Jesuit Hall / St. Dominic Priory, St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri)

St. Dominic Priory rents two floors, the 5th and 6th from the Jesuit Community of Jesuit Hall, and a first floor chapel. The Jesuits and Dominicans share one dining room, but each has its own side so each can maintain its religious community.

Jesuit Hall was built as the Melbourne Hotel just before the 1929 stock market crash. It was a rather plush place for its time on upscale Grand Avenue. Over time, the neighborhood changed and the hotel declined. It was purchased by Saint Louis University and used as a residence for female students for several years. It was then purchased by the Jesuits to be used as a residence for the professors of Saint Louis University and a center for a number of Jesuit apostolates and interests. We Dominicans became one of those interests, moving here in 1981. Though we maintain our own distinct and individual religious communities, there is a very cordial relationship between us.

On the first floor are the dining facilities, reception desk and areas, one Jesuit Chapel and the Dominican Chapel. The second floor contains meeting rooms and Jesuit offices. The third and fourth floors are a fully staffed infirmary/nursing home for the Jesuits. We rent the 5th and 6th floors. Floors 8 - 15 (this old hotel has no 13th floor!) is home for about 75 Jesuits. Above the 15th floor, the loft is a delightful space used by all of us. It is a sort of den, solarium, open air walk and viewpoint for the city.