Ep 3:21 Foundations of Faith: The Final Wave of Early 20th‑Century Parishes

In this episode, Monsignor and Teresa continue their sweeping tour of early‑20th‑century parish building, tracing how Archbishop Glennon’s era saw an explosion of new Catholic communities across St. Louis. They explore the founding of All Souls in Overland, St. Adalbert for the Polish community, St. Rita in Vinita Park, St. John the Baptist in South City, and St. Luke’s in Richmond Heights—each shaped by shifting neighborhoods, streetcar lines, and the tireless energy of pastors determined to plant churches wherever Catholic families were settling. The story then turns to the rise of Our Lady of Lourdes in University City, born amid elegant new subdivisions and guided by its remarkable founding pastor, Father Francis O’Connor, a former Christian Brother whose journey from exile to parish builder mirrors the dynamism of the age. As the episode closes, Monsignor previews the next major milestones of Archbishop Glennon’s tenure: the creation of two monumental institutions that would define Catholic life in St. Louis—the Cathedral Basilica and Kenrick Seminary.