Shrine of St. Joseph, Saint Louis

The Shrine of Saint Joseph in Saint Louis is a historic Catholic church that began in 1843 when the Jesuits founded the parish to serve the local community of German immigrants. The church has a rich history and is the site of the only authenticated miracle in the Midwestern United States.

Mrs. Ann Biddle, a generous and wealthy widow, donated the land for the church, and the cornerstone for the new church was blessed by Bishop Kenrick on April 14, 1844. The church building, a modest structure that faced west towards 11th Street, was completed in 1846 and dedicated on the first Sunday in August of that year, with Father James Van de Velde officiating.

The Saint Joseph parish was a very active community and, in 1862, a large parish school was built nearby to care for the many children of the area. The School Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school, providing a quality education for the children of the parish.

Today, the Shrine of Saint Joseph remains an important religious and cultural center in Saint Louis. Although it is not a parish in the ordinary sense, the Friends of the Shrine of Saint Joseph, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operate and maintain the church. Masses are celebrated each Sunday and on First Fridays of each month, offering a spiritual refuge to those seeking solace and inspiration.