Shrine of St. Joseph, Saint Louis

Shrine of St. Joseph, Saint Louis

The Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis is a historic Catholic church that began in 1843 when the Jesuits founded the parish to serve the local community of German immigrants. The church has a rich history and is the site of the only authenticated miracle in the Midwestern United States.

Mrs. Ann Biddle, a generous and wealthy widow, donated the land for the church, and the cornerstone for the new church was blessed by Bishop Kenrick on April 14, 1844. The church building, a modest structure that faced west towards 11th Street, was completed in 1846 and dedicated on the first Sunday in August of that year, with Father James Van de Velde officiating.

The St. Joseph parish was a very active community and, in 1862, a large parish school was built nearby to care for the many children of the area. The School Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school, providing a quality education for the children of the parish.

Today, the Shrine of St. Joseph remains an important religious and cultural center in St. Louis. Although it is not a parish in the ordinary sense, the Friends of the Shrine of St. Joseph, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operate and maintain the church. Masses are celebrated each Sunday and on First Fridays of each month, offering a spiritual refuge to those seeking solace and inspiration.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Saint Louis. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Shrine of St. Joseph on Map

Sight Name: Shrine of St. Joseph
Sight Location: Saint Louis, USA (See walking tours in Saint Louis)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Saint Louis, Missouri

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