About St. Martin of Tours · Lemay, Missouri
St. Martin of Tours is a Roman Catholic parish in Lemay, Missouri, in the south of St. Louis, under the care of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish was erected in 1939 at the southwest corner of Telegraph and Ripa Avenue to serve the growing Catholic population south of St. Andrew's, with its current brick church dedicated in 1952. Today it offers daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration with a monthly Forty Hours Devotion, the sacrament of Reconciliation, and parish life led by a pastor supported by permanent deacons and an engaged parish council.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Fr. Noah Waldman
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
St. Martin of Tours is a long-rooted Lemay parish where the Eucharist sits at the center of parish life — including a rare monthly Forty Hours Devotion with Benediction on First Fridays. Daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, Sunday evening Adoration and Rosary (offered for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart), and a robust sacramental life make it a steady place to grow in prayer. Add an active school, engaged deacons and lay leadership, and a clear mission to proclaim the Gospel in south St. Louis, and it is a welcoming home for any Catholic seeking community in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Mass times at St. Martin of Tours
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 pm
- Sunday 9:15 am
- Thursday 8:00 pm
Adoration times
- Sundays 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (Weekly Adoration & Rosary, for the Honor, Glory, and Triumph of Our Lady's Immaculate Heart)
- Monthly 40 Hours Devotion: Wednesday after the 8:00 am Mass through Benediction at 3:00 pm on the following First Friday
Parish History
St. Martin of Tours was established on January 12, 1939 when Archbishop John Glennon appointed Father Carl A. Rees to build a new parish for Catholics living south of St. Andrew's. On Palm Sunday, April 2, 1939, Fr. Rees announced the new parish's name from the lower assembly hall of Notre Dame Convent, where Mass was being temporarily celebrated for the fledgling community. A 2¼-acre site at Telegraph and Ripa Avenue was selected and a school rose quickly, with its cornerstone laid by Bishop Winkelmann on September 10, 1939.
- Founded January 12, 1939; announced publicly Palm Sunday, April 2, 1939
- Founding pastor: Rev. Carl A. Rees (1939–1959)
- School cornerstone laid September 10, 1939 by Bishop C. H. Winkelmann
- Current church designed by architect Raymond Maritz, built by Charles C. Kloster Co. for $400,000
- Groundbreaking July 30, 1950; cornerstone ceremony April 22, 1951 by Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter
- Church dedicated August 3, 1952
Naming the Parish
Over 24 patron names were submitted by parishioners. After three rounds of revision the list was narrowed to St. Martin of Tours, St. Raphael the Archangel, and St. Albert the Great. When presented with the shortlist, Archbishop Glennon reportedly exclaimed, 'St. Martin of Tours, now there is an excellent name for the new parish. I congratulate you, Father, upon your choice.'
Pastor and Staff
Fr. Noah Waldman has served as pastor of St. Martin of Tours since July 2017. He previously served as associate pastor at Sts. Joachim and Ann, St. Joseph Parish in Cottleville, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and Queen of All Saints, and also serves as Catholic Chaplain at the Newman Center of Maryville University.
- Fr. Noah Waldman — Pastor
- Deacon Kurt Loeffler — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Edward Fronick — Permanent Deacon, retired
- Stephanie Parker — Parish Council President
- Parish Council members: Mary Bridwell, Sue Jernigan, Dave Kassebaum, Bruce McDonald, Cathy Tucker
- George Mueller — Acolyte and Sacristan
- Mrs. Bridget Gabel — Maintenance
- Colleen Fanz — Administrative Assistant
Evangelization and Mission
The parish's evangelization page draws on the Archdiocese of St. Louis' foundational principles for Catholic renewal. It emphasizes Sunday Mass attendance, embracing the remaining Precepts of the Church (fasting/abstinence, annual confession, yearly Eucharist, support of the Church, fidelity in marriage, and participation in evangelization), and ultimately the universal call to sainthood. The parish mission statement likewise affirms territorial parish responsibility in Lemay, the centrality of the Most Holy Eucharist, devout celebration of the sacraments, and particular care for the Catholic education of children and youth.
- New Evangelization efforts rooted in Archdiocesan foundational principles
- Mission grounded in the centrality of the Most Holy Eucharist
- Special care for the Catholic education of children and youth
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at 314-743-8600 or in person during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). The parish office is at 4200 Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO 63125, and the church itself is located at 610 West Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO 63125.
- Church address: 610 West Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO 63125
- Parish office address: 4200 Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO 63125
- Phone: (314) 544-5664
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Bulletin and Communications
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin available for download from the website, with an archive of past issues. The site also links to Live Streaming of Masses.
- Weekly Bulletin with downloadable archives
- Live Streaming link
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Carl A. Rees1939–1959
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop John Glennon on January 12, 1939; announced the parish name on Palm Sunday, April 2, 1939; oversaw construction of school (1939) and the new church (dedicated 1952).
- Monsignor Esswein1960–1972
- Monsignor Runge1972–1991
- Reverend Althoff1991–1997
- Reverend Callahan1997–2003
- Reverend Borgerding2003–2005
- Reverend Ferrara2005–2013
- Reverend Richardson2013–2015
- Monsignor McCumber2015–2017
- Reverend Noah Waldman2017–present
Also serves as Catholic Chaplain at the Newman Center of Maryville University.