Shrine of St. Joseph, St facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Shrine of Saint Joseph
|
|
Shrine of St. Joseph St. Louis, Missouri
|
|
 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1220 North 11th Street, St. Louis, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Built | 1844 |
| Architect | George Purvis |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003396 |
| Added to NRHP | 1978 |
The Shrine of St. Joseph is a historic Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri. It is located in the Columbus Square neighborhood. This church started in 1843. It was founded by the Jesuits, a group of Catholic priests. They wanted to serve the many German immigrants who lived in the area. The Shrine of St. Joseph is famous for being the site of the only officially recognized miracle in the Midwestern United States.
Contents
History of the Shrine
Building the First Church (1843-1866)
The Jesuits began building the church right after starting the parish in 1843. A kind and wealthy woman named Mrs. Ann Biddle donated the land. She was known for her many good deeds. The first stone for the new church was blessed on April 14, 1844.
The church was a simple building at first. It faced west toward 11th Street. It was officially opened in August 1846. Father James Oliver Van de Velde, who later became a bishop, led the ceremony.
The St. Joseph parish quickly became a very busy community. In 1862, a large school was built nearby. It was for the many children in the area. The School Sisters of Notre Dame taught at this school.
Expanding the Church (1866-1880)
As the parish grew, the original church became too small. So, the community decided to build a large addition. They also changed the church's entrance to face Biddle Street. The cornerstone for this bigger church was laid in 1865.
A company from Chicago, Bueschers, created a beautiful altar for the church. This altar looks like the Altar of St. Ignatius in a famous church in Rome. But instead of St. Ignatius, it features a statue of St. Joseph and the Christ Child. Below them are the words: "Ite ad Joseph," which means "Go to Joseph."
This altar is known as "The Altar of Answered Prayers." It got this name because the community felt their prayers were answered. They were saved from a serious sickness called cholera. The altar was installed in early 1867.
The main changes to the church were finished in 1866. Father Pierre Jean De Smet, a famous missionary, led the dedication service on December 30, 1866.
Changes Over Time (1880-1954)
In 1880, the church was made even larger and updated again. This work added a fancy Romanesque style front. It also included two tall towers with delicate tops. This work was completed in 1881.
More changes happened in 1954. The church's pastor, Father Anthony Corey, oversaw these updates. For safety reasons, the beautiful original towers were made shorter. Their delicate tops were replaced with heavier, six-sided caps. This changed how the outside of the church looked quite a bit.
Today, the Shrine of St. Joseph is owned by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. However, it is managed by a group called The Friends of The Shrine of St. Joseph, Inc. This is a non-profit organization.
Saving the Shrine (Restoration)
The church was very popular until after World War II. But then, the neighborhood started to change. Many people moved to new suburbs. Fewer people came to Mass, and the church began to fall apart. The roof leaked, and birds made nests in the bell towers. Water stained the paintings, and the walls cracked. Many beautiful parts of the church were even painted over with gray paint. This included the Stations of the Cross and the detailed pulpit.
Because there were so few people attending and the building was badly damaged, the Archdiocese planned to tear it down.
In 1979, the elderly pastor, Father Edward Filipiak, refused to leave. He said, "If I leave, they will close it. I would die for this church." Sadly, Father Filipiak passed away in a tragic incident. After this, a small group of people decided they had to save the church. They slowly raised money through donations. With a lot of money and many hours of hard work, the church was fully restored. It is now considered one of the most beautiful churches in St. Louis.
The Shrine of St. Joseph is not a regular parish church. While the building belongs to the St. Louis Archdiocese, The Friends of the Shrine of St. Joseph group takes care of it. Masses are held every Sunday and on the first Friday of each month.
Devotions and Practices
Novena to St. Joseph
A special prayer series called a Novena to St. Joseph is held. It takes place after the 11 a.m. Mass for nine weeks. This leads up to the feast day of St. Joseph, which is on March 19.
The Rosary
The Rosary is a special set of prayers. It is recited before the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.
Veneration of a Relic
After Sunday Mass, a special item called a relic is shown for people to honor. This relic is a small bone chip from St. Peter Claver. It is kept in a special container shaped like a cross.
Gallery
-
A sign showing the Shrine is on the National Register of Historic Places.
-
Looking inside the Shrine from the balcony.
-
The Reader's Podium inside the church.
-
The Baptismal Font, used for baptisms.
-
A statue of Saint Peter Claver.
-
A beautiful stained glass window on the side of the Shrine.
-
A woman praying before the Altar of Answered Prayers.
-
Celebrating Mass at the Shrine in 1924.
 | Audre Lorde |
 | John Berry Meachum |
 | Ferdinand Lee Barnett |
