Exploring The Racial History Of Our Community

~ In March 2023, the Racial Equity team offered a workshop at the parish titled “Knowing Our History and Current Challenges Around Race.” With strong interest from attendees and support from College Church, we began the journey of learning and owning our story.

In February 2025, five parishioners attended the Faith That Does Justice Conference. Mr. Michael Heithaus opened with a powerful address about his uncle, Fr. Claude Heithaus, whose 1944 homily at College Church ultimately led to Saint Louis University opening its doors to African Americans. The conference reminded us that confronting our historic sins helps us understand how current issues are rooted in our shared past. This work is often uncomfortable and painful—but essential to our faith. Every time we gather for Mass, we don’t leave the injustice of what happened to Jesus in the past. Instead, we enter into Christ’s suffering because it is through that discomfort and pain that we open ourselves to being changed–and to becoming agents of change.   

Inspired by the conference, we recommitted ourselves to taking a deep dive into the history of SMOS, Shaw, and adjoining neighborhoods, through the lens of racial equity. Winnie Sullivan from College Church helped guide our next steps, reminding us that understanding our parish history means understanding its racial history. As we explore the full story of SMOS, stories of its racial past will emerge—stories that will help us better understand the ongoing need to work for racial equity in our community and city.  This understanding will better equip us to envision the actions needed to address both past and current injustices. We’ve connected with St. Pius and St. Vincent’s parishes, who are engaged in similar work, to share research and build a more complete understanding of our broader community.

Currently, we are preparing to conduct oral histories and gather materials from a variety of sources: city maps, the archives of SLU, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Missouri Historical Society, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and others. We are seeking volunteers to help with both research and conducting interviews.

We also plan to launch a new book club this fall and take a group trip to the Missouri History Museum’s exhibit on Mill Creek Valley—the topic of our most recent book discussion. 

Finally, we acknowledge the devastation caused by the May 16th tornado. There is both opportunity AND risk that the recent tornado presents to housing equity on our city’s Northside. We are currently exploring ways in which we can support affected communities so they can rebuild homes and lives.

If anyone has other ideas or is interested in helping plan activities, email Gerry at gerrauch@gmail.com. 

During the Summer months, this column will be highlighting the good work and parishioners involved in one of our various Social Justice Ministries.  Each week, we will feature an article from a different ministry, written by one if its members, as a reflection on the calling to Catholic Social Teaching at St. Margaret of Scotland.