About St. Ambrose · Saint Louis, Missouri
St. Ambrose Catholic Church is a vibrant Italian-heritage parish nestled in the heart of The Hill, the famous Italian-American neighborhood on the near south side of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1903 by Italian immigrants who came to work on the Frisco and Missouri-Pacific Railroads and in the area's clay mines, it has served as the spiritual, social, and cultural anchor of The Hill for more than a century. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, runs Saint Ambrose Catholic School, and is known for its strong family life, traditional Italian Mass on the first Sunday of each month, 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration, and an active outreach ministry called the Saint Ambrose Society.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Ambrose (Ambrose of Milan, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Reverend John (Jack) Siefert
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Deanery: Northern Vicariate Deanery 2)
Why belong here
St. Ambrose is the spiritual and cultural heart of The Hill, the tight-knit Italian-American neighborhood on St. Louis's near south side. A parishioner finds a deeply rooted Catholic community with daily Mass, 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration, a monthly Italian-language Mass on the first Sunday, a parish school (Saint Ambrose Catholic School), and an extensive outreach to the homeless and poor through the Saint Ambrose Society. With dozens of ministries — from youth and young adult groups to choir, lectors, ushers, prayer shawls, and a children's Liturgy of the Word — there is a place for every age and stage of life.
Mass times at St. Ambrose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:15–11:45 a.m.
- Monday–Thursday: after 5:30 p.m. Mass
- Saturday: 3:30–4:15 p.m.
Adoration times
- 24/7 Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (call parish office 314-771-1228 for the door code from the parking lot)
About St. Ambrose Parish
St. Ambrose Catholic Church is an Italian-heritage parish founded in 1903 and located in The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and welcomes all who wish to worship, marry, baptize their children, send them to its parish school, or join its many ministries. Pastor Fr. Jack Siefert and the parish staff describe their mission as witnessing to the values of Jesus through faith, sacraments, family life, and service to the wider St. Louis community.
History
St. Ambrose was established in 1903 by Italian immigrants who had come to St. Louis to work on the railroads and in the clay mines of The Hill. A frame church at Cooper (now Marconi) and Wilson was dedicated August 3, 1903 under Rev. Caesar Spigardi, then attended from St. Charles Borromeo. Rev. Luciano Carotti took charge in 1907 and opened the parochial school in 1906. After the original frame church burned in 1921, Rev. Julius Giovannini paid off the debt within a year and led the community to rebuild — each family pledging a dollar a month for five years. The present Lombard Romanesque Revival church, designed by Angelo Corrubia and modeled on Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, was dedicated June 27, 1926. In 1955 the parish shifted from a national Italian parish to a territorial one covering The Hill; in 1975 it absorbed many parishioners from the closing of Our Lady, Help of Christians and became the central Catholic parish of St. Louis's Italian-American community.
- 1903: Mission established from St. Aloysius; first frame church dedicated Aug 3.
- 1906: St. Ambrose Parochial School opens at 2110 Cooper Street.
- 1907: Rev. Luciano Carotti becomes pastor.
- 1921: Original frame church destroyed by fire.
- 1923: Rev. Julius Giovannini appointed; debt paid off within a year.
- 1926: New $250,000 brick-and-terracotta church dedicated June 27.
- 1940: Sacred Heart Villa and Day Nursery opens at Wilson and Macklind.
- 1949–50: Present school building completed at 5120 Wilson.
- 1955: Parish becomes territorial, encompassing The Hill.
- 1975: Becomes the central Italian-American Catholic parish after Our Lady, Help of Christians closes.
Our Church Building
The church is a Lombard Romanesque Revival structure of brick and terra cotta designed by architect Angelo Corrubia and modeled on the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan. The interior features a soaring barrel-vault ceiling of three naves separated by arches resting on six columns, with five bells donated by parish families and marble donor panels at the rear still bearing the names of Hill families who pledged to build the church. A campanile rises at the rear, and beside the church stands Rudy Tor's bronze statue of an immigrant man and woman, commemorating the sacrifices of the founders.
