Monsignor Louis F. Meyer, a man who truly embodies the spirit of the CYC, will celebrate 65 years of priesthood this month, and he will be 90 years young in October 2009.  During his life-long service to youth, Msgr. Meyer has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for his contribution and dedication to the youth of this country.  He has brought great credit to the CYC through his involvement in our community.

In 1960 Fr. Meyer was appointed Director of the Catholic Youth Council, succeeding his friend and mentor Msgr. Sullivan.  He spent the next 18 years building the Catholic Youth Council’s activities and programs for youth.  Msgr. Meyer has been around to watch Mike Shannon and Mayor Francis Slay grow up in Epiphany Parish on St. Louis’ Southside.  Both grew up playing sports with the CYC, which today is the largest youth sports organization in St. Louis. The CYC had nearly 5000 teams playing sports during 2008.

Msgr. Meyer is a member of the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame, St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, the Missouri Athletic Club Hall of Fame, the St. Louis University Sports Hall of Fame, and has been nominated for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Recently, the Catholic Youth Apostolate, now the parent organization for CYC Sports, Catholic Boy & Girl Scouts, Office of Youth Ministry, and the Reap Team, has purchased the St. Mary Magdalen Parish Center, and it has been renamed, in Msgr. Meyer’s  honor, the “Monsignor Louis F. Meyer Youth Center at Magdalen.”  A grand dedication ceremony is planned for the center sometime in the early fall.