholic, and lifelong fellowship with neighbors who have worshipped here for generations.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confession times are published in the parish bulletin and on the parish website (sacredheartflorissant.org) — contact the parish office at 314‑837‑3757 for the current schedule.
Adoration times
- Adoration times are published in the parish bulletin and on the parish website — contact the parish office at 314‑837‑3757 for the current schedule.
Parish History — Founded 1866 by Florissant's German Families
In 1866 the German families who had settled in Florissant petitioned Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick for permission to found a parish where German would be spoken. Approval was granted for the establishment of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on a 2½‑acre plot in Florissant, and the parish grew to become the spiritual home for generations of German‑Catholic immigrants in the predominantly French town.
- Cornerstone for the first church laid June 3, 1866, by Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick
- School/convent opened September 1866; Sisters of St. Joseph taught until 1877
- Church completed September 14, 1867; blessed by Father Pierre Jean DeSmet, S.J., on October 6, 1867
- First pastor: Rev. Ignatius Panken, S.J. (served one year), followed by Rev. Ignatius Peuckert, S.J.
- Continuously administered by the Jesuits for ninety‑one years (1866–1957)
Architecture of Sacred Heart Church
The present Gothic‑style church was completed in November 1893 after the original 1867 structure was largely taken down as hazardous — only the steeple was retained. The cruciform church is 155 feet long by 62 feet wide, reaching 43 feet at its highest point, with a sanctuary 28 feet deep by 30 feet wide separated by a triumphal arch, stained glass running down both sides and behind the altar, and a steeple approximately 175 feet high that still dominates the local skyline.
- Style: Classic Gothic cruciform
- Dimensions: 155 ft long × 62 ft wide × 43 ft high
- Sanctuary: 28 ft deep × 30 ft wide, separated by a triumphal arch
- Steeple: ~175 ft (the only portion retained from the 1867 original)
- Major renovations in 1958: terrazzo floor, new high altar, side altars, art‑glass windows, Trinity symbols over front doors
- Early‑21st‑century renovations: HVAC, lighting, interior paint, exterior doors and lighting
Schools and Religious Education
Education has been a cornerstone of Sacred Heart since 1866. A combination school and convent opened the same year the parish was founded; it was staffed first by the Sisters of St. Joseph (until 1877) and then by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, who continue as an important part of the parish's educational heritage. A new school building was dedicated in 1889 at the corner of St. Denis and Jefferson, a second school in 1952 facing St. Louis Street, and today Sacred Heart School serves roughly 370 students in Kindergarten through Grade 8.
- Sisters of St. Joseph — instructors, 1866–1877
- Sisters of the Most Precious Blood — instructors, from 1877 onward
- New school dedicated November 28, 1889 (St. Denis and Jefferson)
- Cornerstone of the 1952 school laid March 23, 1952 (St. Louis Street)
- Sacred Heart School today: K–8, approximately 370 students
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
The Parish School of Religion (PSR), under PSR Director Sue Dirnbeck (314‑838‑7240), provides religious education for parish children, while Gwen Heithaus serves as Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation. Youth Ministry is led by Coordinator Sydney Fischer (ext. 256). Adults preparing to become Catholic journey through the RCIA / 'Becoming Catholic' process announced on the parish website.
- PSR — Sue Dirnbeck, Director (314‑838‑7240)
- Children's Faith Formation — Gwen Heithaus, Coordinator
- Youth Ministry — Sydney Fischer, Coordinator (ext. 256)
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic for adults
Clergy of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart is staffed by a pastor and several senior associate and resident priests, along with permanent and retired deacons. The Very Reverend William ('Bill') Kempf serves as pastor, supported by Fr. Tim Cook as Senior Associate Pastor, Fr. Thomas Haley as Part‑Time Senior Associate Pastor, and Fathers Art Cavitt and Thomas Sserwadda in residence. Deacons John (J.) Heithaus and Dennis ('Denny') Barbero assist with parish ministry.
- Fr. William (Bill) Kempf — Pastor ([email protected], ext. 249)
- Fr. Timothy (Tim) Cook — Senior Associate Pastor
- Fr. Thomas Haley — Part‑Time Senior Associate Pastor
- Fr. Thomas Sserwadda — In Residence
- Fr. Art Cavitt — Priest in Residence
- Deacon J. (John) Heithaus — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Dennis (Denny) Barbero — Retired Deacon
Parish Office and Staff
The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is staffed by a team of lay administrators. Pastor Fr. Bill Kempf can be reached at 314‑837‑3757, ext. 249, or [email protected].
- Gwen (last name listed) — primary phone contact: 314‑837‑3757; [email protected]
- Gina Shocklee — Office Manager and Prevent & Protect Coordinator (ext. 224)
- Carol Tegtmeyer — Bookkeeper (ext. 242)
- Jim Weiskopf — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Jeanne Baer — Pastoral Associate
- Dennis Rauscher — Maintenance (ext. 2)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and welcomes inquiries from parishioners and visitors. Arrangements for Baptism and Marriage are made by contacting the Rectory Office (314‑837‑3757, ext. 224), and the Becoming Catholic / RCIA process supports adults preparing for full initiation into the Church.
- Baptism — contact the Rectory Office
- First Communion and Confirmation through the parish school and PSR
- Marriage — 314‑837‑3757, ext. 224
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic for adults
- Anointing of the Sick and funeral arrangements through the parish office
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Sacred Heart partners with the St. Vincent de Paul Society to bring concrete help to neighbors in need. Parishioners seeking assistance or wishing to volunteer with this ministry are connected through a dedicated phone line.
- St. Vincent de Paul assistance line: 314‑289‑6101, Ext. 2503
- Volunteer and donation opportunities coordinated through the parish office
150th Anniversary (2016)
On the weekend of the 150th anniversary, more than 750 parishioners, friends, family and dignitaries gathered at Sacred Heart. Archbishop Robert Carlson celebrated Mass alongside then‑pastor Msgr. Mark Ullrich and associate Rev. Paul Hamilton, with many former pastors and associates in attendance. The parish marked 1,600 member families and 370 K–8 students at that milestone.
- Archbishop Robert Carlson celebrated the anniversary Mass
- Then‑pastor Msgr. Mark Ullrich and associate Rev. Paul Hamilton concelebrated
- Nearly 1,600 families were members of the parish at the 150th anniversary
- Sacred Heart School enrolled about 370 students K–8 at the time
Contact, Visit and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to Mass, to stop by the parish office during business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), and to sign up for parish email updates through FlockNote. Volunteering through parish organizations, faith formation, music ministry or outreach is encouraged as a way to share one's time and talents with the Sacred Heart community.
- Address: 751 North Jefferson Street, Florissant, MO 63031
- Phone: 314‑837‑3757 — Pastoral emergencies: option 8
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Email updates: https://SacredHeartFlorissant1.flocknote.com/everyone
- Becoming Catholic, ministries and parish organizations listed on sacredheartflorissant.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ignatius Panken, S.J.1867–1868 (first pastor)
Served one year; succeeded by Rev. Ignatius Peuckert, S.J.
- Rev. Ignatius Peuckert, S.J.
Second Jesuit pastor; succeeded by further Jesuit pastors until 1957.
- Msgr. Mark Ullrich
Pastor at the 150th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Robert Carlson in 2016.