Whereas Saint Bernadette Parish in Lemay, Missouri, was erected by my predecessor, the Most Reverend Joseph Elmer Ritter, in 1947;
Whereas the former Saint Bernadette Parish served the military community for several decades following the closing of Jefferson Barracks Military Post in 1946;
Whereas Saint Andrew Parish, Saint Bernadette Parish, and Saint Matthias Parish, all located in Lemay, Missouri, were merged into Saint Mark Parish also located in Lemay, Missouri, on August 1, 2023;
Whereas the property of the former Saint Bernadette Parish, other than Saint Bernadette Church, was subsequently sold to the Missouri Air National Guard;
Whereas the primary place of worship of Saint Mark Parish is Saint Mark Church;
Whereas Saint Bernadette Church, located at 68 Sherman Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63125, is a church constituted within the territory of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis (cf. canon 1214);
Whereas Saint Bernadette Church was originally constructed in 1933 as a theater of the former Jefferson Barracks Military Post;
Whereas the theater was later repurposed to serve as Saint Bernadette Church which was dedicated in 1947;
Whereas Saint Mark Parish does not have the financial means to repair and maintain Saint Bernadette Church together with the property of Saint Mark Parish which comprises also the property of the former Saint Andrew Parish and Saint Matthias Parish;
Whereas the closure of Saint Bernadette Church will not harm the good of souls since worship at Saint Mark Parish is being provided at Saint Mark 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 Bernadette 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 April 17, 2026. Its official notification is its publication in the St. Louis Review. I direct that the Pastor of Saint Mark Parish announce at all Masses on the prior weekend that this Decree is being published in the St. Louis Review.
Any member of Saint Mark 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 April 28, 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 seventh day of April, in the Year of Our Lord 2026.
Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of St. Louis
