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Welcome to Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

Established in 1789 in Florissant, MO

Home: Welcome
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Sunday, February 2, 2025

5 pm Mass
Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

1 St. Francois St, 63031

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6 pm Cocktail Reception

6:30 pm Dinner

followed by Program & Live Auction

JFK Community Center, 63031

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business casual attire

$150 per person, please contact the Shrine to purchase tickets

Live Auction Items

Check out these auctions items at the Shine at the Shrine Gala on Sunday, February 2, 2025

St. Louis Golf Getaway: Tee off at some of the finest courses in St. Louis. Whether you’re an experienced golfer or just enjoy a day on the links, this package promises a challenge! 

  • Whitmoor Country Club: includes a foursome. Donor: Whitmoor Country Club

  • Florissant Golf Club: bring 3 friends and golf with Mayor Lowery Donor: Mayor Lowery

  • Glen Echo Country Club: includes a foursome. Donor: Glen Echo Country Club

  • Total Value: $800.00

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Cocktails and Dinner with Father Kempf

Enjoy an evening of delicious food, fine drinks and warm hospitality with Father Kempf. This unique experience includes twelve guests and is a thoughtfully prepared dinner with cocktails at the rectory of Sacred Heart. Join in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, share stories and laughter for an unforgettable evening. Donor: Fr. Kempf  Value: Celestial

 

Ultimate Sports Fans Package

This incredible sports package is a dream come true for any St. Louis sports enthusiast. Enjoy a variety of thrilling games and unforgettable experiences with:

  • 4 tickets to a Cardinals home game, Donor: Mary Elizabeth Gibson

  • 4 tickets to the Blues game, Feb. 25, 2025, center ice. Donor: Chris & Kristie Kerber

  • 4 tickets behind the bench, St. Louis U Men’s Basketball game, Feb. 22, 2025, 1:30 pm. (vs. Rhode Island). Local restaurant gift card included. Donor: Tom Dunlavy

  • 4 tickets on the 50 yard line to Mizzou Tigers Football on November 15, 2025 vs. Mississippi State. A parking pass is included. Donor: Jill Slay Garlich

  • Total Value$1900.00

 

Party in the Luxury Penthouse Suite at One Cardinal Way.

Experience a Cardinal’s game like never before with this exclusive package for 12 guests at the luxurious penthouse suite on the 29th & 30th floors of One Cardinal Way. Located in the heart of Ballpark Village, this stunning venue offers unparalleled views of Busch Stadium including watching the action from the balcony giving one a unique vantage point of the game. This package includes food and drinks and is sure to be a home run for baseball fans and luxury lovers alike!

Donor: Bill Siedhoff Value: Priceless

 

Adoro la Toscana!

Escape to the heart of Italy with a seven-night stay in a charming Tuscan villa in the serene commune of Manciano, Italy. This idyllic retreat offers the perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort, ideal for your party of four. Centrally located, the villa is a short drive from iconic destinations like Florence, Siena & Cortona. Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Tuscany, this is a vacation you will forever remember.

Donor: Leone Hinzman Value: $3500

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Experience the Open Up Close

Watch your favorite players fine tune their game with two tickets to an unforgettable golf experience at the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. This package grants you and your guest access to three practice rounds, July 14-15-16, 2025 and the opening round, Thursday, July 17, 2025. These tickets are your gateway to experiencing world-class golf, breathtaking coastal scenery, and the rare opportunity to be part of golf history. Donor: Mary Elizabeth Dorsey Value: $620

 

Cocktails and Dinner with Monsignor J. Schuler

Treat yourself and five guests to a delightful evening of fine dining and the warm hospitality of Monsignor J. Schuler at the charming rectory of St. Cronan’s in the exciting Grove Neighborhood. You and your guests will share an unforgettable evening of engaging conversation and fellowship with Monsignor Schuler. This opportunity is perfect for a special occasion or simply a night out with friends or family.

Donor: Msgr. J. Schuler Value: Divine

 

Old Cathedral Guided Tour & Wine Reception for 12

Experience a unique and enriching gathering at the Old Cathedral and newly renovated Cathedral Museum. Join Father Nicholas Smith for an insightful and engaging tour to discover its fascinating history, treasured artifacts and the story behind the stunning renovations. After the tour, enjoy a gathering featuring wonderful wines and selected cheeses, set in the serene atmosphere of this iconic and beloved St. Louis landmark. Donor: Fr. Nicholas Smith Value: Heavenly

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2024 Capital Project: Stained Glass

In 2024 and beyond, our fundraising initiatives will focus on a capital project dedicated to the restoration, repair, and preservation of the Church's stained glass windows.

 

The scope of this project entails:

  • The necessary work of re-leading the windows for structural stability.

  • Repairs to broken windows, and replace missing stained glass pieces.

  • Protective covers will be installed to shield the windows from weather damage.

 

Currently, two windows have been successfully restored, with each window costing approximately $25,000.

Throughout the years, small rocks have caused some glass to break. Some shattered glass has been carefully reassembled, while other pieces have been replaced with plain-colored glass instead of the original painted design. The main concern with this project is the lead, which supports the window's structure and stability, as it is deteriorating and causing the windows to buckle. Once each window is repaired, a transparent protective shield will be added. Although many windows already have shields, they are starting to cloud due to aging.

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Interested in donating to help restore the stained glass?

Hope Floats

In July 2022, the STL area experienced record rainfall that resulted in flooding at the convent, church, rectory, and school house, submerging them in nearly 3 feet of water. The Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, which holds a history spanning over 200 years, narrates the tales of St. Philippine Duchesne, the Jesuits, the pioneer era in the Louisiana Purchase territory, and much more.

 

Volunteers and board members are collaborating with a restoration company to revive our campus. It is anticipated that the restoration process will take several months to complete. During this period, all events, tours, and rentals have been postponed until further notice.

 

Please stay updated on our progress by visiting this website and our Facebook page. We sincerely appreciate your generous donations, volunteer efforts, and prayers that support us during this challenging time.

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-The Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

The Catholic Church recognizes over 10,000 canonized saints.

Eleven of these saints lived in North America.

St. Philippine Duchesne was the fourth saint canonized from the US. and is the patron saint of perseverance amid adversity.

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At the age of 49, Duchesne arrived in the US from France with the mission of teaching girls in the American frontier.  Facing harsh weather and limited resources, Duchesne and her team worked tirelessly opening 6 schools in 10 years in MO and LA. 

 

 Come to Florissant and see where it all began.

Walk in the footsteps of a Saint

Photo of the church from the courtyard in the setting sun

Who We Are

Today, The Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is on the National Registry of Historic Places and is managed by the nonprofit, Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Shrine.  Through fundraising and donations from the community, we continue to maintain this 200+ year old campus.

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Our volunteers work hard providing tours, restoring the campus, and creating event spaces for rent.  Our collective mission is continue to keep the Shrine an active part of the community while preserving our heritage and honoring those that walked before us.

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We encourage all to visit, reflect, and enjoy.

A drawing of the shrine from 1800s

Pencil sketch of campus prior to Church renovation in 1880

Getting Here

1 Rue St Francois, Florissant, MO 63031

(314) 837-2110

Shrine campus: from left to right: the schoolhouse, the rectory, the church and the convent

Contact Us

Thanks for submitting!

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine  I  1 Rue St. Francois St. Florissant, MO 63031  I  (314) 837-2110  I  info@oldstferdinandshrine.com

Learn more about this historic church, St. Philippine Duchesne, and Missouri pioneer days

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