About St. Mark · Saint Louis, Missouri
St. Mark Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lemay neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Founded in 2003 from the merger of St. Timothy, Mary Queen of the Universe, and Most Precious Blood parishes along Union Road, St. Mark has grown into one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese. In 2023, under Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski's 'All Things New' pastoral planning initiative, St. Mark absorbed the surrounding parishes of St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, and St. Matthias to form a newly unified community of faith. Today the parish is pastored by Rev. Robert Burkemper with an active staff of priests, deacons, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and lay ministers serving the Lemay community of South St. Louis.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Burkemper
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Mark is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and welcomes worshipers through two active sites (St. Mark on Ripa Avenue and St. Martin of Tours nearby), with daily and weekend Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and regular Reconciliation. Families raising children in the faith are supported by a free Parish School of Religion (PSR) program for grades K–7, with two-year sacramental preparation tracks for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. A range of liturgical, music, hospitality, and outreach ministries — plus parish groups like the Men's Club, Ladies Guild, and Catholic Seniors — give parishioners of every age and stage real ways to plug in.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday at St. Mark: 6:15–6:45 AM, 8:15–8:45 AM, 9:15–9:45 AM, 10:15–10:45 AM
- Saturday at St. Martin of Tours: 3:15–3:45 PM
- Saturday at St. Mark: 4:15–4:45 PM
- Reconciliation is heard at each site for half an hour before each weekend Mass (e.g., before a 4 PM Mass, confessions 3:15–3:45 PM)
Adoration times
- Thursday at St. Mark: 8:45 AM to 7:00 PM (begins after the 8 AM Mass)
History of St. Mark Parish
St. Mark Parish was founded in 2003 through the merger of three former Lemay parishes — St. Timothy, Mary Queen of the Universe, and Most Precious Blood — that had all originally been sited along Union Road. Msgr. Patrick Hambrough was installed as the first pastor, with Msgr. Charles Forst as senior associate pastor and Fr. Ted Vitali, CP, as a part-time associate. The parish was organized around two sites at first: the church at the former Blessed John XXIII Center on Morgan Ford Road and the school at the Mary Queen of the Universe campus on Ripa Avenue. In 2017 the church was renovated at the former Mary Queen of the Universe site, and elements from earlier parish churches — stained-glass windows from the former Blessed John XXIII Center and 110-year-old pews from the Visitation-St. Ann Shrine in North St. Louis — were incorporated into the new worship space. Late in 2019 Fr. Brian Hektor took over as parochial administrator and was installed as pastor in 2021. Under Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski's 'All Things New' initiative in 2023, St. Mark absorbed St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, and St. Matthias; Fr. Robert Burkemper was installed as the new pastor with Fr. Allen Boedeker as associate, Fr. Richard Schilli as senior associate, and Fr. Ted Vitali continuing in part-time ministry. The Vatican subsequently reversed the proposed merger of St. Martin of Tours into St. Mark, so Fr. Burkemper now oversees both parishes as separate worship sites.
- Founded 2003 from St. Timothy, Mary Queen of the Universe, and Most Precious Blood parishes
- First pastor: Msgr. Patrick Hambrough
- Church moved to the renovated Mary Queen of the Universe site on Ripa Avenue in 2017
- Stained-glass windows from former Blessed John XXIII Center; pews (110+ years old) from Visitation-St. Ann Shrine in North St. Louis
- Late 2019: Fr. Brian Hektor becomes parochial administrator; installed as pastor in 2021
- 2023: 'All Things New' merger with St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, and St. Matthias
- Fr. Robert Burkemper installed as pastor in 2023; also oversees St. Martin of Tours
Pastoral Team
St. Mark is served by a pastoral team including clergy, deacons, religious sisters, and lay ministers. Fr. Robert Burkemper, the current pastor, was raised in Lemay, attended St. Martin of Tours Elementary School, and was ordained as a diocesan priest in 1981; this is his tenth priestly assignment. He is assisted by Fr. Allen Boedeker (associate pastor) and Fr. Richard Schilli (senior associate pastor), with Fr. Ted Vitali, CP, continuing as a part-time associate. Permanent deacons serving the parish include Deacon Gregory Hrbacek, Deacon Richard Rosenkoetter, and Deacon Jesse Gatmaitan. School Sister of Notre Dame Sr. Ruth Emke also serves in ministry. Pastoral Assistant Jessi Livengood and PSR Director Julie Dwyer round out the staff.
- Rev. Robert Burkemper — Pastor
- Rev. C. Allen Boedeker — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Richard Schilli — Senior Associate Pastor
- Rev. Ted Vitali, CP — Part-time Associate Pastor
- Deacon Gregory Hrbacek
- Deacon Richard Rosenkoetter
- Deacon Jesse Gatmaitan
- Sr. Ruth Emke, SSND
- Julie Dwyer — Director of the Parish School of Religion
- Jessi Livengood — Pastoral Assistant
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
St. Mark's Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides faith formation for children in grades K–7 whose families do not attend a Catholic school. Classes meet weekly on Monday evenings from 6:30–7:45 PM at St. Mark, running September through May, and are led by dedicated parish catechists. The program is free for returning students and new students from St. Mark and St. Martin of Tours. Students preparing for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation participate in a two-year sacramental track (1st & 2nd grade, and 7th & 8th grade respectively).
