The SSPX’s
Gateway of the West’s chapel had its beginnings in the 1970’s
with a small group that had Mass occasionally celebrated in
their basements and then later every other week at a Holiday
Inn.
In 1979, the
SSPX purchased the present Queen of the Holy Rosary Academy
complex, formerly an elementary school in the Lindburgh School
District, whose auditorium served as the chapel from 1979
until 1997. The complex, in addition to acting as the parish’s
chapel, school and priory, also served a brief stint as the
SSPX’s District Office in the United States, until the
headquarters’ moved in 1990 to Kansas City, MO. The parish
also had the distinct privilege of playing host to the visit
of Archbishop Lefebvre twice, once for the dedication of its
chapel (when it was in the auditorium) and in 1985 when he
came to administer the sacrament of confirmation.
Over the
years, the parish made several attempts to obtain an actual
church building, but due to the high costs of new
construction, these were all thwarted. Finally though after
nearly 20 years of waiting, it was announced in August, 1997
that the parish had successfully purchased the beautiful
church of St. Mary’s Assumption, formerly of the Catholic
Ruthenian Rite in downtown St. Louis,
but only 15 minutes away from the academy complex.
To date, the
chapel numbers over 300 faithful and has 55 students enrolled
in its academy.