Retired Mayor Writes New Archbishop on
Preserving Oldest Parish In STL County

By Thomas Schneider

In 2019 I retired after eight years as CEO Mayor of Florissant after having served 32 years on the City Council. During my 40 years in elected office the long and rich 233 years of Florissant Catholic loyalty appeared to have been overlooked by the Archdiocese and Jesuits resulting in adverse decisions regarding parishes, education, elderly care, heritage sites etc. While Mayor, I met with Archbishop Carlson to discuss the injuries and to appeal for more appreciation of Florissant’s contribution to Catholic progress. He seemed to appreciate my concerns.
Now, Florissant citizens are anxious about the “All Things New” study commissioned by the new Archbishop Mitchel Rozanski because we have not fared well in the past after Archdiocesan studies. I composed an “Open Letter” to Archbishop Mitchel Rozanski on April 6, 2022 pointing out the historic significance of St. Ferdinand parish to the City of Florissant.
I informed him that it is a parish that was named after our city which was christened San Fernando by the Spanish Governor of the Louisiana Territory in 1786. In 1789 French Catholics founded St. Ferdinand Parish. The symbolism displayed by the French to embrace a Spanish Saint set an example of magnanimous tolerance that is still present in our beautiful city.
St. Ferdinand parish is the oldest parish in St. Louis County and fourth oldest in the Louisiana Purchase territory and its heritage is as a living continuation of St. Ferdinand Shrine which was home to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and where Jesuit Pioneer Peter De Smet was ordained. St. Ferdinand parish continues to be a strong parish in many ways including reputation, financial, geographic, infrastructure, outreach and hosts the best year-round fish fry in the Midwest. But the main point is that St. Ferdinand is to the City of Florissant what the Old Cathedral is to the City of St. Louis.

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