Historical Notes
The Walk the Pilgrim's Path pilgrimage to St. Cecilia Catholic Church began outside the church doors on February 20, 2026, the first fish fry of the Lenten season. Pilgrims gathered on the steps before entering together as a community. The group paused for a prayer to St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, before crossing the threshold into one of St. Louis's most remarkable sacred spaces.
John Walsh, a church organist and pianist and a member of the Walk the Pilgrim's Path Producers Circle, produced the pilgrimage film.
Inside the church, Fr. Timothy Noelker welcomed the pilgrims and led a guided tour of the historic sanctuary. As the group moved slowly through the nave, he spoke about the church's long history, its extensive, detailed mosaic art, Romanesque Revival architecture, and its continuing mission to serve the surrounding immigrant community, particularly its vibrant Hispanic and Latino parish members.
Pilgrims paused beneath the soaring painted ceilings of St. Cecilia Church while learning about the sanctuary's symbolism and gazing upward at the richly decorated ceiling and luminous imagery that fills the space with color and light. The sanctuary seemed to unfold above them in layers of gold, blue, and crimson, each detail revealing another story within the church's extraordinary artistic tradition.
Following the tour, the pilgrimage continued with one of the most beloved Lenten traditions in St. Louis — the St. Cecilia Fish Fry. Known across the city as one of the most spirited and well-attended fish fries of the season, the parish hall was alive with energy. Guests enjoyed Mexican-style fish fry fare while dancers in traditional Mexican attire filled the room with music, movement, and celebration.
After the meal, pilgrims returned to the church for a more contemplative part of the evening. Together they prayed the Stations of the Cross, spoken in Spanish, reflecting the living cultural traditions of the parish community and the vibrant faith life that continues to animate the parish today.
As the pilgrims departed, Fr. Tim remained behind for an interview with photojournalist and pilgrimage guide Jeanette McDermott about the church's ongoing needs for maintenance and repair following the devastating storms of March 2025. The parish continues to seek funds to restore parts of the historic structure that were damaged during those storms.
When the evening concluded, Fr. Tim accompanied Jeanette and the cinematographers, Joshua Rodrigues and Oscar Lopez, as they exited the church beneath the inscription carved into the wall above the doors: "Go in Peace."
Pilgrimages like this allow participants to enter into the story and linger there for a while. Read the book that inspired the pilgrimage.