About St. Francis de Sales · Saint Louis, Missouri
St. Francis de Sales Oratory is a Roman Catholic church in the Benton Park West / South City neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Designated as an oratory — not a territorial parish — it serves the entire Archdiocese of St. Louis as the center of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the 1962 Roman Missal), celebrated in Latin. The soaring Gothic Revival church, nicknamed the 'Cathedral of South St. Louis,' is on the National Register of Historic Places and is famous for its 300-foot spire, its 50-foot High Altar, and the Emil Frei Sr. stained-glass windows. A growing community gathers here for solemn liturgy, Gregorian chant and polyphony, traditional catechesis, and a thriving home-school co-op.
- Established
- 1867 (parish); 2005 (oratory)
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. Canon Benjamin Coggeshall, Rector
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales Oratory offers the extraordinary beauty of the traditional Latin Mass — the 1962 Roman Missal — celebrated with full solemnity, Gregorian chant and polyphonic choral music, and a reverence for sacred liturgy that draws Catholics from across the St. Louis region. Beyond the Mass schedule, the Oratory is home to a vibrant family community with weekly catechism classes for every age (from 6 to adult), a flourishing home-school co-op serving around 100 children, traditional devotions such as Mother of Perpetual Help novenas and Eucharistic Adoration, and the ongoing restoration of one of the city's most historic churches. It is a place where centuries-old Catholic worship, art, and community life meet in the heart of South St. Louis.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before all Masses (1 hour before the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass)
- Thursday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Sunday: 7:15 AM – 11:30 AM (per official site) / 7:00 AM – 12:00 noon (per Tradition for Tomorrow site)
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:30 PM (with Benediction)
History of St. Francis de Sales Oratory
The parish was founded in 1867 by seven German immigrant dairymen from the Soulard neighborhood's Saints Peter and Paul parish, who pooled resources to buy land at Gravois and Ohio and build a brick church costing $12,850. The parish grew with the German community of South St. Louis, and the present Gothic Revival church — designed in the German Gothic style after the Ulm Minster — was completed and dedicated in 1908, with its stained-glass windows crafted by Emil Frei Sr. After serving South City for 138 years, the parish was closed by the Archdiocese in June 2005 and was slated for demolition. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Archbishop of St. Louis, intervened and entrusted the church to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in July 2005 as an Oratory, with Canon Karl W. Lenhardt as its first rector. A century after the new building's dedication, in November 2008, Bishop Robert J. Hermann celebrated a solemn pontifical Mass for the 100th anniversary.
- 1867: Parish founded by 7 German dairymen from Saints Peter and Paul, Soulard
- 1908: Current Gothic Revival church completed and dedicated
- November 2008: 100th anniversary of building's dedication celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Hermann
- June 2005: Parish closed by Archdiocese of St. Louis
- July 2005: Church entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King by Cardinal Burke; erected as an Oratory
The Oratory's Architecture & Stained Glass
St. Francis de Sales is the only church of German Gothic architecture in the St. Louis area, modeled on the Ulm Minster in Germany — the tallest church in the world. Locals call it the 'Cathedral of South St. Louis' because of its elegantly designed exterior and 300+ foot spire. The High Altar alone is more than 50 feet high and forms a unique throne for Christ the King in the ornate Tabernacle. The church's stained-glass windows were designed by Emil Frei Sr., a Bavarian-trained glazier who emigrated to San Francisco, stopped in St. Louis to visit German friends, and stayed to design the windows of many of the city's churches. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
- German Gothic style, modeled on the Ulm Minster (Germany)
- 300+ foot spire; High Altar over 50 feet tall
- Stained glass by Emil Frei Sr. (Munich Pictorial Style)
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1978
- Campus includes church, rectory, convent, and two school buildings
Restoration: The Beauty Reborn Campaign
Since 2005 the Institute has been steadily restoring the 100+ year-old building. The entire roof has been repaired and restored; the sinking foundation and tower have been stabilized; stained-glass windows are being conserved window-by-window by Emil Frei and Associates; and the façade is being tuckpointed to stop water seepage. A 2020 milestone was the complete installation, voicing, and tuning of the new Karl Wilhelm Opus 123 organ — a three-manual, 58-rank, 2,670-pipe mechanical-action instrument hand-built in five white-oak cases. Eleven of the church's 35 stained-glass windows have been fully restored and preserved, and the organ and the interior frescoes still need cleaning and restoration.
