Historic St. Louis church thrives after becoming Traditional Latin Mass oratory

Founded by German immigrants in 1867, a historic Catholic church in St. Louis that once faced closure and demolition is now thriving as a Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) oratory, according to reports.

Facing decades of declining attendance as population shifts reshaped St. Louis, the Archdiocese of St. Louis closed St. Francis de Sales and merged it with another parish in 2005, the Daily Mail reported. Then-Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke established St. Francis de Sales as an oratory served by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, where TLM has been celebrated ever since.

St. Francis de Sales Oratory now draws more than 700 people to a typical Sunday Mass after nearly tripling its membership over the past six years, and much of its recent growth has been driven by young families and Generation Z Catholics, according to the Daily Mail.

Mass attendees, including Philomena Wallace, told the Daily Mail that TLM has fostered a deeper sense of reverence and engagement with the Mass. Wallace, 26, said many young Catholics are searching for a form of worship rooted in tradition. 

"A lot of us are hungry for something that feels older and more solid," she remarked. "You have a way of worship that extends past the language. The meanings are not changing."

According to the oratory's website, St. Francis de Sales is home to what it describes as "a vibrant community of many young families." The oratory community includes 601 families, who get involved in ministries such as a children's choir and confirmation preparation.

According to the oratory's website, the community hopes to meet the needs of future generations while preserving tradition through the "venerable customs of its rich heritage.”