About St. Ann · Saint Louis, Missouri
St. Ann Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in Normandy, a suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri, that has been 'Living Faith Since 1856.' It belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is home to about 360 parish families and roughly 782 Catholics, served today by a parochial administrator, a priest in residence, and a permanent deacon. The parish worships in a striking Mid-Century Modern church designed by architect Joseph Murphy and dedicated in 1952, whose 35-by-35-foot Emil Frei stained-glass window was celebrated in Time Magazine, Popular Science, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and several liturgical publications. The campus at 7530 Natural Bridge Road also houses St. Ann Catholic School (K-8) and the accredited St. Ann Early Childhood Center, and the parish is actively involved in outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Ladies of Charity food pantry.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- St. Ann (patron saint of the foundress Anne Lucas-Hunt)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Madden, Parochial Administrator
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Ann is a tight-knit, culturally and economically diverse parish of about 360 families in Normandy, just northwest of St. Louis, where members put a priority on welcoming and worshiping together, celebrating together, and serving their neighbors — especially through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Ladies of Charity food pantry. Worship is centered on a nationally recognized Mid-Century Modern church with a celebrated Emil Frei stained-glass window, and the parish operates both a K-8 school and an accredited early childhood center, so the whole family can grow in faith under one roof. The parish invites anyone interested in becoming Catholic to inquire about RCIA, which begins each fall, and offers the traditional sacraments — Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and weekday and Sunday Mass — in an intimate setting where many families have deep, multi-generational roots.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- By appointment — call the rectory at 314-385-5090
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament once a month, beginning after the 8:00 AM Mass and concluding with Benediction, usually on the second Friday of the month (dates and times announced in the parish bulletin)
Living Faith Since 1856
St. Ann's motto captures more than a date — it points to a parish built on three foundational virtues named by the parish itself: generosity, missionary spirit, and steadfast presence. The story begins in 1854 when the widow Anne Lucas-Hunt donated ten acres of Normandy land and money to the Jesuits to found a church and a school. Today the parish is home to about 360 families and 782 Catholics, served by a parochial administrator, a priest in residence, and a permanent deacon.
- Founded 1854 (land donation) / 1856 (first church)
- Motto: 'Living Faith Since 1856'
- Part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
Our Historic Church
The present St. Ann Church is a Mid-Century Modern masterpiece, designed by architect Joseph Murphy, with construction beginning in 1949 and the first Mass offered on October 6, 1952. Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter laid the cornerstone on November 26, 1950 and formally dedicated the completed church the same year. The original 19th-century stone church was demolished and its stones reused as the retaining wall around the new building. The building is clad in the orange brick typical of the era and is widely recognized as the first Catholic church in St. Louis built in the Modernist idiom — the first of many Modernist Catholic churches to follow over the next two decades.
- Architect: Joseph Murphy, 1947 (plans), 1949–1952 (construction)
- Stained-glass window: Emil Frei Jr. and Robert Harmon
- Front sculpture: Hillis Arnold
- Clad in orange brick; largely unadorned exterior
The Stained-Glass Window
The 35-by-35-foot south-facing window at St. Ann is more solid than glass — most of its surface is painted wood panels, with only filtered real light coming through. Designed to change throughout the day, it appears as a painted mural by night and as a luminous glass composition by day. It depicts Calvary Hill in highly abstract form, with the three crosses, the repentant thief, the dove of the Holy Spirit, the Hand of God, and a Mary figure — intended to convey a sense of cataclysm and cosmic significance. The window was featured in Time Magazine, Popular Science, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and several liturgical magazines.
- Featured in Time Magazine, Popular Science, and the Encyclopedia Britannica
- Designed to change with the light
Founders and the Normandy Story
The parish's origins are tied to the Lucas family of Normandy. Jean Baptiste Charles Lucas, an attorney to the King of France, emigrated to the United States, served as a congressman from Pennsylvania, and was appointed by President Jefferson as land commissioner of the Louisiana Purchase — it was he who named the area 'Normandy' because the terrain reminded him of his French homeland. His son Charles purchased 1,150 acres there, which he willed to his sister Anne. The widow Anne Lucas-Hunt's 1854 donation of ten acres and money to the Jesuits is the founding act of the parish, and the church was named in honor of St. Ann, her patron saint.
- Jean Baptiste Charles Lucas — named the area 'Normandy'
- Charles Lucas — purchased 1,150 acres
- Anne Lucas-Hunt — donated land and funds in 1854
A Parish Rooted in the Jesuits and Passionists
From its founding until 1889, St. Ann was administered by the Jesuits, beginning with the famous missionary Fr. Peter DeSmet, S.J., whose home base was Florissant and who was soon back on the road to the Native American missions of the Oregon Country. He was succeeded in 1858 by Fr. Adrian Van Hulst, S.J., who traveled by horse and buggy from the Jesuit provincial house at Lindell Boulevard and Grand Avenue every Sunday and holy day — so reliably that farmers could set their watches by his approach. The Passionist Fathers then administered the parish from 1889 until 1948, when the Archdiocese of St. Louis assigned diocesan priests to the parish and named Msgr. Fred Sprenke as pastor.
