St. Cronan

Our Story — A Parish Founded in 1878

St. Cronan was founded in 1878 by Father Thomas Butler, an Irish priest who had come to St. Louis from Kansas. The first Cronan congregation met in the attic of a building owned by Timothy Murphy, then moved to a former stable on the Laclede Race Track before Butler purchased land on Boyle Avenue in 1879 for $1,000. The cornerstone was laid April 9, 1879, the church was built for $4,400, and Bishop Patrick J. Ryan blessed it on July 7, 1879. Butler added the bell tower, vestibule, and sacristies in 1893, built the rectory and a one-story grade school in 1897, and died September 6, 1897 — remembered as the 'poet priest.'

St. Cronan Grade School (1897–1971)

Fr. Butler built the original one-story parish grade school across from the church in 1897 and arranged for the Sisters of Mercy to teach there. They were followed by the Ursuline sisters (until 1907) and then the Loretto sisters, who taught until the school closed in 1971 due to a lack of students. The parish expresses lasting gratitude to the sisters who staffed Cronan school for 74 years.

Faith Formation for Children and Adults

St. Cronan believes in the continuing education of adults and children in the Catholic Faith. Adult programming includes 'Issues and Answers' discussions and reading groups throughout the year that connect faith to social justice. Children gather for monthly Faith Formation classes, with materials sent home so parents can grow in the faith together with their kids. At the 10:00 liturgy, children pre-K through 1st grade are invited to a child-centered Liturgy of the Word focused on that day's readings.

• Adult Faith Formation – 'Issues and Answers' and reading groups
• RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults and children exploring Catholicism
• Children's Faith Formation — monthly classes for school-aged children
• Liturgy of the Word with Children — pre-K through 1st grade at the 10:00 Mass

Outreach & Charity — Serving the 63110 Neighborhood

St. Cronan's charity work centers on its immediate neighborhood. The St. Cronan Food Pantry serves neighbors in the 63110 zip code with non-perishable items and household products and is open the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, 9:00–10:30 am. The St. Vincent de Paul Society leads women and men in person-to-person service to the needy and suffering. The parish also supports Assisi House, which provides communal, dignified housing for previously unhoused individuals.

• St. Cronan Food Pantry — 2nd & 4th Saturday, 9:00–10:30 am (314-533-0651)
• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Assisi House — housing for previously unhoused individuals

Social Justice & Inclusion

St. Cronan's Social Justice Committee believes in the rights of all and the dignity of the human person, and works to fight racial injustice, enhance LGBTQ+ inclusion, and address immigration issues. The parish partners with Metropolitan Community Church (MCU), the InterFaith Coalition for Latin American Immigration (IFCLA), St. Margaret of Scotland's Living Justice Committee, the Coalition for Racial Justice, and the Archdiocesan Peace and Justice Commission. The parish has publicly supported abolishing the death penalty, combating racism, just immigration policies, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and Medicaid expansion, and publishes a Land Acknowledgement recognizing the Indigenous peoples on whose ancestral lands the church stands.

• St. Cronan Social Justice Committee
• Metropolitan Community Church (MCU) partnership
• InterFaith Coalition for Latin American Immigration (IFCLA)
• Coalition for Racial Justice
• Archdiocesan Peace and Justice Commission

Pastoral Care, Health & Companionship

The Health Cabinet reflects Christ's healing presence by providing health information, periodic health screenings, a seasonal newsletter, home visits, and a grief support group. The Shawl Ministry creates and blesses prayer shawls and blankets for those facing surgery, illness, or grief; each shawl is passed throughout the congregation at Mass and prayed over. Cronan Companions is a group of parishioners committed to visiting and being present with those experiencing loneliness, grief, doubt, or sadness, and coordinates wider community support such as meals, errands, and home visits during times of transition.

• Health Cabinet — screenings, grief support, newsletter
• Shawl Ministry — knitted and crocheted prayer shawls blessed at Mass
• Cronan Companions — parish visiting and care ministry

Community Life & Groups

Beyond its charitable and social-justice work, St. Cronan supports a wide range of parish groups that build community life — from choir to gardening, young adults to archives. The Hospitality/Welcoming Committee greets visitors at Mass, follows up with newcomers, and maintains Welcome Packets. The Young Adult Group welcomes college students, graduate students, singles, newly married couples, and young career men and women for fellowship, study, service, and prayer. The Gardening Committee works three or four times a year to maintain the parish gardens around the church and rectory.

• Hospitality / Welcoming Committee (co-chairs Christine Lakey and Erin O'Connell)
• Young Adult Group
• Gardening Committee
• Women's Turtles Group
• Archives Committee
• Church Council (Chair: Margaret Govero; Vice Chair: Dan Diemer)

Our Staff

Day-to-day parish life is led by a small staff, supported by an active Church Council and dozens of ministry leaders.

• Fr. Jack Schuler — Pastoral Administrator / Retired Priest in Residence ([email protected])
• Diane Gozdzialski — Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
• Mary Ward — Church Administrator ([email protected])
• David Dickey — Music Director
• Mary Solomon — Food Pantry Coordinator (314-533-0651)
• Johnny Zokovitch — Community Life Coordinator

Visit, Register & What to Expect

St. Cronan welcomes newcomers warmly: 'Our doors are open, our hearts are wide, and our hands are outstretched.' Visitors are encouraged to expect to be welcomed and included, to participate in song and prayer, and to know that children are welcome even when they cry, clap, or run. The community invites everyone to come as they are and to wear what is comfortable. Registration forms are available from the parish office (314-289-9384) or via download from the website.

• Address: 1202 S. Boyle Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
• Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Phone: (314) 289-9384
• What to Expect at Liturgies: sing, pray, dress comfortably, children fully welcome