Welcome to our New Parish Life Coordinator

We are pleased to announce that Cheryl Archibald, MAPS has accepted the position of Parish Life Coordinator for St. Vincent DePaul Church–St. Pius V Church Pastorate in St. Louis, Missouri.

Interview teams made up of 7 members of St. Pius V parish and 7 members of St. Vincent DePaul parish, met with Cheryl and were unanimous in their support for her appointment. Cheryl then met with Fr. Rich and Celeste Mueller (Interim PLC) who agreed with the interview teams and recommended Cheryl to Fr. Patrick McDevitt, Provincial of the Congregation of the Mission–Western Province.

Cheryl will lead in partnership with Fr. Richard Wehrmeyer, CM, who is pastor for both parishes as part of the reconfiguration of parishes in the St. Louis Archdiocese. Both Cheryl and Fr. Rich report to Fr. McDevitt.

While Fr. Rich will have primary responsibility for the sacramental and pastoral needs of the two communities, Cheryl will have primary responsibility for organizational details of the Pastorate, including coordination of the many ministries and services of St. Pius and St. Vincent; formation and facilitation of a Pastoral Council; coordination of the two Parish Finance Councils; as well as appointment and supervision of all paid and volunteer staff positions.

Cheryl comes to this role with more than 10 years of experience in leadership roles at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church where she served first as Pastoral Associate and then was appointed by Archbishop Carlson as Parish Life Coordinator. In those roles, she managed parish finances, staff development, and facilities, as well as providing sacramental preparation and faith formation. In addition to her parish roles, Cheryl has provided direct service and advocacy for youth and teenage moms at risk and in need, and served as chair of the Board of Catholic Charities of St. Louis and on the Board of St. Francis Community Services. Cheryl is an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Cheryl is a person of deep faith and resilient hope. She is eager for the challenge of leadership of the two parishes and for the opportunity to facilitate the thriving and growth of the Pastorate. She envisions the Pastorate as a vibrant Catholic community in St. Louis, able to serve the diverse needs of the wider community in which we are situated.

The leadership model being implemented in the St. Vincent-St. Pius Pastorate is a true partnership between the Pastor and the Parish Life Coordinator. This affirms collaboration in its truest sense: the identification and release of diverse gifts for ministry for the sake of the mission. And this partnership is one sign of synodality: Cheryl and Father Rich will create pathways for the engagement of lay leaders and all parishioners that can facilitate deeper participation for all, a more profound realization of the communion with one another and with God that we share, and our call to mission.

Cheryl begins her role on August 28, 2023, and will soon have opportunities to meet with parishioners. Please welcome her! She can be reached at cherylarchibald@archstl.org