Historical September–October 2025 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
As of the beginning of July, Christ the King Parish (which now includes St. Roch Church) has a new pastor, Father Chris Schroeder. Below is an introductory letter that he sent to the Parish Family. Hello Christ the King and St. Joseph, I am glad to have the opportunity to serve as your pastor.
All I have learned so far tells me that you are vibrant and faith filled communities, and I look forward to helping you connect to the grace and love of Jesus Christ!
In order to help you get to know me, I will offer a couple of introductory messages about my history, pastoral experience, and interests. Since as I am writing this, I am still in the process moving in, I will begin with the big picture details. (It may be good to hang onto these messages from the next couple of newsletters/bulletins to see how all the puzzle pieces fit together!) I grew up in Manchester, MO with my parents and two younger siblings.
My parents gave me the gift of a Catholic education, starting at St. Joseph Elementary in Manchester (now closed) and then going to De Smet Jesuit for high school.
From there I attended Saint Louis University for two years, where I took adult responsibility for my faith life for the first time and began working on my spiritual wellbeing. Through that process, I began to discern the religious life, since I greatly admired the Jesuits I had known at De Smet and SLU.
After sophomore year, I entered the Jesuit novitiate and would spend the next 12 years in formation as a Jesuit. (Of course, this entailed many travels and assignments… keep tuning in for more details!) I was ordained in 2014 at St. Francis Xavier (College Church) here in St. Louis.
After ordination, I served in Kansas City at Rockhurst University, in Dallas at Montserrat Retreat House, and back in St. Louis at my alma mater De Smet. Over the course of time, it became clear that while I continued to love and respect the Jesuits and their way of life, I did well personally with more stable surroundings than most Jesuits are allowed.
In 2021, I began a two year leave of absence from the order in which I discerned my next step.
During that time I worked at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur in community health, helping patients who came to the ER without insurance. Through the course of my leave, I became aware that I wanted to continue with ministry and that the St. Louis Archdiocese was the best place to do that for me.
In 2023 Archbishop Rozanski graciously accepted me for a trial period (which just concluded this past April), during which time, I have served at St. Justin Martyr parish in Sunset Hills and for the past two years at St. Charles Borromeo/St. Peter parishes in St. Charles.
While it was hard to leave my previous assignment, I am excited to be with you all in University City and Clayton!
I am confident that we will all help each other grow closer to God and to make the Gospel truly present in our world and our lives.
I look forward to learning from you all what makes your communities special and how the Holy Spirit is at work already.
Please pray for me as I begin to settle in, and I’m looking forward to sharing more of my story with you in the coming weeks! Fr Chris frchris@ctks.net
Original photograph caption
Original July third parish letter by Fr Chris Schroeder.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 2025.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Second July eighteenth parish letter reproduced only inside original tilted source illustration. Its additional biography not yet fully transcribed; original readable illustration retained for editorial transcription rather than guessed small print.
Original source: SD_Times2025_09.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
