School History

In September, 1869, two Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence arrived in Castroville to form a permanent convent. The Sisters immediately opened a school. On the first Monday in October, 1868, 36 students were enrolled. A four-room schoolhouse was completed sometime between 1868 and 1870. Within three years, the enrollment of 130 and a new two-story brick school building was built, the present St. Louis Catholic School.

In 1968, skyrocketing operational costs forced the closure of St. Louis, ending a history of over 100 years of Catholic education in Castroville.

In December of 1985, a group of interested parishioners, under the leadership of their pastor, Father Pat Ragsdale, met and formulated a survey to determine parish support for the re-establishment of a Catholic school for pre-school, Kindergarten and primary levels. Because the initial response to this proposal was positive, more research was conducted. In April of 1986, after an 18 year closure, the St. Louis Pastoral Council voted to re-open the Catholic School.

The newly named St. Louis Child Development Center, opened its doors in 1986 to a pre-Kindergarten class of 18. An extended care program complemented the school day. Response to the school was very positive and a Kindergarten class was added in 1988. Each year, growing interest and enrollment enabled the opening of additional classes and grade levels. With the addition of a 1st Grade in 1989, the school was finally recognized by the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Texas Catholic Conference Accreditation Department as “St. Louis Catholic School”. Classes are now offered to children in grades Pre-K 3 through 5th grade.

St. Louis: Our Patron Saint

This church and school is under the patronage of St. Louis, who was Louis IX, King of France. He was born at Poissy, France on April 21, 1214. He was the son of Louis VIII and Queen Blanche of Castile.

Louis IX of France came to the throne at the age of twelve and ruled with the advice of his mother until her death in 1252. He married Marquerite of Provence in 1234 and was blessed with ten children.

At his coronation as King of France, Louis promised to act as God’s servant, to act as the father of his people and be feudal lord of the King of Peace. Other kings had made the same promises, but Louis was different because he looked at his kingly duties in the light of faith.

In 1244, Louis took the Crusader’s vows and began four years of preparation in order to lead crusades in areas where the strength of Christians in the Holy Land was declining. One of Louis’ greatest ambitions was to bolster Christianity that had been established by the earlier Crusades.

Louis’ other great desire was for justice in civil government. He was responsible for passing a series of reform laws. He replaced battle with a form of examination of witnesses and encouraged the use of written records in court. Louis was devoted to his people. He instilled justice, started hospitals, and cared for the sick. Louis truly united France – Lords and townsfolk, peasants and priests by the mere force of his personality and holiness. Under his reign, France was at peace. Louis died while on a Crusade on August 25, 1270.

Louis is remembered for his piety,charity, austere habits and daily mass attendance. He visited the sick, fed the poor and fought for civil justice. Pope Boniface VIII canonized him in 1297.

His feast day, August 25th, is recognized every year by this parish with a great celebration and homecoming, known as St. Louis Day.