St. Cecilia Parish was organized by Archbishop John Glennon on August 4, 1906 with Father Bernard Benton as the founding pastor. It was begun to serve the needs of the growing population in an area that had been part of the common fields of the city of Carondelet. The first Mass was offered on September 2, 1906 at the St. Joseph’s Boys Home. The cornerstone of the first church was laid on May 19, 1907, and the church was blessed on January 1, 1908. This combination church and school was located on the site of the present parking lot on Eichelberger at Louisiana and was razed after the new school was completed.

 

St. Cecilia Parish has had ten pastors in its many years: Rev. Bernard Benton, served from 1906 until 1948, Monsignor Vincent Naes served from 1948 until 1970, Monsignor Joseph Michalski served from 1970 until 1984, Rev. Daniel Hogan served from 1984 until 1990, Rev. Robert Boisaubin served from 1990 until 1995, Monsignor Francis X. Blood from 1995 to 2005, Rev. Richard Tillman from 2006 to 2009, Rev. William Vatterott from 2009 to 2011, Fr. Anthony Ochoa from 2012 to 2019, and Fr. Timothy Noelker was installed as pastor in 2020.