- Karl Wilhelm Opus 123 organ installed and voiced in 2020
- Emil Frei and Associates restoring stained glass (11 of 35 windows completed)
- Roof repaired and restored since 2005
- Tower foundation stabilized; terra cotta and stained glass being conserved
- Future projects: electrical system replacement, fresco cleaning, full tuckpointing
Sacraments
Unlike a territorial parish, the Oratory does not have fixed geographic boundaries but has been granted permission to celebrate the sacraments for the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Infant Baptism requires parents to be active, registered members and to contact the rectory for preparation. Couples planning to marry at the Oratory must also call the rectory for proper instructions. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request, especially before surgery or in cases of serious illness.
- Baptism: parents must be registered members; contact the rectory
- Matrimony: couples must call the rectory for instructions
- Anointing of the Sick: call (314) 771-3100
- Confession: regular schedule (see above)
Faith Formation: Catechism & the SFDS Co-Op
The Oratory runs a robust catechetical program for every age. Children meet on Thursdays from 5:00–6:00 PM in the historic 1888 building, split into Grade School (ages 6–8), Middle School (9–11), Junior High (12–14), and High School (15–18) classes. Adults gather on Saturdays from 9:45–11:15 AM for Adult Catechism with Canon Bell. The St. Francis de Sales Oratory CO-OP is a home-school cooperative that meets Wednesdays in the original grade school building and currently serves around 100 children from approximately 29 families, with instruction in literature, catechism, the natural sciences, and more — taught by a mix of parents and Institute oblates.
- Children's Catechism: Thursdays 5:00–6:00 PM (4 age groups)
- Adult Catechism: Saturdays 9:45–11:15 AM with Canon Bell
- SFDS Co-Op home-school: Wednesdays, ~100 children, 29 families
- High school building is leased to a KIPP charter school
Sacred Music Program
In accord with the Institute of Christ the King's emphasis on the beauty of the liturgical arts, St. Francis de Sales Oratory has a highly developed music program with several choirs specializing in Gregorian chant and polyphony. The program is directed by Mr. James Marck, Master of the Choirs. In September 2015, the Oratory Choir under the direction of Mr. Nicholas Botkins released O Lux Beatissima, an album of polyphonic music that includes the first commercial recording of Max Filke's Missa in honorem beatae Mariae Virginis and the premiere recording of John Osterhagen's Tantum Ergo written for the Oratory's Ladies' Schola. The Oratory has also hosted the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, and the new Karl Wilhelm Opus 123 organ installed in 2020 supports the program with 2,670 pipes in a fully mechanical-action instrument.
- Multiple choirs: Men's Schola, Women's Schola, Ladies' Schola, full Choir
- Director of Sacred Music / Master of the Choirs: Mr. James Marck
- Album: O Lux Beatissima (2015) — first recording of Max Filke's Missa in honorem B.M.V.
- New Karl Wilhelm Opus 123 organ installed in 2020
Clergy & Staff
The Oratory is led by a small community of Institute of Christ the King priests and lay staff. The current rector is Rev. Canon Benjamin Coggeshall, supported by vicars Rev. Canon Paul McKown, Rev. Canon Ross Bourgeois, and Rev. Canon Gerald Bell, with Abbé Alex Barga serving as a clerical oblate. Miss Elizabeth Vennari directs development, Mr. Jon Roche is the Accounting Manager, and Mr. James Marck directs the sacred music program. The first rector after the Institute's arrival in 2005 was Rev. Canon Karl W. Lenhardt.
- Rector: Rev. Canon Benjamin Coggeshall
- Vicars: Canon Paul McKown, Canon Ross Bourgeois, Canon Gerald Bell
- Clerical Oblate: Abbé Alex Barga
- Director of Development: Miss Elizabeth Vennari
- Accounting Manager: Mr. Jon Roche
- Director of Sacred Music: Mr. James Marck
- First rector (2005): Rev. Canon Karl W. Lenhardt
Visiting the Oratory
The 'Cathedral of South Saint Louis' is located at the corner of Gravois, Ohio and Lynch Streets and is easily accessible by I-44, I-55, and I-64. From downtown St. Louis, take Tucker Boulevard (12th Street) south to Gravois, turn right at Ohio, and the church is immediately on the left. The building is handicap-accessible. Rectory office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; the office is closed Monday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Corner of Gravois, Ohio, and Lynch Streets
- Easy access from I-44, I-55, and I-64
- Handicap accessible
- Rectory office: Tue–Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Canon Karl W. Lenhardt2005–
First rector of St. Francis de Sales under the Institute of Christ the King, appointed when Cardinal Burke entrusted the church to the Institute in July 2005.
- Rev. Canon Benjamin Coggeshallpresent
Current rector; oversees ongoing restoration including the new Wilhelm organ and the Emil Frei stained-glass conservation.