St. Pius V Catholic Church is located in the heart of South St. Louis City, in the South Wedge area of the Tower Grove East Neighborhood.  Situated at the corner of South Grand Boulevard and Utah Street, St. Pius V serves as an anchor to the neighborhood and to the thriving business district located along South Grand Boulevard.

 

St. Pius V began humbly over a century ago as an Irish immigrant church, and by World War II had grown to be one of the largest, most prestigious parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  The post-war baby boom swelled its membership and school enrollment, and prompted expansion and improvements of the church and grounds by the mid-1950's.

 

But by the 1970's, south St. Louis' ethnic makup was beginning to change again as middle-class whites fled for the suburbs.  Blacks, and Asian and African immigrants and refugees took their place in the 1980's.  The dramatic demographic shift during the 1980's and 90's created social tension and demanded a response; parishioners were mobilized to advocate for social change, a value still held today.  In the 1990's, the 10:00 am liturgy became more vital with warmer hospitality, livelier music and more dynamic preaching.  St. Pius' ministries to the elderly, homebound, immigrant, and poor grew.  Parish finances were stabilized and stewardship was emphasized.

 

As St. Pius neared its centennial, it took the step of closing its school and merging with another to form St. Frances Cabrini Academy in 2003.  In late 2004, as St. Pius was threatened with closure as part of a realignment of the South St. Louis City Deanery, its parishioners strenously defended its viability and purpose and persuaded the Archdiocese to allow it to remain open.

Today, St. Pius V is home to nearly 500 diverse Catholic households: a mix of old, young, families, singles, refugees, immigrants, longtime City residents, and folks who travel from the County and beyond.   It is known throughout the Archdiocese and the City for its vibrant worship, its social outreach, especially to immigrants and refugees, its welcoming spirit, and its faithful stewardship. Over a century after its founding, St. Pius V is still a vibrant and growing parish, looking to the future with faith!

If you are looking for a place to belong, please consider St. Pius V.  You can register as a member of the parish here.  If you want to get involved at St. Pius V, visit our ministries page here.  Click here to go to our "Photo and Video Gallery" page.  Here you can see members of our community, and photos of the interior of our beautiful church.  And please, join us for worship on any Sunday (or any weekday!) - All are welcome!