About St. Catherine Laboure · Sappington, Missouri
St. Catherine Laboure is a Roman Catholic parish in Sappington (south St. Louis County), Missouri, founded in 1953 and staffed since its inception by the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers (Congregation of the Mission). Today the parish serves more than 2,000 households from a 700-seat church whose cornerstone was laid in 1975, and operates one of the largest K-8 parish schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, enrolling more than 450 students. Animated by the Vincentian charism of St. Vincent de Paul, the community professes a special Marian devotion through its patroness St. Catherine Laboure, the Daughter of Charity to whom Our Lady appeared in 1830 and who gave the world the Miraculous Medal.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Catherine Laboure
- Rector
- Rev. Dominic Ngangah
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Catherine Laboure offers a full sacramental and parish life in the Vincentian tradition: four Sunday Masses (with a live-streamed vigil Mass and weekday Masses at 6:30 am and 8:15 am), a robust 450-student K-8 Catholic school, a large Parish School of Religion, an active music ministry with traditional, children's and contemporary 'youth' choirs, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a chapel open Monday–Friday from 6 am to 10 pm, weekly Reconciliation on Saturdays, and a strong social-outreach apostolate through the parish's own St. Vincent de Paul Conference that serves the needy within parish boundaries. The parish welcomes families and individuals through RCIA, adult faith formation, Stephen Ministry, a MomCo (motherhood) group, Vacation Bible School, Liturgy of the Word for Children, and the Knights of Columbus — all rooted in the parish's call to be 'a people for the poor in an active and practical manner.'
Mass times at St. Catherine Laboure
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15–4:15 PM
- By appointment
- Communal celebrations of Reconciliation are scheduled during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open Monday–Friday, 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
- Adorers commit to 1 hour per week or month; a substitute list is available
- Primary contacts: Dori Scherrer ([email protected]) and Stacy Kilker ([email protected])
Who We Are — Parish Identity and Mission
St. Catherine Laboure is a Catholic community of more than 2,000 households in Sappington, south St. Louis County, served by Vincentian priests and brothers since 1953. The parish's mission statement calls the community to be 'a people for the poor in an active and practical manner,' inspired by the charism of St. Vincent de Paul and grounded in Eucharistic worship. With St. Catherine Laboure as patroness, the parish also commits to a dedicated love of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and fosters a supportive relationship with St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the City of St. Louis, sharing in that historic parish's mission of service to the poor.
- Founded 1953 at the request of Archbishop (later Cardinal) Joseph Ritter
- Staffed by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers and Brothers) since its inception
- More than 2,000 households; present church (cornerstone 1975) seats 700
- One of the largest K-8 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis (450+ students)
- Large Parish School of Religion for public-school children, grades 1–8
The Patroness: St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal
St. Catherine Laboure was a Daughter of Charity who in 1830 received apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Mother House of the Daughters in Paris, France. Those apparitions led to the distribution of a medal honoring Mary's Immaculate Conception, popularly known as the Miraculous Medal. Because the Daughters of Charity were co-founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, Catherine's story is closely tied to the Vincentian identity that has shaped this parish from its first day.
- Patroness of the parish
- Daughter of Charity; received apparitions of Our Lady in 1830 in Paris
- Apparitions produced the Miraculous Medal
- Marian devotion central to parish spirituality
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Dominic Ngangah as Pastor, with Fr. Charles (Charlie) Prost serving as Senior Priest in Service, Fr. Ajay Bastaray, C.M. as Associate Pastor, and Deacon Timothy Woods as Permanent Deacon. The parish staff includes a Director of Parish Operations, Music Director, Director of Youth Ministry, school Principal and Assistant Principal, PSR & Sacrament Coordinator (who also serves as Child Safety Coordinator and Bulletin Editor), Bookkeeper, Receptionist/Secretary, Maintenance Supervisor, Pastoral Minister, and Vincentian Brother Custodian Br. Dave Berning.
- Rev. Dominic Ngangah — Pastor (ext. 217)
- Rev. Charles 'Charlie' Prost — Senior Priest in Service
- Rev. Ajay Bastaray, C.M. — Associate Pastor (ext. 222)
- Deacon Timothy Woods — Permanent Deacon
- Rani Zsebedics — Principal
- Michelle Patke — Assistant Principal
- Linda DiFranco — Music Director ([email protected])
- Stephanie Horan — Director of Youth Ministry
- Sue Baumgartner — PSR & Sacrament Coordinator / Child Safety Coordinator / Bulletin Editor (ext. 219, [email protected])
- Sue Spaeth — Director of Parish Operations (ext. 213)
- Br. Dave Berning, C.M. — Vincentian Brother Custodian
- Sue Tumminia — Pastoral Minister (314.843-3245)
- Tracy Douglas — Maintenance Supervisor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
In addition to its day school, St. Catherine Laboure runs a large Parish School of Religion (PSR) for parish children in grades 1–8 who attend public schools. PSR meets on Monday evenings from September through May in two sessions — 4:30–5:45 pm (grades 1–7) and 6:15–7:30 pm (grades 1–8) — in the parish school building, with a caring faculty and a curriculum that engages the students creatively and accepts them where they are in their faith journey.
