Whereas Saint Augustine Parish in Saint Louis, Missouri, had been erected by an amalgamation of Notre Dame Parish in Wellston and Saint Mark Parish, Saint Barbara Parish, Saint Edward Parish, and Saint Rose of Lima Parish, all in Saint Louis, by my predecessor, the Most Reverend John Lawrence May, in 1992;
Whereas Saint Augustine Church, is located at 1371 Hamilton Avenue in Saint Louis, Missouri, is a church constituted within the territory of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis (cf canon 1214 ), having been dedicated as Saint Barbara Church in 1907;
Whereas Our Lady of the Holy Cross Parish, Saint Augustine Parish, Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish, and Saint Matthew the Apostle Parish, all in Saint Louis, Missouri, were amalgamated into the newly erected Saint Peter Claver Parish in Saint Louis, Missouri, on August 1, 2023;
Whereas the primary place of worship of Saint Peter Claver Parish is Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Church (dedicated as Saint Englebert Church in 1927);
Whereas Saint Augustine Church is no longer used for worship given the unsafe conditions in the nave and narthex due to roof leaks and falling plaster;
Whereas Saint Augustine Church has been increasingly subject to vandalism and theft since the sacred edifice is no longer used for worship and given the lack of onsite security;
Whereas Saint Peter Claver Parish does not have the financial means to repair and maintain Saint Augustine Church together with the property of the former Our Lady of the Holy Cross Parish, the former Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Parish, and the former Saint Matthew the Apostle Parish;
Whereas the closure of Saint Augustine Church will not harm the good of souls since worship at Saint Peter Claver Parish is being provided at Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Church;
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 Saint Augustine Church and its reduction to profane but not sordid use.
I direct that the altar and other sacred objects be removed and carefully stored (cf canons 1238 §2 and 1239 §1).
This Decree is effective July 13, 2026. Its official notification is its publication on June 22, 2026, in the St. Louis Review. I direct that the Pastor of Saint Peter Claver Parish announce at all Masses on the prior weekend that this Decree is being published in the St. Louis Review.
Any member of Saint Peter Claver 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 July 2, 2026, 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 third day of June, in the Year of Our Lord 2026.
Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of Saint Louis
Very Reverend Philip J. Bené, J.C.D.
Notary
