Following the example of our patron Saint Stephen, we are called to be witnesses of God's love and to be a faith-filled, reconciling parish.
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| Resident Pastors of Saints Mary and Joseph Parish |
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The men below are Resident Pastors, and their
years of service, at Saints Mary and Joseph parish.
Click on a name to view information about that
pastor, or simply scroll down the page to view history
about all the pastors.
Reverend Edmond Saulnier 1832 - 1841 Reverend James Fontbonne 1842 - 1844 Reverend Anthony Thibaudier 1845 - 1846 Reverend George Ortheib 1846 - 1852 Reverend James Stehle 1852 - 1857 Reverend Philip Hendricks 1858 - 1861 Reverend Michael McFaul 1861 - 1875 Reverend Thomas G. Daly 1875 - 1886 Reverend Myles Tobyn 1886 - 1905 Reverend Gerard Power 1905 - 1908 Reverend Joseph McMahon (Administrator) 1908 - 1910 Rev. Msgr. Martin Brennan 1910 - 1927 Rev. Msgr. George Keating 1927 - 1962 Reverend James Franey 1962 - 1965 Reverend Harry Roberts 1966 - 1970 Rev. Msgr. James P. O'Connell 1970 - 1993 Rev. Robert L. Szydlowski 1993 - 2005 Missionary and Visiting Priests Before 1832 |
| Reverend Edmond Saulnier 1832 - 1841 |
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Edmond Saulnier was born at Bordeaux in southern France on
March 13, 1798. In 1815 and 1816 he attended college in Paris.
Having received tonsure in 1817, he came in touch with Bishop
Dubourg who at that time was on his trip through France and
Belgium. He arrived at the seminary at Perryville in May, 1819.
Towards the end of 1819 Edmond Saulnier was called from the seminary
to teach French at the College of St. Louis. He was given also
charge of the black children in St. Louis. The young cleric
was full of enthusiasm and soaring ideas. In September, 1822,
he received minor orders in St. Louis, afterwards he was
ordained deacon and priest for the diocese of Louisiana.
He remained at the Cathedral as assistant. He was Pastor
of the Cathedral from 1825 to 1831.
September 19, 1831 Bishop Rosati gave Father Saulnier the most difficult mission of the diocese; appointing him pastor of the Poste of Arkansas, near the junction of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. Father Saulnier, on August 22, 1832, was appointed resident pastor of Vide Poche or Carondelet, founded by Delor de Treget in 1767. There the first chapel, in honor of our Lady of Mount Carmel, had been built on the river bluff by Father Felix de Andreis in 1818. The district had always been regarded as a mission of St. Louis until he was appointed resident pastor. A new church was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph of the Angels on March 31, 1835. In 1841 he dedicated it simply to Sts. Mary and Joseph. The next Church of Sts. Mary and Joseph's was built in 1859 by Father Hendricks. In 1842 Father Saulnier went to New Madrid. On July 22, 1842, he was appointed pastor of St. Philip's Church at the French Village, (East St. Louis) with his residence in Cahokia. During his administration of French Village the flood of 1844 took place, the greatest flood since the white man had come to the shores of the Mississippi. The settlers at Cahokia and at the village suffered greatly. Father Saulnier had left his place before it was too late. Two weeks he remained at the Cathedral; he was sent to St. Patrick's Church as assistant. Father Saulnier returned to the Cathedral as Chaplain of the Sisters of Charity at Fourth and Spruce. Archbishop Kenrick made him his chancellor on September 15, 1853. In 1854 Father Saulnier visited his native country, France, for the first time since 1819. On May 8, 1862, Father Saulnier was appointed Chaplain of the Carmelite Nuns, whom coming from Baltimore, had settled on the so-called "Clay Farm," near Bellefontaine. This Clay Farm forms part of the tract bought by Archbishop Kenrick for Calvary Cemetery. Here Father Saulnier died, March 22, 1864, when he was about to go to the altar to say Mass. He died in the arms of the superintendent of Calvary Cemetery, who served his mass every morning. |
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| Reverend James Fontbonne 1842 - 1844 |
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Father James Fontbonne, with the blessing of Archbishop Gaston
de Pins of Lyons, France, accompanied a small band of
Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons to St. Louis. They boarded a
ship named the Heidlberg at La Harve and arrived at New Orleans
on March 5, 1836.
