ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS BRIEFS
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Standing up for life
As thousands of St. Louisans and other journey to Washington, D.C., for the the 39th annual March for Life Jan. 23, pro-life advocates who remain at home can stand in solidarity with those on the march. The annual Roe vs. Wade memorial Mass of the archdiocese will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End. After Mass, Auxiliary Bishop Edward Rice will lead a Rosary procession to the nearby Planned Parenthood abortion facility.
St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Kingshighway and Bancroft Avenue in south St. Louis, will hold a holy hour for life at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, in conjunction with the 39th annual March for Life, to be held Jan. 23 in Washington, D.C. Everyone is welcome to come and pray before the Blessed Sacrament for acceptance in our nation for the sanctity of all life and for an end to abortion. Everyone attending the holy hour is invited to stay for the 6 p.m. Mass.
Anna House news
The Sarah Community, which provides long-term care and other options for older adults, broke ground Jan. 15 on its new Anna House skilled nursing facility in Bridgeton. Representatives of the founding religious congregations -- Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Daughters of Charity, Religious of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of Loretto and School Sisters of Notre Dame -- took part in the ground-breaking ceremony. The $17 million construction project will feature small households with home-like appeal and larger bedrooms. Construction is expected to be completed by next winter.
In memoriam
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at St. Nicholas Church, 701 N. 18th St., for Irene Buretta, a strong supporter of the parish who was cited as an example of what it meant to be a good steward as a benefactor of both the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Society of the Divine Word's Chicago Province. Buretta, 97, died Jan. 17. "A devout Catholic, a woman of great faith who loved and cherished the sacraments, she loved the Church," said Father Urey Patrick Mark, SVD, pastor of St. Nicholas Parish. "She was a true daughter of the Church, who was very conscientious of her Christian duties and what it meant to be a good steward. ... As a parish we will miss her dearly."
Welcome home
Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and former auxiliary priest of the St. Louis Archdiocese, will return to St. Louis for a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 6, at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End. A reception will follow at nearby Rosati-Kain High School.
Pro-life movie
A new pro-life movie, "October Baby," will have a pre-release screening at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Ronnie's 20 Cine in south St. Louis County. The Christian movie is the product of the Erwin Brothers, producers/directors/writers Jon and Andy, made by American Family Studios in association with Provident Films. It is loosely based on the true story of pro-life activist and public speaker Gianna Jessen, who has cerebral palsy after having survived a botched abortion. The movie hits theaters in March. To register for the Jan. 24 screening, go online to http://stlouisreview.com/1fr. For more information, go online to octoberbabymovie.net.
Art exhibit
Dominican Sister Pauline Blandina has some of her watercolors and portraits on exhibit through January in the main lobby of the metropolitan Square Building, 211 S. Broadway in Downtown St. Louis. The building is oopen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with parking nearby. To see more of Sister Pauline's art, go online to paulineblandina.org.
Way to go
Emily Andrews, Rosati-Kain High School class of 1993, has been named to the St. Louis Business Journal's list of "40 Under 40" for her work as executive director of the Missouri Gateway Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Week of prayer for unity
Archbishop Robert Carlson will host an ecumencial prayer service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at All Saints Church, 6403 Clemens Ave. in University City, The event is part of the observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Interfaith meeting
The annual meeting of Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Commons Building at Eden Seminary, 475 E. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. Representatives from Judaism, Christianity and Islam will discuss "Jihad and Just War." An election of officers will also take place at this meeting.
Entering religious life
Claire Westermeyer, an alumna of Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield, became a novice in the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará on Dec. 7, receiving the name Sister Mary Mother of Truth. The investiture took place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. She will spend the next year at the novitiate in Upper Marlboro, Md.