- Lombard Romanesque Revival style, modeled on Sant'Ambrogio, Milan
- Architect: Angelo Corrubia
- Brick and terra cotta exterior; rear campanile
- Three naves with barrel-vault ceiling on six columns
- Five bronze bells purchased through parishioner donations
- Marble donor panels at the rear of the church
Saint Ambrose Catholic School
Saint Ambrose Catholic School, located at 5110 Wilson Avenue, shares a campus with the parish and serves the families of The Hill and beyond. The school offers a challenging academic program grounded in the values of the Catholic faith, preparing students to succeed professionally and morally. Office hours and contacts include Principal Michele Grellner and Assistant Principal Lisa Horner; the school office can be reached at 314-772-1437.
- Address: 5110 Wilson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Phone: 314-772-1437
- Principal: Michele Grellner
- Assistant Principal: Lisa Horner
- Secretary: Linda Gambaro
- School Finance: Kim Boatman
Ministries and Groups
Parishioners are encouraged to get involved in at least one ministry. The parish supports a wide range of spiritual, service, fellowship, and liturgical groups organized under the three pillars of stewardship: Prayer, Participation, and Generosity.
Outreach — Saint Ambrose Society
Established in 2016 by the late Deacon Joe Fragale, the Saint Ambrose Society is the parish's outreach arm to the homeless and poor of the St. Louis area. Its year-round Food Program prepares homemade meals (breaded chicken, meatballs, spaghetti sauce, potato casserole, salad/green beans, and brownies) in the school cafeteria for distribution to local shelters. Its Clothing Pantry collects, sorts, and distributes new or gently used clothing, shoes, and toiletries, currently serving 23 shelters — including ones for infants, toddlers, trafficked teens, unwed mothers, refugee families, homeless men and women, and even animals.
- Contact: [email protected] or 314-771-1228 ext. 300
- Clothing donations accepted Mondays 8:30–10:30 a.m. in the church garage or in the south vestibule
- Checks payable to 'Saint Ambrose Society' mailed to 5130 Wilson Ave
Faith Formation and Youth
The parish offers Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation as well as a Youth Ministry for middle school through high school students focused on spiritual development, fellowship, discipleship, service projects, and educational programs. A newer Young Adult Ministry serves those ages 18–39.
- Youth Ministry contact: Annie Daub, [email protected]
- Young Adult Ministry contact: Will MacKay, [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
Lay men and women assist the clergy at every Mass as ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, choir members, altar servers, and members of the Altar Society and Altar Committee who care for the church's beauty.
- Choir Director: Darren Modde ([email protected])
- Eucharistic Ministers / Lectors: Debbie Carnaghi ([email protected])
- Ushers: contact Fr. Jack, 314-771-1228
- Altar Society: Ronnie Puricelli, 314-779-8631
Fellowship, Prayer, and Service Groups
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish sustains many small groups that knit the community together — from mothers gathering monthly, to women knitting prayer shawls, to ministers bringing Holy Communion to the homebound.
- Mothers Helping Mothers: Mary Beth Kleinbach, 314-303-3521
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (Friday mornings): Kathy Ranzini, 314-962-2281
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound: Sister Sandra Krupp, [email protected]
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass): Renee Sullivan, [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates all the major sacraments — Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation (via the school and Religious Education program), Reconciliation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist itself. Dedicated pages on the parish website help families with Baptism, Wedding, and Funeral Planning; the RCIA (Becoming Catholic) process welcomes adults into the Church.
Parish Staff and Contacts
Parish Office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 5130 Wilson Avenue (314-771-1228; fax 314-771-0454). The staff supports liturgy, faith formation, school, outreach, communications, and administration.
- Father Jack Siefert, Pastor — [email protected]
- Rev. Richard Stoltz — Retired (in residence)
- Deacon Joseph Fragale — Permanent Deacon
- Lydia Thompson, Business/Office Manager — [email protected]
- Tina Hogan, Director of Marketing & Advancement / Bulletin Editor — [email protected]
- Kim Boatman, School Finance, Funerals, Weddings, Baptisms — [email protected]
- Peggy Tenholder, Office Assistant — [email protected]
- Carol Marcely, Office Assistant — [email protected]
- Darren Modde, Choir Director — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Caesar Spigardi1903–1907
Founded the mission in 1903 from the basement of St. Aloysius; served as first pastor from St. Charles Borromeo.
- Rev. Luciano Carotti1907–c.1923
Given charge of the parish June 1, 1907; opened St. Ambrose Parochial School in 1906.
- Rev. Julius Giovannini1923–
Appointed 1923; paid off parish debt within a year; oversaw construction and 1926 dedication of the present church.