A Brief History of Holy Family Parish

On August 1, 2023, Immaculate Conception Parish and St. David Parish in Arnold, Missouri, were merged to form Holy Family Parish as part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ All Things New initiative. While the parish is newly established, the two communities share a long and interconnected history. St. David Parish was established in 1960 as an offshoot of Immaculate Conception, and over the decades, the two parishes frequently collaborated in areas such as Catholic education and CYC athletics.

 Immaculate Conception Parish traces its roots to 1840, when German and Alsatian immigrants established a Catholic presence in the Arnold area. The parish built its first stone church in 1851, followed by the construction of a larger church in 1895, which served the parish for many generations. A strong spirit of stewardship marked parish life, culminating in the construction of a parish center in 2000 to support worship, education, and community life.

 St. David Parish, named after an English Benedictine saint, began in 1963 with approximately 200 families. Before a church building was constructed, Mass was celebrated at Franke Motors. The church cornerstone was blessed in 1964, and early liturgies were held in the rectory basement. As the parish grew, additional facilities were developed, including a school, gymnasium, and athletic field, supporting both faith formation and community life.

A significant moment of shared ministry occurred in 1988, when the parish schools of Immaculate Conception and St. David merged to form Holy Child School. In 2007, St. John’s School joined this partnership, strengthening Catholic education in the region and ensuring continued formation for students in grades K–8.

 With the official merger in 2023, the two parishes became one canonical parish: Holy Family Parish. Fr. Gerald Blessing was appointed pastor, with Fr. John Brennell assisting during the transition. One of the early and important steps in forming a unified parish identity was the decision to worship together at a single site. As Fr. Blessing noted, “We need one worship site to truly come together.”

 In March 2025, a tornado rendered the Church Road worship site unusable, prompting Holy Family Parish to begin planning for a new church. This moment became a catalyst for discernment and unity, leading the parish to undertake a capital campaign to build a lasting spiritual home for generations to come.

 Since the merger, parishioners from both former parishes have worked collaboratively through various committees to integrate ministries, events, and resources. Key milestones in this period include the renaming of the parish and adoption of a new logo, the final Mass celebrated at St. David Church, a pastoral visit from Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, and Fr. Blessing’s installation as pastor.

 Longstanding community traditions—such as the former Fall Festival, Spring Picnic, and Festival of Trees—continue to support parish life and ministry. Holy Family Parish School remains central to the parish’s mission, fostering faith, education, and community for future generations.

Immaculate Conception Parish also had a longstanding tradition of offering Mass in Spanish for the Spanish-speaking Catholic community in the area. In continuity with that commitment, Holy Family Parish continues to celebrate Mass in Spanish and serves a parish community that includes Spanish-speaking members.