About St. Margaret Mary Alacoque · Saint Louis, Missouri
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Mattese/Oakville area of South St. Louis County, Missouri, within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 1962 on nine acres that were transformed from a sinkhole into a faith community, the parish is today home to more than 2,300 families. It is an intergenerational community dedicated to worshiping in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, operating a parish elementary school (PreK–8), a Parish School of Religion, a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, and a wide range of worship, message, service, and social ministries.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
- Rector
- Very Reverend Michael (Mike) Boehm, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis (Southern Vicariate)
Why belong here
SMMA is a neighborhood-based Catholic community of more than 2,300 families committed to living and worshiping in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. New members are welcomed into a parish that offers two daily Masses, four Sunday liturgies, regular Reconciliation, a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, a vibrant K–8 parish school, an active Parish School of Religion, and more than 30 worship, message, service, and social ministries — including the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, St. Vincent de Paul, Respect Life, Youth Ministry, OCIA, and Bible Study.
Mass times at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 p.m.
- First Tuesday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel: open from 12:30 p.m. Sunday until 7:00 a.m. Saturday (around-the-clock)
- Benediction in Chapel on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m.
Parish History & Identity
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish was established on April 30, 1962, when Fr. Joseph O. Scheer, then pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Kinloch, received a letter from Archbishop Ritter instructing him to establish a new parish on nine undeveloped acres in the Mattese area. The patronage of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was granted at the request of Herb and Agnes Faust, the prior owners of the land. Through St. Margaret Mary's intercession and the grace of the Sacred Heart, 125 founding families and a huge sinkhole were transformed into a faith community dedicated in the spirit of "family." Today the parish is home to more than 2,300 families and serves as an anchor in the Southern Vicariate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
- Founded April 30, 1962
- Founding pastor: Fr. Joseph O. Scheer
- Original 125 families on nine acres in the Mattese area
- Now more than 2,300 families
- Member parish of the Southern Vicariate, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Our Patroness — St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
The parish is named for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun who entered the Order of the Visitation in the late 1600s. During her lifetime she experienced several visions which became the foundation for the Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her intercession, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, are the spiritual heart of SMMA's identity — celebrated in the parish's perpetual Adoration Chapel, in its annual feast (October 16), and in the parish motto of worshiping 'in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.'
- French Visitation nun, late 1600s
- Visionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Feast day: October 16
- Patronage requested by the Faust family, prior owners of the land
Devotions
In addition to the Mass and the perpetual Adoration Chapel, SMMA sustains several regular devotional practices.
- Perpetual Help Devotion — Tuesday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Rosary for Life — Monday through Saturday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration with Saturday Benediction
Parish School (Preschool–Grade 8)
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque School opened its doors in 1964 and today serves about 450 students in Preschool through Grade 8. The school is fully accredited by the Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association and is a member of the National Catholic Education Association. SMMA School integrates Catholic faith into every aspect of its curriculum and welcomes families from the parish and surrounding community. Before- and after-care programs are available for working parents.
- Founded 1964
- Enrollment: approximately 450 students, Preschool–Grade 8
- Accredited by Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association
- Member of the National Catholic Education Association
- Preschool program for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds (morning, afternoon, and full-day options)
- Before Care and After Care for PreK–8 students
- Principal: Tracey Miesner — (314) 487-1666, Ext. 213 — [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at SMMA is structured around the parish school, the Parish School of Religion (PSR), the OCIA process for adults, and ongoing adult education opportunities. The Director of Religious Education, Paul Cooper, oversees PSR, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and OCIA. The parish also subscribes to FORMED, a Catholic digital media platform available free to parishioners.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Grades 1–8, Monday evenings 6:00–7:15 p.m.
- Emmaus Partners family-review model
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass (Grades K–4)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — four-stage process culminating at the Easter Vigil
- Adult Education: 6-week small-group Scripture series each Fall and Spring
- FORMED digital platform free for parishioners
- Director of Religious Education: Paul Cooper — Ext. 222 — [email protected]
Youth Ministry
SMMA's Youth Ministry serves middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults with weekly programming plus retreats and conferences. Adult volunteers are regularly recruited.
- Middle School Ministry (6th–8th): two Mondays a month, 7:15–8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room
- High School Ministry (9th–12th): Sundays 7:30–9:00 p.m. in the Youth Room
- Annual Fall Retreat, quarterly XLTs, Luke 18 Youth Retreat
- Steubenville Youth Conference
- Instagram: @smma_ym — [email protected] — (314) 487-2522, Ext. 229
Worship Ministries
The parish's Worship Ministries support the celebration of the Mass and the other sacraments, including the perpetual Adoration Chapel and devotional prayer life of the parish.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (referenced in directory)
- Altar Servers (referenced)
- Music / Choir ministry (referenced)
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel volunteers
Service Ministries
SMMA's Service Ministries are organized around helping parishioners and neighbors in need, supporting the dignity of human life, and providing material and spiritual assistance to those who are poor, homebound, or isolated.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — assists Neighbors in Need within parish boundaries with rent, utilities, food, medicine, auto repairs; meets 1st Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
- Respect Life / Pro-Life Committee
- Helping to Feed the Homeless
- Helping Hands — Needs & Services: transportation, home maintenance for parishioners
- Hospital Cards ministry
Social & Fraternal Organizations
The parish hosts a strong network of men's spiritual, fraternal, and service organizations, as well as a Home & School Association supporting the school. These groups fund tuition assistance, vocations, youth ministry, and many parish events.
- Knights of Columbus — SMMA Council 14719 — meets 4th Thursday, 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria
- Holy Name Society — meets 2nd Thursday, 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria (rosary & 6:45 p.m. Mass in church first)
- Home & School Association — smmaschool.org contact
- Annual Golf Tournament, Tootsie Roll Drive, Christmas Raffle, Free Family Night, Soccer Challenge & Free Throw Contest
- First Friday fish fries (September through Lent) and Lenten fish fries supporting Pro-Life and St. Vincent de Paul
Parish Staff & Clergy
SMMA is led by Very Reverend Michael (Mike) Boehm, V.F., Pastor, with two associate priests and a permanent deacon. The parish also employs a Director of Religious Education, a school principal, and parish office staff who coordinate the many ministries of the parish.
- Very Reverend Michael (Mike) Boehm, V.F. — Pastor
- Reverend Thomas Wyrsch — Senior Associate Pastor
- Reverend Ryan Quarnstrom — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Andrew Daus — Permanent Deacon
- Paul Cooper — Director of Religious Education (Ext. 222)
- Tracey Miesner — School Principal (314-487-1666, Ext. 213)
- Parish Secretary / Office — [email protected]
Joining the Parish
SMMA welcomes new parishioners through its registration process. Registrations can be completed online, by phone, or in person at the parish office at 4900 Ringer Road. A printable PDF registration form is also available on the parish website. The parish describes itself as 'a uniquely neighborhood-based faith community' located in a residential area of South St. Louis County.
- Parish Office: 4900 Ringer Road, St. Louis, MO 63129
- Phone: (314) 487-2522
- Online registration form available on smmaparish.org/join
- Downloadable PDF registration form
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph O. Scheer1962 (founding)
Pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Kinloch who was instructed by Archbishop Ritter to establish the new parish on nine undeveloped acres in the Mattese area.