St Benedict At Auburndale School history

Albert Mayer, pastor of St Andrew Church, regarding the establishment of a new parish. It all began in 1926 when a group of Catholic families in the Oakville area approached Fr.

On May 9, 1927, the new church was dedicated at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop John J. Glennon.

St Francis of Assisi Parish was established on August 1, 1929.

The first school opened in 1930 in a two room metal building that was purchased from the St Louis board of Education and moved to the church property.

Educating Pre-K – Grade 8 Students Since 1936

In 1938, a new friary was dedicated near Koch Hospital.

In 1941, a new brick building had to be built to accommodate the growing school.

St Francis of Assisi School first opened its doors on February 13th, 1951.

The parish continued to grow and on December 13, 1953, a new modern church building was dedicated at a Mass presided over by Most Reverend Joseph E. Ritter.

The new school opened in 1955 with four classrooms, an assembly hall, and an office in the building the church had vacated.

The school population continued to increase and in 1957, a new wing with four extra classrooms was added, allowing for two classes at each grade level.

The first class graduated in 1961 with forty-two students.

In the late 1980’s six additional classrooms were added and the sacristy was expanded, connecting it to the present day rectory.

In 1981-82 the present parish center was added.

In September of 1989, a preschool was established at St Matthew United Church of Christ.

Then, in 1990, an extensive renovation project was introduced and the church was expanded to accommodate the large number of parishioners who attended Mass each week as well as special liturgies.

On October 11, 1992, the newly renovated church was dedicated at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul Zipfel, DDVG.

In 1995, SFAs first fully networked computer lab was funded by generous parishioners, and the age of technology was secured at St Francis of Assisi School.

The school was originally set to open in September 1997.

Delays and setbacks pushed the opening out to September 1998, but the enthusiasm and dedication of the two parishes were not dampened.

On July 1, 2001, the first mass inaugurating Santa Clara de Asis parish was celebrated at the St Francis of Assisi School grounds.

In June 2002 the parish entered a new chapter in its history as the friars relinquished staffing to the Archdiocese of St Louis.

On March 4-5, 2006 the first Masses were celebrated in their own building, the San Damiano Center.

As time passed, St Francis gradually assumed operational responsibility for the program, and in the summer of 2008 the preschool was relocated to the first floor of our school.

Beginning in September, 2013 a new Values and Vision statement was launched to further support our school mission and create a CARING environment for all of our school members.

On October 4, 2018, the feast of our patron saint, St Francis of Assisi School celebrated twenty years of Catholic education at our tri-parish school.