Our History
The mission of Guardian Angel Settlement Association is to serve under-resourced community members by helping them improve the quality of their lives and achieve economic independence.
March 1859
1859
Founded in Saint Louis, Missouri by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, an order of Roman Catholic women religious, as the House of the Guardian Angel, to serve “orphaned and friendless girls over 12 years of age.”
March 1911
1911
Becomes one of the first Catholic Settlement Houses in the U.S. – an institution located within the community to which it provides assistance. The governance transferred to a lay board of directors, it formally changed to Guardian Angel Settlement.
March 1933
1933
Guardian Angel Settlement Association becomes a member of United Relief, which was a forerunner of the United Way of Greater Saint Louis.
March 1963
1963
To make way for a new City park, Guardian Angel moves to the Darst-Webbe public housing project on Saint Louis’ Near South Side.
January 1971
1971
The Saint Patrick Day Care Center is established at 1200 North Sixth Street on the Near North Side. The first of a long history of day care centers run by Guardian Angel and the Daughters of Charity.
January 1988
1988-1992
Guardian Angel transfers its headquarters to 1022 Saint Ange Lane, the site of the former Holy Guardian Angel Parish. The Social Services Department expands into the adjacent former school building.
January 2000
2000-2001
St. Patrick Day Care Center is closed and Gabriel Child Care Center is opened in the Cochran Community Center. Guardian Angel takes over the operations and management of Hosea House, a 25-year-old social services agency.
January 2009
2009
Guardian Angel celebrates 150th anniversary of serving those in need in St. Louis, August 31, 2009. The grand opening of Child Development Center (current headquarters location) occurs on October 29, 2009.
January 2013
2013
The first permanent fund, the Sr. Annalee Faherty, D.C. Service Endowment, is established. The Social Services Department and resale shop, the “Angel Boutique,” moves to a temporary location on Cherokee Street.
January 2019
2019
The current Social Stability building opens at 3300 S Jefferson, which supports the community through the Angel Boutique, rent and utility assistance, a client choice food pantry, and self-sufficiency programming.
January 2022
2022
Guardian Angel welcomed a new President & CEO, Reona Wise. Reona is thrilled to be part of Guardian Angel’s 164-year history of serving St. Louis, and shared, “My commitment is to make a positive impact, transform lives, and offer my God-given gift to serve others.”