On March 25, 1836, as their Spiritual Director, he arrived with six Sisters at St. Louis. On January 31, 1837 Bishop Rosati appointed him Chaplain and Spiritual Director for the Sisters both at Carondelet and Cahokia. He also served as Assistant at the Cathedral. He was Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph from 1842 to 1844. Later he left the Diocese of St. Louis, and spent some time in Philadelphia with his sister. He returned to France where he died at Chagny in 1886. |
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| Reverend Anthony Thibaudier 1845 - 1846 |
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Anthony Thibaudier was born in France on August 15, 1815.
On November 19, 1842 he entered the seminary. He was ordained Deacon at the St. Louis Cathedral on July 19, 1844. On September 22, 1844 he was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral. Father Thibaudier was Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph in 1845 and 1846. |
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| Reverend George Ortheib 1846 - 1852 |
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Nothing is known concerning the date and place of birth of
Father Orthieb. There has been some confusion with his
name because of differences in spelling.
Father's only recorded appointments seem to be his time at Sts. Mary and Joseph. He was Pastor from 1846 until 1852. During 1849 he was also Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Seminary in Carondelet. In May of 1852 he returned to Europe. |
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| Reverend James Stehle 1852 - 1857 |
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James Stehle was born on April 6, 1822 in France. On January 24,
1846 he entered the Seminary to study for the priesthood.
It is interesting that we have the date of August 12, 1847 for his reception of Tonsure and the four Minor Orders of Porter, Lector, Acolyte and Exorcist. On August 27, 1847 he was ordained a Deacon and on August 29, 1847 he was ordained a priest. All orders were received in one month. On October 4, 1847 he left the seminary for missionary work. From 1848 to 1851 he was Pastor at Benton and New Hamburg. From 1852 to 1857 he was Pastor at Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carondelet. in 1857 he left the Diocese to work in the Diocese of Milwaukee. |
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| Reverend Philip Hendricks 1858 - 1861 |
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Nothing is noted in the Chancery records concerning
the date and place of birth of Philip Hendricks.
However, ordination records are very complete
for Father Hendricks.
In June of-1857 he received Tonsure and the Four Minor Orders. On December 7, 1857 he was ordained Deacon and on December 8, 1857 he was ordained to the Priesthood at Carondelet. In January, 1858 he was appointed Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carondelet and served until 1861. In 1859 he built a brick church which was damaged by the windstorm in 1937. On October 29, 1859 he was appointed Professor of French at the Seminary. In October of 1861 he was transferred to Ste. Genevieve-, Missouri, where he served until February 19, 1865. |
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| Reverend Michael McFaul 1861 - 1875 |
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Father Michael McFaul was born in Baltimore, Maryland,
November 16, 1823. As a youth he was an aspirant in a
Jesuit Novitiate, but deciding to become a Diocesan Priest
he entered the Seminary of St. Francis in Milwaukee.
He was ordained September 27, 1847.
His first appointment was at Janesville, Wisconsin, where he established St. Patrick's Church and attended the whole surrounding country, going on horseback or on foot. After his health failed he came to St. Louis, first making his home with Bishop Ryan, and after taking charge of Sts. Mary and Joseph's Church to succeed Father Hendricks, in 1861. 111 health compelled him to resign and he was succeeded by Father Thomas Daly in 1875. Father Michael McFaul died on January 9, 1910, at St. John's Hospital. His funeral took place from the old Cathedral on Walnut and Second streets, where he had made his home with the pastor, Father Eugene Coyle, for about twenty-four years. Father Head preached on the occasion, eulogizing Father McFaul for his love of the contemplative life. |
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| Reverend Thomas G. Daly 1875 - 1886 |
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Father Thomas G. Daly was a native of Ireland, born in 1848.
