The rector at the Oratory, Father Karl Lenhardt is hopeful funds can be raised quickly to make the necessary repairs to the outside and inside of the nearly 100 year old church.  I can't say much about the restoration of the inside." he said," because at first we have to fix the structural problems outside to make sure whatever we do inside will not be destroyed by water that comes in."

The church, located at Gravois and Ohio in St. Louis City,  is currently home to the St. Louis Archdiocese's Traditional Latin Mass apostolate.  Seven to 800 persons attend regularly. Some congregants come from out of state to worship there.  The program has given the church a new purpose and new resources for basic operations.  But a fund raising drive is being organized to raise at least three to four million dollars to launch the restoration work.

According to Father Lenhardt, the steeple was built on the foundation prepared for the church.  "Our ancestors," he speculated," may have been in a hurry.  They did not build the foundation of the steeple deep enough and therefore today we see that the steeple is pulling apart from the church."

Most of the stained glass windows created by St. Louis artist Emil Frei, Sr. are in good condition.  But additional stress on the window frames could cause serious damage and make repairs more expensive.

The one hundred year old building is reminiscent of european cathedrals and is listed on the National Register of hHtoric Places. Anyone interested in the project should contact the church at 2653 Ohio Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118  or call  314-771-3100.