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Parish History

~~~~~~~ Parish History 2000 – 

April, 2000
Permission received to conduct a fall Capital Campaign.

May 11, 2001
Fr. Joe Scheer founding Pastor of the Parish dies. 

June, 2001
Fr. Kristian Teater is assigned as Associate Pastor.

September, 2003
Dedication of Parish Center and Recreational Center.

May, 2004
Msgr Norbert Ernst is assigned as Pastor.

July 4, 2004 – Veteran’s Memorial Dedication
The Memorial is dedicated to all the Veteran’s past, present and future, of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish. The Memorial was conceived and designed by longtime Holy Name member Jerry Campbell who worked on the project from the beginning. Jerry, then passed the project to Holy Name Members Norb Ladd and Frank Connor shortly before his untimely death in February, 2004. The Holy Name Society agreed to fund this parish project and adjacent landscaping. The memorial was dedicated after the 8:30 am Mass with a brief ceremony and blessing by “Veteran” and Holy Name Moderator Fr. Alan Knaup. The dedication was attended by many parishioners, Holy Name members, Jerry’s wife, Mary Ann and many Campbell family members.

September 13, 2004
Fr. Alan Knaup longtime Associate dies.

2004
Fr. Bill Leach is assigned as Senior Associate
Fr. Joseph Classen is assigned as Associate

October 23, 2005
Dedication of Fr. Knaup Plaza outside of the Parish Center

April 7, 2006
Refurbished statues of Mary & Joseph, acquired from the closed St. Boniface Parish in south St. Louis, are installed in the Sanctuary.

~~~~~~~ Parish History 1990 – 1999

January 1990
Fr. Robert Samson is assigned to Associate Pastor after Fr. Lydon was reassigned in 1989. Fr. Knaup is made Senior Priest in Service.

March 1990 
Planning for a new church begins.

1990
Fr. Robert Samson is assigned as Associate Pastor

January 1991
Construction of new athletic field begins.

September 1991
Groundbreaking for the new church is held.

April 4, 1992
The Annie Heimos athletic fields are dedicated.

May 31, 1992
Corner stone laying for the new church is held.

January 30, 1993
Dedication of the new church is held.

January 5, 1994
Fr. Schmidt leaves on sabbatical and Fr. Samson is named Parish Administrator.

January 30, 1994
Celebration of the 1st anniversary of the New Church.

May, 1994

Father Dennis Stehly assigned as Pastor replacing Father Samson, Parish Administrator. Father Philip Bene assigned as Associated Pastor.

February, 1995
Reverend Mr. Jerry Schuld assigned as permanent deacon.

June, 1997
Father Tom Keller assigned Associated Pastor replacing Father Bene, reassigned for further study.

August, 1997
Bill Thess, acolyte, assigned to the parish for one year.

April, 1999
Tabernacle moved into the main sanctuary after residing in Eucharistic Chapel since new church opening.

August, 1999
Over 2,100 parish families December.

1999
Initial planning begins for a Parish Center.

~~~~~~~ Parish History 1980 – 1989

1980-1983

The parish community reached 1,200 families and school enrollment reached 500. There were 24 teachers, a full time PE instructor and a registered nurse. June 1984 Fr. Xavier Albert, a full time teacher at St. Mary’s High School, joins the parish as part-time Associate Pastor. January

1985
Fr. Mike Campbell replaces Fr. Everding who was transferred to St. Richards parish.

January 1986
Fr. Pat Ryan, the Archdiocese Director of Adult Education, replaces Fr. Albert.

September 1986
Dedication of 20 additional classrooms by Archbishop John May.

January 1987
Fr. Al Knaup replaces Fr. Ryan as full-time Associate Pastor. Fr. Campbell is appointed to the Archdiocesan Vocational Office and part-time Associate.

April 30, 1987
Parish celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a Mass and Reception.

June 1987
Fr. Campbell is assigned to the Vocation Office full time leaving an opening for a part-time Associate Pastor.

January 1988
Fr. Michael Lydon, a teacher at Bishop Dubourg High School, joins the parish as part-time Associate Pastor.

March 1988
Fr. Joe Scheer retires as pastor after 45 years of service to the priesthood. Fr. Gregory Schmidt, who transferred from St. Genevieve, becomes the pastor.

~~~~~~~ Parish History 1962 – 1979

April 30, 1962
Fr. Joseph O. Scheer is notified to begin to build a church on nine acres of ground at 4900 Ringer Road. Parish had 125 families; masses were held in the old chapel at Nazareth Convent and the children attended St. Francis of Assisi School. All organizations were formed at this time, with meetings being held in the basement of the rectory at 909 Forder Road. Monsignor Ernest Blankemeier, Chaplain at Notre Dame High School, helped with Sunday Masses. 

April 28, 1963
Groundbreaking ceremonies held for the parish plant by Monsignor Mark Ebner, Dean of South County.      

September 11, 1964
The Third Order of Franciscan Sisters teach the first day of school. Starting with grades 1 through 5, 99 students and 7 teachers.    

November 1964
Dedication ceremonies were held with 600 people in attendance. The parish plant consisted of the chapel and parish office, a school office, convent, 10 classrooms and a cafeteria.   

August 1965
Parish boundaries changed and school enrollment totals 303 students in 8 grades including kindergarten. With the arrival of an additional sister, 909 Forder Road became the convent. Father Scheer moves the rectory into two classrooms in the school building.

1966
Father Donald Dyer becomes the first Associate Pastor. He stayed until 1969 when he was transferred to Immaculate Conception Parish in Union, Missouri.  

March 1969
Fr. Patrick Dooley came to the parish replacing Fr. Dyer.

1975
Fr. Dennis Zacheis joins the parish as an Associate Pastor.       

March 1976
Fr. Dooley moves to Ireland to retire for a “second” time and Fr. Frey, a retired classmate of Fr. Scheer, becomes available to the parish whenever needed. Monsignor Marchner (retired) also helps with Sunday masses.

1977
The parish community now totals 1,000 families.    

1979
Fr. Zacheis is transferred to St. Mary Magdalen. Fr. Richard Everding joins the parish from St. Gabriels.