In boyhood he came to Canada, and attended schools there. He
studied for the priesthood at the College of the Capuchins
St. Francis of Seraph, in Milwaukee. in 1870 he was ordained
by Bishop Melcher of Green Bay for the diocese of St. Louis.
The first appointment of Father Daly was assistant at St.
Malachy's, and then for one year assistant at St. Bridget's.
He was pastor of Old Mines, Missouri, when he was called to
the parish of Sts. Mary and Joseph's in 1875, upon the
resignation of Father McFaul. Here in the old parish of
Carondelet he did valiant work. He built a new steeple on
the church and put in a new chime of bells, and replaced
the altars. His greatest work, in 1876, was the erection
of a school, a building much admired at the time.
He contributed articles to religious magazines. He
fell into a lingering illness and passed to his eternal
reward on February 6, 1886.
In accordance with one of his last requests, Father Daly was buried by the side of old Father St. Cyr, in the Cemetery of the Convent of St. Joseph at Nazareth in South St. Louis County. |
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| Reverend Myles Tobyn 1886 - 1905 |
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Father Myles William Tobyn was born in Dublin,
Ireland, on July 17, 1834, His father was Myles Michael
Tobyn, of Tobynstown, in County Galway, who married Margaret
McKeon, of Drumshanbo, in Lietrim, and settled in Dublin.
They had eight children, Myles being the third. From his
earliest years his parents dedicated him to the priesthood.
He used to say that his first valued possession was a complete
set of paper vestments made by his mother. He was sent to a
boarding college at Clondalkin, in charge of the Carmelite monks,
and then he entered Maynooth to study for the Dublin diocese. His
father's death caused him to ask to be sent to an American diocese.
And in 1857, after a visit to France, he arrived in St.
Louis a deacon, with letters to Archbishop Kenrick. He spent
one year at the old seminary of Carondelet, where his personality
and accomplishments made everyone his friend. He was ordained on
June 26, 1858, and assigned to St. John's Church, assistant
to Father John Bannon after a short period at St. Patrick's.
In April, 1862, he was appointed pastor of St. Malachy's Church. The building of the boys' school was his first work. In these years his mother came from Dublin to make her home with him. In 1869 he was transferred to Old Mines, Missouri, but after a few months was made pastor of the Old Cathedral, St. Louis. He remained at the Cathedral from seventeen years. During this time, in 1876, he held a splendid centennial for the parish, for which he had the church renovated. In 1886 he was appointed pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph's to succeed Father Daly, and remained there until his death. He was a good preacher. He was a well read man, a travelled man, and a good business man. Above all things he loved his sacred calling, and nothing gave him such real pleasure as having beautiful requisites about the altar and sanctuary. His congregation was very dear to him. He knew every member and was personally interested in their welfare. But he never forgot the land of his birth and went back to visit it a number of times. Father Tobyn died on Good Friday, April 21, 1905, in St. Louis. His health had been failing for two years. At his funeral the sermon was preached by Father David Phelan. |
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| Reverend Gerard Power 1905 - 1908 |
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Father Gerard D. Power was born at Cork, Ireland, on February 23,
1842. At an early age he joined the Dominican Order. An older
brother also joined the Dominicans, going on the mission in Australia.
