About Seven Holy Founders · Affton, Missouri
Seven Holy Founders is a Catholic parish in Affton, in the South County area of St. Louis, Missouri, that has faithfully served its community since 1927 and is preparing to celebrate its Centennial in 2027. Founded by the Servants of Mary (Servites) and now part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the parish of nearly 1,500 families gathers in a striking star-shaped church built in 1967 in the wake of Vatican II, with French chipped-glass windows depicting the Resurrection, the seven Sacraments, the Seven Founders of the Servite Order, the Beatitudes, and the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. The parish places a high priority on prayer, faith enrichment, and Christian service, with devotions to the Blessed Mother and to St. Peregrine, patron saint of those suffering from cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Jeffrey (Jeff) Knight
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Seven Holy Founders offers a faithful Catholic home rooted in the Servite tradition of devotion to the Blessed Mother and St. Peregrine, with daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the Parish Center Chapel, Saturday confession, and a robust slate of faith-enrichment groups for men, women, and children. The parish lives out its call to Christian Service through ministries such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society (aggregated at SHF since 1964), the Affton Christian Food Pantry, Knights of Columbus councils, Meals on Wheels, a Pro-Life group, and SLAMA Foundation outreach. With nearly 1,500 families, an active Parish School of Religion, the Early Childhood Campus of Holy Cross Academy on-site, and a star-shaped church full of stunning Servite-themed stained glass, it's a vibrant place to grow in prayer, learning, and service.
Mass times at Seven Holy Founders
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Parish Center Chapel, Monday through Sunday (all days of the week)
Our Story — A Parish Rooted in the Servite Tradition
Seven Holy Founders traces its origin to 1927, when 32 families built a small wooden church at the corner of Rock Hill and Gravois. As Affton grew after World War II, the original church was replaced in 1948 with a combination church and school, which was later converted into a gymnasium when the present star-shaped church was completed in 1967.
- Founded 1927 by the Servants of Mary (Servites)
- First church: small wooden church at Rock Hill & Gravois, 1927
- Second church: combination church-school dedicated 1948 (now a gymnasium)
- Current star-shaped church begun 1967, designed to Vatican II guidelines
- Anticipating parish centennial in 2027
The Star-Shaped Church & Its Windows
The 1967 church's eight-pointed star design was unique for its time and is one of the first in the area to follow Vatican II's new liturgical guidelines. Eight tall French-style chipped-glass windows sit in four of the star points; the windows behind the altar depict the Resurrection, while other sets illustrate the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Mother, the seven sacraments, the eight Beatitudes, and the seven founders of the Servite Order.
- French chipped-glass windows depicting the Resurrection, Seven Sacraments, Seven Founders, Beatitudes, and Seven Sorrows
- Shrine to Our Lady of Sorrows inside the church
- Shrine to St. Peregrine inside the church
Clergy, Deacons & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Msgr. Jeff Knight and Part-Time Senior Associate Pastor Msgr. Kevin Callahan, along with three permanent deacons and a pastoral associate from the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (ASCJ). Parish staff include a Coordinator of Music, Business Manager, Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor, and other support roles.
- Rev. Msgr. Jeffrey (Jeff) Knight — Pastor
- Rev. Msgr. Kevin Callahan — Part-Time Senior Associate Pastor
- Deacon Ralph Magee
- Deacon John Beckmann
- Deacon Thomas A. Schiller
- Sr. Patrecia Kofron, ASCJ — Pastoral Associate / Wedding Coordinator
- Ken Jaworski — Coordinator of Music
- Lisa Chassaing — Business Manager
- Mary Eggleston — Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish is the center of faith formation for its members, with programs serving children, youth, and adults. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides weekly religious education for students in Grades 1–8 who attend public or non-Catholic private schools. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and First Penance is offered alongside general instruction, and the Encounter Youth Ministry supports teens. Adult faith formation is rich, with Bible studies, Lectio Divina, LIFT women's group, men's retreats, and OCIA for adults preparing to enter the Church.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR), Grades 1–8 — classes meet Monday evenings 6:30–7:45 pm during the school year (Director: Ann Kelly, 314-633-0123)
- First Communion & First Penance Sacramental Preparation
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA) — Sr. Pat Kofron, ASCJ
- Encounter Youth Ministry (high school) — Clemente Rodriguez
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Stephanie Eggleston
- Adult Bible Study — Tom Schiller
- Women's Bible Studies — Jen Hogan
- Lectio Divina — Sandy Leibrecht
- LIFT (Ladies Igniting Faith Together) — Judy Keller
- King's House Retreat for Men, White House Retreat for Men, Strengthen Your Brother (SYB), ACTS Core Team
Holy Cross Academy — Early Childhood Campus
Seven Holy Founders hosts the Early Childhood Campus of Holy Cross Academy, one of a four-campus Catholic school system that also includes St. Michael the Archangel (K–2), Our Lady of Providence (3–5), and Annunciation (6–8). The early childhood campus at 7748 Mackenzie Road serves ages 2–5 with a play-centered, faith-based preschool curriculum accredited by the Missouri Non-Public School Accrediting Association. A bus system links all four campuses, and the academy draws over 550 students from its four member parishes and beyond.