- Two Monday-evening sessions: 4:30–5:45 pm (grades 1–7) and 6:15–7:30 pm (grades 1–8)
- Runs September through May
- Coordinator: Sue Baumgartner ([email protected], ext. 219)
- Registration portal: sclpsrregistration.faithenroll.net
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
RCIA at St. Catherine Laboure is a faith-formation process to initiate adult candidates into the spiritual life of the Roman Catholic Church. It is open to adults who are unbaptized, baptized non-Catholic Christians seeking full communion, and baptized but uninstructed Catholics. The journey begins each September; classes meet after the 9:00 am Sunday Mass until about 11:00 am, with candidates accompanied by clergy and lay catechists and supported by the prayers of the whole parish through the various Rites of the program.
- Begins each September
- Sundays after the 9:00 am Mass until ~11:00 am
- Open to unbaptised adults, baptized non-Catholics, and uninstructed Catholics
- Contact the rectory to learn more
Music Ministry
Music ministry at St. Catherine Laboure is led by Music Director Linda DiFranco, who brings more than 40 years of experience. The 9:00 am Sunday Mass features a traditional SATB adult choir that also sings the 10:30 pm Christmas Eve Mass, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and other special services; the 10:30 am Mass features a children's choir (grades 3–8) directed by Linda DiFranco that practices Tuesday afternoons; and the 12:00 noon Sunday 'Youth Mass' is led by Karl Zimmermann and a contemporary band (drums, guitar, piano, bass, vocals). Cantors are needed for the 5 pm Saturday and 7:30 am Sunday Masses, and musicians of all ages (8 to 80+) are encouraged to share their gifts.
- 9:00 am SATB Choir (rehearsals Wed 7:00–8:30 pm in church)
- 10:30 am Children's Choir (grades 3–8; Tue 3:30–5:00 pm)
- 12:00 Noon contemporary 'Youth' Choir / band led by Karl Zimmermann
- Cantors for 5 pm Saturday and 7:30 am Sunday
- Director: Linda DiFranco ([email protected]; lindadifranco.com)
St. Catherine Laboure Catholic School
Founded in 1955, St. Catherine Laboure School is a K-8 Catholic elementary school and one of the largest parish schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with more than 450 students enrolled. As a Vincentian parish school, SCL lives out its mission to be 'people for the poor in an active and practical manner' under the patronage of St. Catherine Laboure, providing a rigorous curriculum that fosters virtue and prepares children for a lifetime of learning while immersing them in the arts and sciences and developing interpersonal skills that promote the dignity of the human person.
- Educating children since 1955
- K-8 elementary school, 450+ students
- One of the largest parish schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Principal: Rani Zsebedics
- Assistant Principal: Michelle Patke
- School office: 314-843-2819
Service & Outreach — Living the Vincentian Charism
St. Catherine Laboure expresses its Vincentian identity practically through outreach to the poor and to those in need. The parish's own St. Vincent de Paul Society conference — one of more than 140 in the Archdiocese of St. Louis — sends members out in pairs to visit neighbors in their homes, providing confidential, non-judgmental help with housing, utilities, furniture, food and transportation, and connecting them with other resources. The parish also fosters a supportive relationship with historic St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the City of St. Louis, sharing in its long-established mission to the poor. Additional service pathways include Knights of Columbus charitable works, Stephen Ministry, and the parish's Poor Fund and Annual Catholic Appeal.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — person-to-person service; meets twice monthly; 24-hour message line: 314-924-5026
- Knights of Columbus — meets 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 pm, Parish Center
- Stephen Ministry
- Communion to the Homebound
- Partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Parish, City of St. Louis
- Poor Fund and Annual Catholic Appeal
Parish Life & Organizations
Beyond its sacramental and school life, St. Catherine Laboure supports a wide range of parish organizations that build community across ages and stages of life. Adults can join the Adult Faith Formation Committee, Art & Environment Committee, Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, or Stewardship Committee; mothers can take part in MomCo — Celebrating Motherhood; children participate in Vacation Bible School and Liturgy of the Word for Children; and men of the parish are invited to the Knights of Columbus. The parish also observes the 2025 Jubilee Year — Pilgrims of Hope.
- Adult Faith Formation Committee
- Art & Environment Committee
- MomCo — Celebrating Motherhood
- Vacation Bible School
- Liturgy of the Word for Children
- Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Committee
- Stewardship Committee
- Knights of Columbus
- 2025 Jubilee Year — Pilgrims of Hope