Father Power studied in France and at Perugia, and finished his studies at the Minerva University in Rome. He was ordained in the Church of St. John Lateran by Cardinal Patrizzi March 15, 1866. After his ordination he was sent to Woodstock, England, to give missions and retreats; and then to the Dominican College at Tralee, in Ireland. From there he was appointed master of novices at Tallaght, and from that position he was made president of St. Thomas Dominican College at Newbridge, County Kildare. At this time financial reverses overtook his parents, who had been in opulent circumstances; hence he asked and obtained permission to leave the order, "that as a secular priest he might assist his father and mother." He received a leave of absence for ten years, and was sent by Father Burke, O.P., to St. Louis. He arrived here in 1875, and labored in the St. Louis ministry at St. John's as assistant to Bishop Ryan, then as first chaplain of the Christian Brothers College on King's Highway, as first pastor of the Church of St. Rose and as pastor in Kirkwood. Then he was appointed to the pastorate of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in 1887, where he remained until 1901. After this Father Power spent two years in Europe. on his return to St. Louis, Archbishop Glennon appointed him to a Chaplaincy of St. Mary's Orphan Asylum, where he was very happy and successful in his work. A sincere interest in the little children was always a characteristic of this beloved pastor. On the death of Father Tobyn in 1905, Father Power was appointed to the parish of Sts. Mary and Joseph in South St. Louis, and also given the chaplaincy of St. Joseph's Convent. He was eminent in St. Louis as a profound and eloquent preacher and even in his last charge people from all parts of the city went to hear him preach. His kindness to the poor was remarkable. Father Power died suddenly a few moments after he had entered his parochial residence from the church where he had said his early morning mass. A lady of the congregation recalled that Father Power made an unusually long Thanksgiving that morning, and seemed to rise with difficulty from his attitude of deep devotion. His assistant priest had barely time to anoint him when he breathed his last. This occurred on Thursday, November 5, 1908. The funeral sermon was preached by Father P. F. O'Reilly, who had long been his friend. |
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| Reverend Joseph McMahon (Administrator) 1908 - 1910 |
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Joseph McMahon was ordained to the Priesthood on June 1905.
Father Myles W. Tobyn, then pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph had just died the previous Good Friday. At the suggestion of a friend, the newly ordained went to help the Assistant Pastor, Father Crane, for a day or two while awaiting his first priestly appointment from Archbishop Glennon. At a celebration at Maryville College Archbishop Glennon learned from Father Crane that he was being helped by the newly ordained for a few days. The Archbishop said "Tell him to stay there." When Father Gerard Power died on November 5, 1908 until, Father Martin Brennan was assigned to Sts. Mary and Joseph as Pastor in January, 1910, Father Joseph A. McMahon served as Administrator of the parish. He stayed until 1910 when he went to the Immaculate Conception Parish. He was Pastor of St. Luke's, Richmond Heights from 1920 to 1963. He died as Pastor Emeritus in 1966. |
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| Father Martin S. Brennan 1910 - 1927 |
| Father Martin S. Brennan was born on July 23, 1845 in Tipperary, Ireland. About two years later, his family immigrated to St. Louis and settled in Old Cathedral parish. Father attended the parish school and then received his further education at Christian Brothers College, where he was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in 1865, a master of arts in 1869, and a doctor of science in 1896. ordained to the priesthood in 1869, he served as assistant pastor at St. Malachy's parish, then as pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph parish. In 1926 he built the school building still used today in connection with Catholic Charities Outreach Program. In 1891, he was voted one of the most popular clergymen in St. Louis in a contest conducted by the St. Louis Republic. On May 27, 1923, he was honored by Pope Pius XI when he was appointed as domestic prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, From 1892 on, he also was Professor of Astronomy and Geology at Kenrick Seminary. Having world-wide recognition in these fields, he wrote many scientific treatises and several books; he was also a member of numerous scientific and historical societies. |
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| Rev. Msgr. George Keating 1927 - 1962 |
| Father George P. Keating, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was born October 30, 1892. ordained December 21, 1918, he was assigned to Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish January 6, 1919. In October, 1927, he was appointed administrator of the parish and then pastor in 1929. He served the parish his entire priestly life until his death. He also held other administrative posts in the Archdiocese, such as Dean of the St. Louis Deanery, member of the Archdiocesan Building Commission, vice-president of the Catholic Orphans' Board, member of the Archdiocesan Conference Commission, executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Priests' Mutual Benefit Society, and director of Mount Olive Cemetery. On May 17, 1949, he was named domestic prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. On March 11, 1962 Monsignor Keating died. |