- Early Childhood Campus of Seven Holy Founders (ages 2–5), 7748 Mackenzie Road, St. Louis, MO 63123
- Director: Mrs. Angie Langhauser
- Other campuses: St. Michael the Archangel (K–2), Our Lady of Providence (3–5), Annunciation (6–8)
- Bus transportation between campuses
Christian Service & Outreach
Carrying on the Servite emphasis on charitable work, Seven Holy Founders runs an extensive service apostolate. The parish St. Vincent de Paul conference (aggregated since March 2, 1964) provides food, utility, and rent assistance; two parish cook-in teams help feed over 400 people a month at the downtown St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen; and parishioners support the Affton Christian Food Pantry both financially and as volunteers. Additional ministries include Knights of Columbus councils, Meals on Wheels, Pro-Life advocacy, and Social Justice outreach.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (SHF Conference) — hotline 314-631-8248
- St. Vincent de Paul Ladies Auxiliary
- SVDP Cooking Teams (St. Dominic Savio & SHF)
- Affton Christian Food Pantry — John Fechter
- Knights of Columbus, Father Griffin #3586
- Knights of Columbus, Bishop DuBourg #4099
- Meals on Wheels — John Mallon
- Pro-Life — Mary Wilper
- SLAMA Foundation — Lisa Slama
- Social Justice Advocacy — Peggy Keilholz
- Heavenly Dusters
- SVDP Thrift Store voucher program for clothing & home furnishings
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Parishioners of all ages serve at the altar and in music ministry. Three choirs support parish worship, and lay faithful serve as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Servers, Ushers, and Greeters. A Homebound Communion Ministry brings the Eucharist to registered parishioners and others living within parish boundaries who cannot attend Mass.
- Adult Choir — Mary Eggleston
- Resurrection Choir — Mary Eggleston
- Contemporary Choir — Ron Roskowske
- Eucharistic Ministers — John Mallon
- Lectors, Servers, Ushers, Greeters
- Homebound Communion Ministry (call the Parish Office to arrange)
Devotions & Sacramental Life
The parish carries a strong Servite devotion to the Blessed Mother and to St. Peregrine, with shrines to both inside the church. St. Peregrine Devotion follows the 8:00 a.m. Mass every Monday, and parishioners are encouraged to draw on the order's traditional Seven Sorrows devotions. Sacraments celebrated include Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Matrimony (coordinated by Sr. Patrecia Kofron, ASCJ), Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation.
- St. Peregrine Devotion — Mondays after 8:00 am Mass
- Our Lady of Sorrows shrine
- St. Peregrine shrine (patron of those with cancer & life-threatening illnesses)
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm or by appointment
- OCIA / RCIA for adults
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion & First Penance through PSR
Contact, Location & Centennial
The parish church sits at 6741 S Rock Hill Rd in the Affton neighborhood of South St. Louis County, with the parish office located at 6820 Aliceton, St. Louis, MO 63123. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The parish phone is (314) 638-3938, and Masses are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel through the website. Seven Holy Founders is looking ahead to its 100th anniversary in 2027.
- Church address: 6741 S Rock Hill Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123
- Parish Office: 6820 Aliceton, St. Louis, MO 63123
- Phone: (314) 638-3938
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 am–3:00 pm; Fri 8:00 am–12:00 pm
- Mass livestream via Seven Holy Founders YouTube channel
- Centennial year approaching: 2027