- Grades K–7
- Monday evenings 6:30–7:45 PM, September through May
- Free tuition for returning students and new families from St. Mark and St. Martin of Tours
- Two-year sacramental preparation for Reconciliation/Eucharist (1st–2nd grade) and Confirmation (7th–8th grade)
- Director: Julie Dwyer ([email protected]; 314-743-8604)
Sacraments
St. Mark prepares parishioners of all ages for the sacraments of initiation and the other rites of Catholic life. Children typically receive First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist in 2nd grade, and Confirmation in 8th grade, after two years of PSR formation. Adults who were baptized but never confirmed are welcomed through the parish's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process. Baptisms, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the pastoral office.
- Baptism — contact the pastoral office
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade)
- First Holy Eucharist (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade youth track; adult track through RCIA)
- Marriage — contact the pastoral office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the pastoral office
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Mark offers a wide range of ministries and parish groups for worship, formation, fellowship, and service. Liturgical ministries are open to laypeople who serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, and ushers, while the Music Ministry invites choir members and instrumentalists to support parish liturgies. Catechists teach PSR classes, and hospitality and outreach volunteers welcome new parishioners, visit the homebound, and assist with parish events. Fellowship organizations include the Men's Club, the Ladies Guild, and Catholic Seniors; Bible study and Scripture study (including the Tuesday 'God's Word Proclaimed' group led by Fr. Burkemper) deepen faith. The parish also hosts social events such as an annual Fall Festival, Fish Fries, and BBQs, along with fundraising events for parish programs.
- Liturgical Ministries: Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Ushers
- Music Ministry: Choir and instrumentalists
- PSR Catechists
- Hospitality & Outreach (welcome ministry, homebound visits)
- Men's Club, Ladies Guild, Catholic Seniors
- Tuesday Scripture Study — 'God's Word Proclaimed' with Fr. Burkemper
- Annual Fall Festival, Fish Fries, and BBQs
- Parish fundraisers
How to Get Involved
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed into the life of St. Mark through multiple points of entry. Newcomers can call the pastoral office at (314) 743-8600, speak with a ministry leader after Mass, or fill out a registration form through the parish website. The eCommunity page on stmarkstl.com lists current volunteer openings, including liturgical, music, hospitality, and catechetical roles, and describes parish groups open to new members.
- Call the pastoral office at (314) 743-8600
- Speak with a ministry leader after Mass or at parish events
- Visit the Parish Organizations / eCommunity page on stmarkstl.com
- Become a PSR catechist
- Join the choir or instrumental ensemble
- Volunteer for hospitality, outreach, or parish events
Parish School (Closed)
St. Mark School, which had been established at the former Mary Queen of the Universe campus on Ripa Avenue after the 2003 merger, closed at the end of the 2022–23 school year. Enrollment had declined to 101 students in grades K–8 — a 46% drop over five years — and only about 27% of Catholic school-age children living within the parish boundaries attended St. Mark School. The archdiocese provided placement assistance to faculty and staff and enrollment assistance to families transferring to other Catholic elementary schools. The parish continues to provide faith formation for children through the free PSR program.
- Closed at the end of the 2022–23 school year
- On the former Mary Queen of the Universe campus on Ripa Avenue
- Enrollment had fallen to 101 K–8 students (down 46% in five years)
- Archdiocese provided placement assistance to staff and families
- Faith formation for children continues through the Parish School of Religion (PSR)
Visit, Contact, & Practical Info
St. Mark's main church and pastoral offices are located on Ripa Avenue in the Lemay neighborhood of South St. Louis. Mass is livestreamed from St. Mark for those unable to attend in person. The parish observes the Archdiocese of St. Louis's 'Protecting God's Children' safe-environment requirements, and the staff listing on the parish website includes contact email addresses for clergy and key lay staff.
- Church: 4220 Ripa Ave, St. Louis, MO 63125
- Pastoral Office: 4200 Ripa Ave, St. Louis, MO 63125
- Phone: (314) 743-8600
- PSR Office: (314) 743-8604
- Website: https://stmarkstl.com/
- Livestream: https://stmarkstl.com/live-stream
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- PSR email: [email protected]
- Part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis's 'Protecting God's Children' safe-environment program
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Patrick Hambrough2003–c.2019
First pastor of the merged St. Mark Parish.
- Fr. Brian Hektorlate 2019–c.2023
Served as parochial administrator from late 2019; installed as pastor in 2021.
- Rev. Robert Burkemper2023–present
Installed as pastor in 2023 under the 'All Things New' initiative; also oversees neighboring St. Martin of Tours.