German Families Begin
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
By Sister Carol Marie Wildt, SSND

In 1877, the eighth SSND mission in the St. Louis area was established in a suburb known as Lowell. Four years earlier, the German laity received permission to establish Maria von der Immerwaerenden Hilfe parish in order to continue their prayer and worship in the German tradition. A lot of the College Hill farm owned by the Jesuits was purchased for $1,600 for a church and school on Twentieth and Linton streets.

School opened that year with a lay teacher. The next three years, the Precious Blood Sisters taught in the school. When Rev. Augustine J. Schilling was appointed pastor in 1875, he petitioned Mother Caroline Friess for sisters. In 1877, S. Albertine Feverly, superior, and S. Bernardine Weis were sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. When they arrived, they were told that one of their responsibilities was to conduct the choir. Since S. Bernardine felt she could not do this, Mother Caroline exchanged her with S. Rigoberta Kirch from Sts. Peter and Paul parish. Two candidates from Sts. Peter and Paul also joined this first group of pioneers. S. Albertine remained until her health failed her in 1919; S. Rigoberta remained until 1896.

As the parish flourished, new buildings were constructed or additions made in order to take care of the increasing number of sisters, students and parishioners. Rev. Schilling and Msgr. Joseph Wentker were two pastors whose financial expertise enabled the construction of school, convent and church to respond to the demands of the time. During their years of administration, the school enrollment increased to 700 students in a tuition-free school with a teaching staff of 18 sisters. About 600 registered families were in the parish. OLPH reached its height in the 1950s with 5,000 parishioners. In the mid-1960s membership began to decline as the neighborhood population changed.

Following World War I, the German prayers, hymns and classroom instructions were replaced with English. The parishioners became more Americanized and the German language fell into disuse. By 1936, it was a parish of Americans with German memories.

Twice during its history the parish experienced a devastating fire. In 1879, the rectory burned and had to be rebuilt. On December 14, 1987, several months before the centennial celebration of the church, the steeple was struck by lightning and the resulting fire seriously damaged the church. Instead of celebrating its dedication, the parish mourned the loss of their church as it was razed.

In 1971, the Sacred Heart Fathers and Brothers assumed responsibility for the parish. Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and Holy Name School consolidated in 1985 to form St. Peter Claver School. In 1992, St. Peter Claver School and Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Holy Name Parish consolidated with Most Holy Trinity. The convent closed as a residence in June 1992.

More than 240 SSNDs ministered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help during the 115 years we were missioned there; 50 parishioners entered the congregation.

[Sources: Rev. John Rothensteiner, History of the Archdiocese of St. Louis,1928; chronicle of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; newspaper articles]
 

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