About St. Elizabeth of Hungary · Crestwood, Missouri
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a Roman Catholic parish in Crestwood, Missouri (south St. Louis County) at 1420 S. Sappington Rd. Founded in 1956 by Father James Ryan, the parish community is now uniquely organized as a partnership between Roman Catholics of the Latin Rite and Catholics of the Maronite Rite, brought together in January 2020 under the leadership of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon–Los Angeles alongside the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish offers daily Mass in both Roman and Maronite traditions, along with a charismatic Saturday vigil, Eucharistic Adoration, and a range of lay ministries including a music ministry, lectors, men's and women's groups, and a religious education program led by Director Pam Olimpio.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. John Nahal
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (in partnership with the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon–Los Angeles since 2020)
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary offers something unusual in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: a single parish home for both Roman Catholic and Maronite Catholic faithful, with daily Mass in both traditions plus a charismatic vigil. Active parishioners can join a music ministry, lector ministry, women's ministry, men's group (first Thursday of the month), a landscape and garden committee, or sign up for Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. — all under the pastoral care of Fr. John Nahal, Fr. Tony Simon, and Deacon Bill Meister.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Sunday: 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration — Mondays 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
A Parish of Two Rites: The 2020 Maronite Partnership
In January 2020, Archbishop Robert Carlson of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon announced an unusual partnership: St. Elizabeth of Hungary would become a joint Roman Catholic / Maronite Catholic parish under the leadership of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon–Los Angeles. On July 1, 2020, Fr. John Nahal — already Rector of St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral — was also appointed Pastor. The arrangement allows the parish to serve the Latin Rite sacramental needs of its existing Roman Catholic parishioners while adding Maronite Rite Masses and community life, in keeping with the archdiocese's interest in 'long-term stability' for the parish.
Founding and Early Years
The parish was born out of the post-war Catholic expansion of south St. Louis County. Father James Ryan celebrated St. Elizabeth of Hungary's first Mass on April 2, 1956, on the gym stage at Grant School. Groundbreaking for the permanent complex came on August 12, 1956, and the first Mass in the new church was offered August 11, 1957. Archbishop Joseph Ritter formally dedicated the parish on November 17, 1957, the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Father Ryan remained pastor until his death on July 25, 1973, when Monsignor Joseph Kennedy stepped in as administrator and later associate pastor.
The Parish School and its 2004 Closing
St. Elizabeth of Hungary operated its own parish elementary school for decades. During the pastorate of Fr. James Edwards, declining enrollment and shifting demographics led the parish to merge its school with neighboring St. Justin Martyr at the end of the 2003–2004 school year. An agreement was made that St. Elizabeth families wishing to enroll their children in Catholic elementary school remain St. Elizabeth parishioners while sending students to St. Justin School.
Patron Saint: Elizabeth of Hungary
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, born at Pressburg in 1207, was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and his wife Gertrude. She is the patroness of the parish, and her feast is celebrated each year on November 17 — the same date Archbishop Joseph Ritter chose to formally dedicate the parish in 1957. The parish continues to invoke her example of faith and charity as a model for its own community life.
Get Involved: Parish Ministries
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talents in a number of lay ministries. Those interested can contact the parish secretary for more information.
- Lectors
- Music Ministry
- Women's Ministry
- Men's Group — first Thursday of the month
- Landscape and Garden Committee
- Thursday's Video Series — 9:00 a.m. in Fr. Edward's Hall
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Elizabeth of Hungary is directed by Pam Olimpio (314-359-3453). Although the parish school closed in 2004, faith formation for parish children continues as a parish program, with families also welcomed to enroll their children at neighboring St. Justin Martyr School for Catholic elementary education while remaining parishioners of St. Elizabeth.
Pastoral Staff and Contact
The parish office is open to new parishioners who are invited to stop by in person or download registration materials online. Pastoral staff includes the pastor, associate pastor, permanent deacon, and director of religious education.
- Pastor — Rev. John Nahal
- Associate Pastor — Rev. Anthony Simon
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon William Meister
- Director of Religious Education — Pam Olimpio (314-359-3453)
- Parish Office: (314) 968-0760
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Ryan1956–1973
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass on April 2, 1956 at Grant School gym; served until his death July 25, 1973.
- Msgr. Joseph Kennedy1973–1981
Administrator during Fr. Ryan's final illness, then Associate Pastor until 1981.
- Rev. William Ahrens1973–1985
Pastor from October 1973 to 1985.
- Rev. Ronald R. Tiefenbrunn1985–1987
Pastor from June 1985 to June 1987.
- Rev. Donald Buhr1987–1996
Succeeded Fr. Tiefenbrunn; served until June 1996.
- Rev. Thomas Haley1996–2002
Pastor from 1996 to June 2002.
- Rev. James Edwards2002–2009
Closed parish school in 2004; ministered until 2009.
- Rev. Joseph Weber2008–2009
Pastor of St. Justin Martyr; served as temporary administrator during Fr. Edwards' illness.
- Rev. Gregory Lockwood2009–2011
Parochial administrator from October 2009 until 2011.
- Msgr. Timothy Cronin2011–2012
Appointed July 1, 2011 (Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart); assigned to St. Joseph, Imperial in August 2012.
- Msgr. Richard Hanneke2012–2014
Parochial administrator from August 28, 2012 to July 1, 2014.
- Rev. Chris Martin2014–2016
Parochial administrator and Director of Vocations; appointed Vice Rector of Kenrick Seminary July 1, 2016.
- Rev. Lawrence Brennan2016–2017
Pastor from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017.
- Rev. Brian Fallon2017–2019
Parochial administrator from July 1, 2017; appointed Pastor July 7, 2018; later assigned to St. Mary Magdalen, St. Louis City.
- Rev. John Nahal2020–present
Also Rector of St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral; began July 1, 2020 under the new Maronite partnership.