About St. John the Apostle and Evangelist · Saint Louis, Missouri
St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is a historic Catholic parish in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, located at 15 Plaza Square on the city's once-fashionable Lucas Place. Founded in 1847 to serve Catholics moving to the first suburb of the original village of St. Louis, the present church was dedicated on 4 November 1860 and has been in continuous daily use since. The parish served for some twenty years as the Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese under Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick, and retains the historic Archbishop's Cathedra today. It is administered from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and currently pastored by Reverend Monsignor Dennis Delaney as Rector.
- Established
- 1847
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
- Rector
- Reverend Monsignor Dennis Delaney (Rector / Pastor)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. John's is a small, diverse, downtown center-city parish where the Sunday congregation genuinely reflects the breadth of the St. Louis community. It gathers for one Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m., offers confession before Mass, sponsors a monthly Faith Enrichment Group that meets in the church hall after Mass, and welcomes wedding requests through a dedicated parish weddings coordinator. Worship takes place in a beautifully restored 1860 landmark with a Raphael Transfiguration reproduction, an award-winning bell-tower restoration, an 8-rank Wicks organ, and the historic Cathedra of Archbishop Kenrick — a parish that has been in continuous daily use since the Civil War era.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30–4:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00–9:30 am
About St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is a downtown center-city parish of diverse people who share a common belief in Jesus Christ and His teachings. Its mission is to proclaim the Word of God by the example of its members' lives, through prayer, hospitality, acceptance, forgiveness, love, stewardship, and support of one another, and by inviting others to share in the Catholic Faith. The parish is pastored by Reverend Monsignor Dennis Delaney as Rector and is part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
- Downtown center-city Catholic parish
- Mission: proclaim the Word through prayer, hospitality, acceptance, forgiveness, love, stewardship and support
- Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Located at 15 Plaza Square, St. Louis, MO 63103
Parish History
St. John the Apostle & Evangelist Parish was founded in 1847 to serve Catholics moving into the first suburb of the original village and city of St. Louis. The area had been a peach orchard, and the parish record books carry the names of many Catholic founding families of St. Louis from a variety of nationalities. The present church was dedicated on 4 November 1860 and has been in continuous daily use ever since. In the late 1800s, Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick designated St. John's as the Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese for about twenty years, living across the main plaza of the church on what was then 16th Street.
- Parish founded 1847
- Church dedicated 4 November 1860
- Pro-Cathedral under Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick (c. 1880s–1900s)
- Centennial restoration completed 1960 at a cost of $600,000
- Bell-tower restoration 2004 (American Institute of Architects award)
- Sesquicentennial Mass celebrated 11 December 2010 by Archbishop Robert Carlson
- Archbishop Kenrick's Cathedra returned to the church in 2013
Architecture, Art & Furnishings
The 1860 church at 15 Plaza Square sits on the historic Lucas Place block. Its twin bell towers were partly demolished and restored in 2004 in a project that drew recognition from the American Institute of Architects. The interior holds a remarkable collection of devotional art centered on St. John's Gospel, including stained-glass windows depicting events in Christ's life from the Gospel of St. John, a reproduction of Raphael's 1520 Transfiguration in the east apse (the original hangs in the Vatican Museums), and European-made oil-on-copper Stations of the Cross professionally restored in 2012.
- Twin bell towers — upper quarters restored 2004 (AIA award)
- Reproduction of Raphael's 1520 'The Transfiguration' in the east apse
- Stained-glass windows depicting events from the Gospel of St. John
- Shrine Altar (1864) donated by James M. Slevin in memory of his wife Elizabeth Patterson Slevin, whose facial likeness appears as the Madonna
- Stations of the Cross: oil painted on copper, imported from Europe, restored 2012
- 8-rank Wicks Pipe Organ dedicated 15 September 2002, restored after a 2012 Palm Sunday lightning strike and enhanced with an antiphonal chamber in the apse
- Marble Baptismal Font (2005), acquired from the closed Church of St. Boniface in South St. Louis
- Fixed Marble Altar of Sacrifice erected 2009, consecrated by Bishop Terry Steib
- Cathedra (Bishop's Chair) used by Archbishop Kenrick, returned 2013
Schedule of Services
The parish publishes a clear weekly rhythm centered on one Sunday Mass with confession offered before it. Weekday morning Masses at St. John's were discontinued; the schedule points parishioners to the Old Cathedral on the riverfront (7:00 am, Mon–Fri) and St. Francis Xavier College Church at Lindell & Grand (7:15 am, Mon–Fri) for daily Mass.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 am
- Holy Day Masses: as announced
- Weekday morning Masses at St. John's are discontinued
- Weekday Mass alternative: Old Cathedral on the Riverfront, 7:00 am Mon–Fri
- Weekday Mass alternative: St. Francis Xavier (College Church), Lindell & Grand, 7:15 am Mon–Fri
- Saturday Reconciliation (Penance): 3:30–4:00 pm
- Sunday Reconciliation: 9:00–9:30 am
Sacraments
St. John's celebrates the Eucharist on Sundays and Holy Days, offers the Sacrament of Penance on Saturday and Sunday, and arranges Baptisms and Marriages through the parish office. Baptisms are arranged by contacting the parish office by email or phone; marriages begin with the 'Weddings' link on the parish website followed by office contact, with Nettie Moore serving as Parish Coordinator for Weddings.