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| Reverend James Franey 1962 - 1965 |
| Father James J. Franey was born June 2, 1910. He lived and attended school in Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish. He attended Kenrick seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1936. That year he was assigned to St. Agnes parish and then to St. Edward's. From 1947 to 1950, he served as assistant pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish and as Newman Chaplain to Catholic students a Washington University; from 1948 to 1954, he was assistant executive secretary to the Archdiocesan Insurance Commission In 1952, he was appointed pastor at St. Joseph's parish in Kimmswick, Missouri, which post he held until he was assigned pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph parish on April 30, 1962. He served the parish until his premature death from a heart condition at fifty-five years of age on November 11, 1965. |
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| Reverend Harry Roberts 1966 - 1970 |
| A native St. Louisian, Father Harry J. Roberts was born on March 19, 1913. After attending St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School, Father entered St. Louis Preparatory Seminary. Ordained by Archbishop John J. Glennon on June 3, 1939, Father Roberts was assigned assistant pastor at St. John's Basilica. Following this first appointment, he served at St. Matthew's Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Philip Neri Parish and Most Holy Name Parish. In 1954 Father was made pastor of Holy Martyrs of Japan in Missouri, and then of St. Teresa's Parish in 1958. Father served as Archdiocesan director of the Junior Legion of Mary from 1942 1954, and a member of the Archdiocesan School Board. A chaplain at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood, Father Harry Roberts was appointed pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish in April of 1966. Father Roberts died February 8, 1970. |
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| Rev. Msgr. James P. O'Connell 1970 - 1993 |
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James Patrick O'Connell was born in St. Louis on September 19,
1917 to James O'Connell and Catherine O'Leary. He was bapttized
at St. Pius V Church, St. Louis on October 7, 1917. After attending
St. Pius V School and St. Mary's High School, he attended St.
Louis University from 1941 to 1945 receiving his degree from
the College of Commerce and Finance.
In 1947 and 1948 he studied Philosophy at the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Theology from 1949-1953 at Kenrick Seminary. His ordination to the Sacred Priesthood was at Kenrick Seminary on February 28, 1953. Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter was the ordaining Prelate. He received his first priestly assignment on March 2, 1953 when he was appointed assistant to the Pastor at St. Paul's Parish, in Pine Lawn, Missouri. On April 23, 1957 he was appointed Assistant Comptroller of the Catholic High School Association. The next appointment was to Christ the King Parish in University City on April 30, 1962 as assistant to the Pastor. Then on September 1, 1964 came the assignment of assistant to the Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. It was on May 17, 1965 that he was made the Executive Secretary of the Archdiocesan Insurance Commission. After the death of Father Harry Roberts, Father O'Connell was appointed Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish on June 22, 1970. The title of Monsignor as Honorary Prelate was bestowed on February 24, 1977. Monsignor was invested by his longtime friend Bishop John N. Wurm. Monsignior retired in 1993. |
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| Rev. Robert L. Szydlowski 1993 - 2005 |
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Father Robert L. Szydlowski was born on May 15, 1936. He
is the son of John G. SzydIowski and Mary Kuciejczyk.
He attended McBride High School, Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. Father was ordained to the Priesthood at the St. Louis Cathedral by Cardinal Ritter on April 7, 1962. His first priestly assignment was Assistant at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in St. Louis on May 7, 1962. On January 9, 1967, Father was assigned to be Assistant at Assumption Parish, O'Fallon, Missouri. He was named Associate Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in St. Louis on September 5, 1968. On June 22, 1970 Father was appointed Temporary Administrator of St. Stanislaus Parish in St. Louis. Then on June 10, 1971 he was assigned again as Associate Pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish which had been his first assignment as a Priest. On May 25, 1978, Father was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Sebastian Parish, Glen Owen, Missouri. He was then appointed Pastor of North American Martyrs Parish in Florissant, Missouri on October 20, 1981. On June 30, 1993, Father was assigned to be Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph (Carondelet) St. Louis, Missouri. |
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| Missionary and Visiting Priests Before 1832 |
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Felix de Andreis (St. Louis) Leo De Neckere (St. Louis) Jean Audizzio (St. Louis) Joseph Lutz (St. Louis) Regis Loiset (St. Louis) L. Dutrelingere (Cahokia) F. Condemine (Cahokia) P. Triconier (Cahokia) |
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