Parish History

St. Clare of Assisi Parish was established on May 19, 1963 under the loving, spiritual leadership of Msgr. John Dollard. It was originally called St. Clara and later changed to St. Clare of Assisi.

As a small country parish, three hundred and twenty-nine families from Ballwin, Chesterfield and Ellisville worshiped as a community for the first time in the Passionist Convent Chapel on September 1, 1963. The church was built on the present site and dedicated by Cardinal Joseph Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, on August 11, 1965.

History of Pastors:
1963 to 1993         Msgr. John Dollard
1993 to 1994         Rev. Richard Buchheit
1994 to 2005         Msgr. Richard Hanneke
2005 to 2018         Msgr. Kevin Callahan
2018 to 2021         Rev. Christopher Martin
2021 to Present    Rev. Anthony Yates

Our first educational building was completed with eight classrooms in 1965 and was used for Parish School of Religion. St. Clare of Assisi School opened in September 1979 for 73 students in grades kindergarten through third. After that, the parish added a grade to the school each year. The second building was erected in 1983. The first graduating class was in 1985. The western wing was added in 1997 and the cafeteria/dining hall was completed for the school year 2001-2002.  Today, we offer grades Pre-K through 8th, as well as a PSR and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.