- Eucharist (Sunday 10:00 am; Holy Days as announced)
- Penance / Reconciliation (Saturday 3:30–4:00 pm; Sunday 9:00–9:30 am)
- Baptism — contact parish office by email or phone (314-421-3467)
- Marriage — see Weddings guidelines then contact parish office; coordinator Nettie Moore ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Enrichment
The principal ongoing formation opportunity published on the parish website is the St. John's Faith Enrichment Group, which regularly meets on the first Sunday of the month in the church hall following the 10:00 Mass. The gathered group intentionally reflects the diversity of the parish members, and a topical conversation (such as the life and impact of soon-to-be-beatified Archbishop Fulton Sheen) anchors the hour-long gathering, with light refreshments served. All are welcome.
- St. John's Faith Enrichment Group
- Meets first Sunday of the month in the church hall after the 10:00 Mass
- Hour-long conversation with light refreshments; all are welcome
- Topics drawn from current Church life (e.g., Archbishop Fulton Sheen's impact)
Parish Staff, Councils & Organization
Pastoral leadership at St. John's is provided by Reverend Monsignor Dennis Delaney as Pastor (also styled Rector on the Archdiocesan page). Day-to-day administration is shared among a small office staff, a director of sacred music, and a maintenance manager; lay leadership runs through the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance Council.
- Pastor/Rector: Monsignor Dennis Delaney
- Parish Office Manager: Mers Clifford (Mon–Wed–Fri, 10:00 am–2:00 pm)
- Parish Office Coordinator: Nettie Moore
- Director of Sacred Music: Aidan Donovan
- Maintenance Manager: Michael Goar
- Parish Pastoral Council Chair: Dr. Daniel O'Brien
- Parish Finance Council Chair: Jeff Pomeroy
- Parish Coordinator for Weddings: Nettie Moore
Weddings at St. John's
Couples wishing to be married at St. John's are directed first to the 'Weddings' page on the parish website for the parish's marriage guidelines, and then to contact the parish office. The Parish Coordinator for Weddings is Nettie Moore ([email protected]). The Shrine Altar of 1864 was given by James M. Slevin in memory of his young bride Elizabeth Patterson Slevin, who died shortly after the couple married at this church — a reminder of St. John's long history of welcoming couples to the altar.
- Read the 'Weddings' (Marriage Guidelines) page on the parish website
- Then contact the parish office
- Weddings Coordinator: Nettie Moore — [email protected]
Outreach & Neighborhood Resources
The parish website lists a dedicated Outreach section that curates neighborhood resources for those in need. As a downtown parish, St. John's points visitors and parishioners to local Catholic and civic resources rather than operating a single large social-services program, while also linking to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Louis) for those in need.
- Outreach / Neighborhood Resources page on parish website
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Louis) linked via Useful Links
Useful Links & Wider Catholic Life
The parish website gathers links to the broader Catholic world — the Archdiocese of St. Louis and its mission statement, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese, the St. Louis Review, the Holy See, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, the Catholic News Service, the Society for St. Vincent de Paul, and a page honoring Father Simon and Father Canice, former priests connected to the parish family.
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Mission Statement of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Archdiocese of St. Louis Directory
- Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
- St. Louis Review
- Holy See (Vatican) site in English
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services
- Catholic News Service
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Louis)
- Memorial page: Father Simon & Father Canice
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. John's is at 15 Plaza Square, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, with the parish office reachable at (314) 421-3467 (fax 314-588-9544) and [email protected]. The Parish Office Manager, Mers Clifford, is in the office Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The parish is also listed in the Archdiocese of St. Louis directory under the name St. John, Apostle and Evangelist (Pro-Cathedral).
- Address: 15 Plaza Square, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Parish Office Phone: 314-421-3467
- Fax: 314-588-9544
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Wed–Fri, 10:00 am–2:00 pm (Parish Office Manager)