St. Joan of Arc Parish, since 1940

Because of the rapid growth of Southwest St. Louis, it became necessary to establish a new parish at Hampton and Pernod avenues near the Hampton Village district.

Father Michael F. Cronin bought a section of ground, 450 by 300 feet, and had ground broken
Oct. 29, 1940, for a building that would eventually be the parish school but which was being used temporarily as a parish church.

1941 - ORIGINAL CHURCH BUILDING

One of the newer parishes in St. Louis had its formal beginning in 1941, when the Church of St. Joan of Arc was dedicated March 9 of that year by Cardinal Joseph Glennon.

The dedication of the church was a festive occasion.  Cadets from the Christian Brothers college, the Columbus girls, Knights of Columbus zouaves, parishioners and visitors formed a guard of honor from the rectory to the church.  The South Side Catholic high school band played while the procession was in progress.

The new St. Joan of Arc Church was designed by H. I. Helmuth of Florissant, architect. The building program of the parish was (slowed) because of war conditions, but Father Cronin hoped to have a school in operation in the not too distant future when material and labor would become more plentiful.  For the present, children of the new parish would attend school at either Epiphany or St. Gabriel’s. 

Excerpts from St. Louis Register Catholic Newspaper

Father Michael F. Cronin

In God’s Providence, St. Joan of Arc Parish came into being on September 30, 1940, when Archbishop John J. Glennon appointed Father Michael F. Cronin as founding pastor. 

The parish was one of the first in the country to be named for the Maid of Orleans following her canonization.

Excerpts from St. Louis Register Catholic Newspaper

1959 New church construction

On February 16, 1949, our school was opened.

During the 1950’s, the parish grew in size and numbers.  Construction was begun on a new church.

In 1955 a new rectory was built on Oleatha Avenue.  By 1957 a convent had been erected on the site of the old rectory, and for the first time the Sisters of Mercy, who taught at the school had housing facilities within the parish boundary.

Ground was broken for the new church on Easter Sunday, 1959.

Excerpts from St. Louis Register Catholic Newspaper

St. Joan of Arc Church

On October 30, 1960, His Eminence, Joseph Cardinal Ritter dedicated the new building.

It was of contemporary design, built of buff brick and with stone trim to harmonize with existing parish buildings. 

No seat was farther than 70 feet from the altar.   Arthur F. Stauder was the architect.

Excerpts from St. Louis Register Catholic Newspaper

 

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Please check out these historical documents graciously compiled by Cathy Crowe.