Decrees regarding Immaculate Conception and St. David churches in Arnold

Submitted on June 5, 2025

DECREE REGARDING IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH

Whereas Immaculate Conception Parish in Arnold, Missouri, initially comprised primarily of immigrants from Alsace, Baden, Bavaria, and the Rhineland, was erected by my predecessor, the Most Reverend Joseph Rosati, C.M., in 1840;

Whereas Immaculate Conception Church, located at 2300 Church Road in Arnold, Missouri, 63010, is a church constituted within the territory of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis (cf., canon 1214);

Whereas Immaculate Conception Church, the third church to have been constructed at Immaculate Conception Parish in its history, was dedicated in 1895;

Whereas, by 1915, water had repeatedly penetrated the walls of the church and thus steadily began to compromise the mortar;

Whereas horizontal rods were later installed in the church to prevent the walls of the nave from pushing outward;

Whereas the intrusion of water over the years has leached cement from the remaining mortar thus leaving the walls beyond repair without a complete rebuild which would be more expensive than the construction of a new church;

Whereas the steeple of Immaculate Conception Church was extensively damaged by the severe thunderstorms and tornado on March 14, 2025, for which reason the steeple needs to be removed;

Whereas the repairs to Immaculate Conception Church are cost-prohibitive and would represent an imprudent use of parish resources;

Whereas Saint David Parish in Arnold, Missouri, was erected by my predecessor, His Eminence Joseph Elmer Cardinal Ritter, in 1963, out of territory of Immaculate Conception Parish, to provide for the spiritual needs of the faithful;

Whereas Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint David Parish were merged into the newly erected Holy Family Parish on August 1, 2023, thus bringing together the Catholic community in Arnold;

Whereas Holy Family Parish does not have the financial means to repair and maintain Immaculate Conception Church together with the property at the former Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint David Parish;

Whereas the closure of Immaculate Conception Church will not harm the good of souls since worship is being provided in the Holy Family Parish Center of Holy Family Parish;

Whereas Holy Family Parish has received approval to build a new worthy sacred edifice, expressive of the rich heritage of the Christian faith, which will be dedicated to the Holy Family and will be a visible sign of the unity of the Parish;

Therefore, after having consulted the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis concerning the petition (canon 127 §2, 2°),

I, the Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Metropolitan Archbishop of Saint Louis, hereby decree, in accordance with the norms of canon 1222 §2, the closure of Immaculate Conception Church and its reduction to profane but not sordid use.

I direct that the altar and other sacred objects be removed and carefully stored until such time as the new church is constructed at Holy Family Parish (cf., canons 1238 §2 and 1239 §1).

This Decree is effective July 8, 2025. Its official notification is its publication in the St. Louis Review on June 6, 2025. I direct that the Pastor of Holy Family Parish announce at all Masses on the weekend of June 7-8, 2025, that this Decree has been published in the St. Louis Review.
Any member of Holy Family Parish who claims to have been aggrieved by this Decree has the right to seek its revocation or emendation (canon 1734). This request must be made in writing and postmarked no later than June 19, 2025, to the Most Reverend Archbishop of Saint Louis, Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63119.

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Given in the offices of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, this second day of June, in the Year of Our Lord, 2025.

Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of Saint Louis

Very Reverend Philip J. Bené, J.C.D.
Notary

DECREE REGARDING SAINT DAVID CHURCH

Whereas Saint David Parish in Arnold, Missouri, was erected by my predecessor, His Eminence Joseph Elmer Cardinal Ritter, in 1963, out of territory of Immaculate Conception Parish, also in Arnold, Missouri, to provide for the spiritual needs of the faithful;

Whereas Cardinal Ritter designated that Saint David Church, located at 2334 Tenbrook Road in Arnold, Missouri 63010, would be constructed to serve as a temporary place of worship until a separate more worthy and permanent church could be built;

Whereas Saint David Church was accordingly constructed in the form of a gymnasium attached to a school;

Whereas Saint David Church is a sacred edifice constituted within the territory of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis (cf., canon 1214), having been dedicated in 1965;

Whereas Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint David Parish were merged into the newly erected Holy Family Parish on August 1, 2023, thus bringing together the Catholic community in Arnold;

Whereas there is not adequate parking space nor room for increased parking space on the property of the former Saint David Parish to accommodate all the members of Holy Family Parish for worship given that the membership more than doubled in size following the merging of Saint David Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish;

Whereas air conditioning repairs to Saint David Church are cost-prohibitive and would represent an imprudent use of parish resources considering the aforementioned;

Whereas Holy Family Parish does not have the financial means to repair and maintain Saint David Church together with the property at the former Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint David Parish;

Whereas the closure of Saint David Church will not harm the good of souls since worship is being provided in the Holy Family Parish Center of Holy Family Parish;

Therefore, after having consulted the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis concerning the petition (canon 127 §2, 2°),

I, the Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Metropolitan Archbishop of Saint Louis, hereby decree, in accordance with the norms of canon 1222 §2, the closure of David Church and its reduction to profane but not sordid use.

I direct that the altar and other sacred objects be removed and carefully stored until such time as the new church is constructed at Holy Family Parish (cf., canons 1238 §2 and 1239 §1).

This Decree is effective July 8, 2025. Its official notification is its publication in the St. Louis Review on June 6, 2025.

I direct that the Pastor of Holy Family Parish announce at all Masses on the weekend of June 7-8, 2025, that this Decree has been published in the St. Louis Review.

Any member of Holy Family Parish who claims to have been aggrieved by this Decree has the right to seek its revocation or emendation (canon 1734). This request must be made in writing and postmarked no later than June 19, 2025, to the Most Reverend Archbishop of Saint Louis, Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63119.