Women's retreat
The women's retreat of St. Alban Roe Parish in Wildwood will be Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11, at the Marianist Retreat Center in Eureka, off Highway 109. Presenter Kathy Crouse will lead the retreat, with the theme "Gathering Around the Celtic Cross." Cost is $130 and includes private room and bath, with $25 more for Friday night. Commuting is possible. For the reservation form and information, go online to stalbanroe.org, then click "Women's Retreat." Contact Chris Zerr at (636) 405-0318 or Kathi Danna at (636) 458-3109.
Fr. Dom cooks
Father Dominic Garramone, OSB, the bread-baking monk, author and PBS personality, will host "A Slice of Heaven and some Vino" this month to benefit Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service in St. Charles and other local charities. Father Dom will present an evening of story-telling, pizza-making demonstrations, wine sampling and other activities from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Tri-County Outreach Center (new home of Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service), 4116 McClay Road in St. Charles. The Harvester Knights of Columbus Council 9625 is sponsoring the event, which costs $50 per couple or $30 per person. For tickets and information, contact Glenn Korando at gpkorando@sbcglobal.net or (636) 928-9144.
Lwanga dinner
The 29th annual testimonial dinner of the St. Charles Lwanga Center will be Sunday, March 25, at the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel. The annual event, which honors leaders in the African-American Catholic community, will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a silent auction. The program and dinner will begin at 4 p.m. This year's theme is "The Plans of the Diligent Lead Surely to Plenty." This year's honorees are: Father Edward F. Feuerbacher Lifetime Achievement Award, Ruby Douthet; and Trailblazer Honorees, Jesuit Father Mark D. McKenzie and attorneys Thad and Rita M. Hollie. Tickets are $50 each; call the St. Charles Lwanga Center at (314) 367-7929 for reservations and information.
Adoption news
Dillon International Inc. will present a free informational meeting on international adoption from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Dillon International office, One First Missouri Center, Suite 115, in St. Louis. A Dillon representative will give an overview of adoption from China, Korea, Haiti, India and Hong Kong, plus new opportunities in Ghana. Adoption programs in Russia, Ethiopia and Honduras, available through an affiliation with Buckner International, also will be discussed. For information or a reservation, call (314) 576-4100.
Cathedral Concerts
Next up on the Cathedral Concerts is organist Gerre Hancock, performing at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End. The Cathedral Concerts program is also holding its sacred music seminars -- coming up "Music of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation" -- from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursdays, Jan. 26-Feb. 23, in the lower level of the cathedral basilica in the St. Cecilia Chapel. For information go online to cathedralconcerts.org.
Victorious Missionaries
Victorious Missionaries, a group dedicated to the spirituality of people with disabilities, will hold their annual retreat Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. DeMazenod Drive in Belleville, Ill. This year's retreat theme is "Seed Folks: A Self-Care Retreat." The presenter is Rev. Dr. Martha Brunell. Cost is $150 for the full weekend, including two nights lodging; $115 commuting; $90 Saturday and Sunday; $65 Saturday only. Reservations are due, with a non-refundable $50 deposit, by Friday, Jan. 27. Call (314) 241-3400, ext. 6281, or go online to vmusa.org.
Vincentian fundraiser
The Lawhorn Project, a local contemporary Christian band, will present a concert to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at Kirkwood Station Brewery, 105 E. Jefferson Ave. in Kirkwood. Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family, with sponsorships available. The program will include a reflection by Father Craig Holway, associate pastor at Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Webster Groves. For sponsorship information, email talcjl@gmail.com.
Models of excellence
Congratulations to the professional development partnership among Fontbonne University's Teacher Education Unit, the Brentwood School District and the Special School District of St. Louis County. The partnership received the Models of Excellence Award from the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education for its collaborative efforts, which provide opportunities to train university students in real classrooms and enhance professional teacher development.
We encourage our readers to engage in discussion about the issues we cover. All comments are subject to moderation prior to being visible on the website. Please keep the conversation civil and fully Catholic in tone and content. For guidelines on appropriate conduct online, please see http://stlouisreview.com/comments