- Jesuits administered 1856–1889
- Passionist Fathers administered 1889–1948
- Diocesan administration began 1948 with Msgr. Fred Sprenke
Clergy and Staff
St. Ann is currently led by Rev. Mark Madden as Parochial Administrator (since October 1, 2023), with Rev. Vincent Mwebe in residence and Deacon David Harpring assisting. Fr. Madden was born at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, grew up at Immaculate Heart of Mary, graduated from CBC High School (class of 1999) and the University of Missouri–Rolla with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, worked at Boeing for nearly ten years, and was ordained a priest on May 25, 2019 by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson. He previously served as Associate Pastor at St. Gabriel and St. Rachael parishes before coming to St. Ann. Deacon Dave Harpring joined the parish in March 2024.
- Rev. Mark Madden — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Vincent Mwebe — Priest in Residence
- Deacon David Harpring — Permanent Deacon
Parish Life and Outreach
St. Ann describes itself as 'a tight-knit diverse community in a suburb of St. Louis' — diverse in age, culture, economics, education, and faith traditions. Its mission statement gathers its work into four verbs: 'Welcome and worship; celebrate and socialize; serve and support.' Outreach to the wider Normandy community is led through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Ladies of Charity food pantry, and many parishioners have multi-generational roots in the neighborhood.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Ladies of Charity food pantry
- Multi-generational parish families in Normandy
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
St. Ann offers a full slate of sacramental preparation. Parents of infants to be baptized must attend a baptismal preparation class; godparents are welcome but not required. Couples preparing for marriage must begin working with a priest or deacon at least six months before the wedding and follow the Archdiocese of St. Louis guidelines. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) meets weekly from September through Easter for adults interested in learning about or entering the Catholic Church, with classes beginning in the fall. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered to young children during the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass during the school year.
- Baptismal preparation (parent class required)
- Marriage preparation (6 months minimum)
- RCIA — weekly September through Easter
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at 11:00 AM Mass
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy in many ways. Eucharistic Ministers distribute Communion at Mass and bring the Eucharist to the sick and shut-ins. Lectors proclaim the readings. The Choir and Music Ministry welcomes cantors and instrumentalists for Sunday and special liturgies. The Liturgy Committee helps plan Sunday and special liturgies throughout the year. The Parish Council helps guide parish life.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Choir / Music Ministry (cantors and instrumentalists)
- Liturgy Committee
- Parish Council
St. Ann Catholic School
St. Ann Catholic School is a diverse Christian community in Normandy, Missouri devoted to providing a comprehensive curriculum and a learning environment that encourages students to reach their full potential. Founded alongside the parish in 1856, the school has served the community for more than a century and a half. Current principal is Jacob Reft.
- K-8 Catholic school
- Principal: Jacob Reft
- Address: 7532 Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, MO 63121
- Phone: (314) 381-0113
St. Ann Early Childhood Center
The St. Ann Early Childhood Center (SAECC) is an accredited preschool serving children 2½ to 5 years of age and their families in a loving Catholic setting. It opened in September 1998 after parishioners and donors converted the vacant convent building into an age-appropriate facility, and has been continuously accredited by state agencies since then. Director: Kathleen Carter.
- Accredited preschool, ages 2½–5
- Opened September 1998
- Director: Kathleen Carter
- Address: 7534 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121
- Phone: (314) 382-2974
Contact and Visit
Parish, school, and preschool are all on or near 7530 Natural Bridge Road at the border of St. Louis and Normandy. The parish office (rectory) can be reached at (314) 385-5090 (fax 314-385-6527). Email updates from the parish are available via a sign-up on the parish website. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis's 'All Things New' pastoral planning initiative.
- Parish: 7530 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121 — (314) 385-5090
- School: 7532 Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, MO 63121 — (314) 381-0113
- Early Childhood Center: 7534 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121 — (314) 382-2974
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter DeSmet, S.J.1856–1858
First pastor; famous Jesuit missionary to the Oregon Country, based in Florissant.
- Fr. Adrian Van Hulst, S.J.1858–1880
Traveled by horse and buggy from the Jesuit provincial house at Lindell & Grand; enlarged the church in 1872; Jesuits administered the parish until 1889.
- Passionist Fathers1889–1948
Administered the parish from their monastery at Lucas & Hunt and Natural Bridge; oversaw nearly six decades of growth.
- Msgr. Fred Sprenke1948–1971
First diocesan pastor; oversaw construction and 1952 dedication of the present Mid-Century Modern church; served until his death.
- Fr. Robert Ottolineafter 1971
Succeeded Msgr. Sprenke as pastor.
- Fr. John Vogler
Succeeded Fr. Ottoline.
- Fr. Richard Neumann
Succeeded Fr. Vogler.
- Fr. James Edwards
Succeeded Fr. Neumann.
- Fr. William Kempf
Succeeded Fr. Edwards.
- Fr. Nicklaus (Nick) Winkeruntil October 1, 2023
Long-serving pastor; listed by the Archdiocese as pastor in March 2023.
- Rev. Mark MaddenOctober 1, 2023 – present
Parochial Administrator; previously Associate Pastor at St. Gabriel and St. Rachael parishes; ordained May 25, 2019 by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson.