About St. Clement of Rome · Des Peres, Missouri
St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in Des Peres, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, belonging to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded on March 19, 1952, by Archbishop Joseph Ritter with Father Luke Naes as the founding pastor, the parish today numbers roughly 4,000–5,000 members and serves a vibrant suburban community from its campus on Bopp Road, which includes an elementary school (preschool through 8th grade) and an Adoration Chapel. Worship is centered on a robust schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, daily Reconciliation opportunities, perpetual adoration, and a range of faith-formation programs for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Pope St. Clement I (Clement of Rome)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. James Ramacciotti
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Clement of Rome is a long-established suburban parish with the warmth and resources of a large faith community: daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic adoration in a 24/7 chapel, a thriving preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic school, dedicated religious education for parish children, and active youth ministry. Members are welcomed into a parish family that emphasizes openness, sacramental life, service to neighbors near and far, and proclaiming the Gospel in everyday life — making it a place where both longtime Catholics and newcomers can put down roots.
Mass times at St. Clement of Rome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 7:00 am (in the Chapel)
Adoration times
- Thursday and Friday — Adoration of the Exposed Blessed Sacrament (volunteers commit one hour; see Home Page for times)
- Adoration Chapel open 24 hours / 7 days a week (Blessed Sacrament reposed in the tabernacle outside exposition times)
History of St. Clement of Rome Parish
St. Clement of Rome was founded on March 19, 1952, when Archbishop Joseph Ritter appointed Father Luke Naes as the first pastor of the new suburban parish. The Archdiocese of St. Louis had purchased six acres on Bopp Road from the Deutschmann family in 1951, augmented by another three and a half acres in 1955. Before a church existed on the site, Sunday and Holy Day Masses were celebrated at St. Agnes Home on Manchester and Warson Roads and weekday Masses at the temporary rectory at 1134 Bopp Road. Ground was broken on July 19, 1953, for the first buildings: an eight-classroom school, a cafeteria, and a temporary church. By 1959 the parish had grown to 400 families and the school peaked at 683 students, leading to construction of a convent where the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of O'Fallon took up residence on Passion Sunday 1960. The permanent church was built in 1965, the original temporary church was converted into a gymnasium, and in 1998 the parish acquired the house at 1456 Bopp Road for its new Youth Ministry program and a temporary school library. A four-classroom school addition, parish center, new kitchen, principal's offices, and a music/assembly room followed in 2001–2002. By the 2012 Status Animarum the parish had 4,256 members.
- Founded March 19, 1952 — Feast of St. Joseph
- Founding pastor: Father Luke Naes, assigned by Archbishop Joseph Ritter
- Six acres purchased from the Deutschmann family in 1951; 3.5 more acres added 1955
- Ground broken for school, cafeteria and temporary church: July 19, 1953
- 400 families and 683 students by 1959
- Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O'Fallon) convent dedicated Passion Sunday 1960
- Permanent church built 1965; former church becomes gymnasium
- Youth Ministry house at 1456 Bopp Rd acquired 1998
- School addition, parish center and kitchen added 2001–2002
- 4,256 registered parishioners (2012 Status Animarum)
Patron Saint: Pope St. Clement I
The parish's patron is St. Clement of Rome, traditionally regarded as the third or fourth successor of St. Peter, who became Bishop of Rome around AD 92 and was martyred around AD 99. Clement is one of the Apostolic Fathers and is mentioned by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass. He is venerated as patron of sailors, stone cutters, and sick children, and his feast day is November 23 in the Roman calendar. His letters to the Corinthian church are among the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament.
- Pope from c. AD 92 to AD 99
- Mentioned in the Roman Canon (First Eucharistic Prayer) of the Mass
- Patron of sailors, stone cutters, and sick children
- Feast day: November 23
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, a senior associate pastor, and two permanent deacons, supported by an experienced lay staff handling parish administration, faith formation, music, communications, and school operations.
- Rev. Msgr. James Ramacciotti — Pastor
- Rev. Richard Coerver — Senior Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Bill Johnson — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Michael Quinlan — Permanent Deacon
- Jennifer Werth — Business Manager
- Tricia Dunn — Secretary and Child Safety Coordinator
- Anne Marie Chapman — Office Manager and Bulletin Editor
- Margaret Adams — Communications Specialist ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Clement spans early childhood through high school and includes the parish school, a Parish School of Religion / Family Catechesis program, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, and a dedicated Youth Ministry. Together these programs accompany more than 360 students in the school and around 130 in the PSR program.
- St. Clement of Rome Catholic School — preschool through 8th grade (Principal: Corina Newman)
- Parish School of Religion / Family Catechesis — Sue Cunningham, Coordinator
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Michelle Muck
- Religious Education — Barb Yoffie, Coordinator
- Youth Ministry — Conner Havrilla
St. Clement of Rome Catholic School
The parish school has served Des Peres-area families since 1953 and now offers preschool through 8th grade. The campus includes the original eight-classroom building plus a four-classroom addition completed in 2001–2002, with dedicated space for art, music, STEM, library, math enrichment, counseling, and a parish center with kitchen used for community events.
- Principal: Corina Newman ([email protected])
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Aftercare program directed by Janet Bennett
- Subjects include Spanish (Diana Salazar Manzano), Art (Isabella Brouster), Music (Kristin Treu), STEM (Tracey Robinson), PE (Mike Wolff), and Library/Math Enrichment (Jennifer Janson)
- School Counselor: Angie Bullock
- School Nurse: Dana Pompa
- Administrative Assistant: Amy McKenna-Jones
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Clement is led by a Music Director and a separate Director of Youth Music, supporting both the adult liturgical choir and the school's music program. The parish's regular schedule of Masses, devotions, and Eucharistic Adoration is supported by a robust team of cantors and musicians serving the Sunday and weekday liturgies.
- David Kowalczyk — Music Director ([email protected])
- Kyle Huelsing — Director of Youth Music
- Kristin Treu — School Music Teacher
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Luke Naes1952–
Founding pastor, assigned by Archbishop Joseph Ritter on March 19, 1952.