Welcome to Old St. Ferdinand Shrine
Established in 1789 in Florissant, MO
Vision Statement
We the Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Inc. wish to inspire future generations to appreciate and preserve the buildings, exhibits and the memory of frontier times.
Mission Statement
The Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Inc., recognize the historic, architectural and religious significance of Old St. Ferdinand's and its adjoining structures, commit themselves to the following:
1. To the restoration and presrrvation of these buildings, maintaining their architectural integrity.
2. To the development of an education program to increase awareness; and
3. To raise the necessary funds to achieve these goals.
Give a Treasure, Support a Treasure
Help Preserve Old St. Ferdinand Shrine Home of St. Philippine Duchesne!
Do you have a treasured item that is ready for a new home?
This fall, our community is coming together to support the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine through a special charity online auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Shrine. We are seeking donations of quality items that can find new homes while helping support and preserve this meaningful piece of our community's history.
Jewelry. Art. Collectibles. Furniture. Religious items.
Gift cards. Experiences. And more!
Your donation can help turn something you no longer need into
meaningful support for the Shrine.
Donation Drop-off:
September 20-27 from 10am-3pm
St. Thomas the Apostle Building
3500 St. Catherine St. Florissant, MO 63031
Questions? Call: 314-378-5633 or 616-550-3114
Online Auction will be October 13-12, 2026
Click HERE for auction site
Upcoming Events
November 18, 2026: Feast of Mother Philippine Duchesne Mass at 7 pm.
November- December: Tablescapes
December 6, 2026: Christmas Concert 3pm
April 2, 2027: Shine for the Shrine Benefit
Our Capital Project: Stained Glass
Our current fundraising initiatives are focused on a capital project dedicated to the restoration, repair, and preservation of the Church's stained glass windows.
The scope of this project entails:
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The necessary work of re-leading the windows for structural stability.
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Repairs to broken windows, and replace missing stained glass pieces.
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Protective covers will be installed to shield the windows from weather damage.
Currently, two windows have been successfully restored, with each window costing approximately $25,000.
Throughout the years, small rocks have caused some glass to break. Some shattered glass has been carefully reassembled, while other pieces have been replaced with plain-colored glass instead of the original painted design. The main concern with this project is the lead, which supports the window's structure and stability, as it is deteriorating and causing the windows to buckle. Once each window is repaired, a transparent protective shield will be added. Although many windows already have shields, they are starting to cloud due to aging.
Interested in donating to help restore the stained glass?
The Catholic Church recognizes over 10,000 canonized saints.
Eleven of these saints lived in North America.
St. Philippine Duchesne was the fourth saint canonized from the US. and is the patron saint of perseverance amid adversity.
At the age of 49, Duchesne arrived in the US from France with the mission of teaching girls in the American frontier. Facing harsh weather and limited resources, Duchesne and her team worked tirelessly opening 6 schools in 10 years in MO and LA.
Come to Florissant and see where it all began.
Walk in the footsteps of a Saint
Who We Are
Today, The Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is on the National Registry of Historic Places and is managed by the nonprofit, Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Shrine. Through fundraising and donations from the community, we continue to maintain this 200+ year old campus.
Our volunteers work hard providing tours, restoring the campus, and creating event spaces for rent. Our collective mission is continue to keep the Shrine an active part of the community while preserving our heritage and honoring those that walked before us.
We encourage all to visit, reflect, and enjoy.
Pencil sketch of campus prior to Church renovation in 1880
