St Louis: The Gateway to the West

With patron saints St. Louis, King of France, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, and St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louis prides itself on its thriving Catholic community.  The St. Louis Diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese on July 20, 1847, by Pope Pius IX. Because of its strong Catholic identity and having been the mother diocese of many dioceses in the midwest, the archdiocese was often referred to as "the Rome of the west"

• Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis - Completed in 1914, the "new" Basilica received its designation from Pope John Paul II on April 4, 1997.  Between the Romanesque Byzantine architecture and countless mosaics and stained glass windows, the Basilica is a wonderful place to pray, reflect, and attend liturgies.
   
• National Shrine of our Lady of the Snows - Located across the Mississippi River in Belleville, Illinois, just 15 minutes from St. Louis, the Lady of the Snows Shrine is sponsored by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  The 200 acre property has a church, hotel, retreat space, and an outdoor, walking Stations of the Cross.
   
• The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France - formerly the Cathedral of Saint Louis, and colloquially the Old Cathedral, was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River and until 1845 the only parish church in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of two Catholic basilicas in St. Louis, and it is named for King Louis IX of France, also the namesake for the city of St. Louis.

St. Louis boasts free attractions for locals and tourists alike.  Below are just a few of the many, many choices.

• St. Louis Zoo - Consistently ranked in the top three zoos in the country, the St. Louis Zoo is located on 90 acres in Forest Park and is home to more than 500 different species of animals.  The exhibits are constantly updating, making multiple visits a must.
   
• The Muny - The country's largest outdoor theatre, the Muny is one of St. Louis's most popular summer attractions.  They offer almost 1,500 free seats per night during each performance.  Each season features both Broadway favorites and musicals you may not know existed.
   
• Anheuser-Busch Brewery - Home of the "King of Beers", Anheuser-Busch offers complimentary tours of their brewery every day.  Stop by to see the 7-Step Brewing Process, as well as the famous Clydesdales.  They'll even give you a couple of tasters following the tour!

The Grand Center Arts District is a thriving neighborhood of St. Louis, located just north of Aquinas Institute.  The area has some of the best locales to enjoy theatre, music, and culture.  A few of our favorites are listed below!

• Fabulous Fox Theatre - St. Louis' most famous theatre, the Fox annually hosts touring Broadway shows, concerts, and performers of all types.  They also offer student rush tickets for most performances.
   
• Powell Symphony Hall - Home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the second oldest symphony in the United States.  Symphony guests are able to enjoy classical concerts, visiting conductors, and movies played with live scores.
   
• Angad Arts Hotel - Angad offers unique dining and nightlife experiences, in addition to their modern lodging.

Aquinas might not have any athletics, but St. Louis sure does!  Home to two championship teams and two new franchises, St. Louis has a variety of teams for which to cheer.

• St. Louis Cardinals - The Cardinals are arguably the city's most popular sports franchise.  The 11-time World Champions play at Busch Stadium III and feature dynamic ticket pricing throughout the season, which allows families of all sizes to affordably attend a Major League Baseball game.
   
• St. Louis Blues - Winners of their first Stanley Cup last season, the Blues are solidifying their spot as one of the National Hockey League's most competitive teams.  Take in a Blues game for some fast paced action on ice.   
   
• St. Louis Battlehawks - The Battlehawks are one of the eight teams that make up the newly revived XFL.  The XFL serves as an alternative to the National Football League and features a 10-week season.  They began their season in February 2020.    
   
• St. Louis MLS Team - Our Major League Soccer (MLS) team, yet to be named, is the newest franchise in the city.  On August 19, 2019, MLS awarded St. Louis with the 28th team in the league.  They are expected to start playing games in 2022.