Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America’s Heartland

Ep. 4.13: Catholic Schools in Transition: Challenge, Change, and Renewal

This episode explores the dramatic shifts facing Catholic high schools in the early 1970s, focusing on the founding of DeSmet Jesuit High School, the ripple effects on neighboring institutions, and the internal struggles at CBC as it wrestled with its long‑standing military program amid cultural upheaval. Monsignor recounts the closures of Augustinian Academy and Xavier High School, the bold efforts to save Sacred Heart’s grade school through co‑institutional education, and the Marianists’ expanding presence through Chaminade, McBride, St. Mary’s, and the founding of Vianney. The story culminates with the development of Maryhurst and the vision that would soon lead to the Marianist Apostolic Center—an era marked by strain, creativity, and remarkable resilience within Catholic education.

Ep. 4.12: Carrying Light Into the City: The Daughters of St. Paul Arrive in St. Louis

This episode highlights the joyful arrival of the Daughters of St. Paul in St. Louis in 1973, tracing how Cardinal Carberry’s encouragement and a coalition of devoted Catholic lay leaders helped bring their media apostolate to the Archdiocese. Monsignor recounts the sisters’ early days downtown at 10th and Pine, their daily walks to Mass at the Alverne Hotel, their bookmobile outreach, and the remarkable global story of their founder, Blessed James Alberione, and co-foundress Mother Thekla Merlo. Rooted in prayer, fidelity, and a bold vision for evangelization through modern communication, the Daughters quickly became a vibrant presence in St. Louis—offering books, films, catechetical resources, and a witness of joyful religious life that continues to enrich the Church today.

Ep. 4.11: A Hidden Fire in High Ridge: The Society of Our Mother of Peace

This episode explores the remarkable rise of the Society of Our Mother of Peace, founded by Father Placid Gust, whose deep longing for contemplative prayer, apostolic service, and radical simplicity led him from New Orleans to France, Oklahoma, and ultimately High Ridge, Missouri. Monsignor recounts how this small community—rooted in six hours of daily prayer and fearless missionary outreach—brought hundreds into the Church through door‑to‑door evangelization, nursing‑home ministry, and courageous work in North St. Louis. Despite near collapse when diocesan support shifted, the society survived through providential timing and the welcome of Bishop Bernard Law, eventually expanding to other U.S. dioceses and abroad. It’s a story of perseverance, quiet heroism, and the transformative power of lived faith.

Ep. 4.10: Building on Rock: The Benedictines Arrive in St. Louis

This episode traces the remarkable founding of St. Louis Priory and the arrival of the Benedictine monks from Ampleforth, revealing how a group of determined laymen, a supportive archbishop, and three pioneering monks transformed 150 acres of West County farmland into a thriving monastery, parish, and school. From humorous early challenges—like learning to drive a Cadillac on the “wrong” side of the road—to the bold architectural vision that produced the Priory’s iconic modernist chapel, the story highlights the monks’ commitment to education, prayer, and community life. As St. Anselm Parish emerges alongside the school, the Benedictines firmly root their charism in St. Louis, offering stability, spiritual depth, and a distinctive Catholic presence during a turbulent era.

Ep. 4.09: The Carmelites of St. Agnes Home: Quiet Fidelity in a Turbulent Era

This episode opens Chapter Two—I Have Kept the Faith—by spotlighting the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, whose steadfast devotion and flourishing vocations in the 1970s stood in striking contrast to the upheaval of the era. Monsignor recounts the remarkable story of their foundress, Mother Mary Teresa of St. Joseph, a former Lutheran whose deepening love for Christ and the Blessed Virgin led her to Catholicism and eventually to founding a congregation dedicated to the elderly and children. The episode traces the sisters’ providential arrival in St. Louis, the founding and expansion of St. Agnes Home, the generosity of benefactors, and the community’s surprising growth during a time when most religious orders were shrinking. Through their fidelity to prayer, community life, and a clear apostolic mission, the Carmelites emerge as a powerful example of how authentic religious identity can flourish even in difficult times.