Archdiocesan News Briefs | Aug. 6-12

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Sisters of St. Joseph novices

Sister Clare Bass was received into the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at a ceremony July 29 at Nazareth Living Center in south St. Louis County. Born and raised in Biloxi, Miss., Sister Clare moved to St. Louis in 2010 as a CSJ candidate to experience living and serving in community life. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University with both a bachelor's in political science and master's in public policy and administration. She currently serves as volunteer coordinator at Nazareth. The occasion also marked the sending of novices Sister Clare and Sister Mary Flick to the Federation Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Chicago. Sister Mary is a north St. Louis native who graduated from Rosary High School and worked at St. Louis University for 24 years. The Federation Novitiate is a concentrated eight-month program in spirituality and mission for CSJ novices from across the United States. 

Congratulations

Marygrove, the Catholic Charities federation agency that provides residential services and therapeutic aid to children and youths, has been awarded the GuideStar Exchange Seal for transparency and accountability in its mission serving young people. Marygrove is the first Catholic Charities federation agency to earn the recognition. Marygrove currently served more than 170 youths through a variety of programs.

In memoriam

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 30 at Annunciation Church in Webster Groves for Joan Hanson, whose teaching career spanned six decades in theater and speech at St. Louis University, Webster University, Maryville University, Fontbonne University and St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where she also directed theater productions. She taught more than 20 years at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, taught in the permanent diaconate program and gave lector workshops in most parishes throughout the archdiocese. In addition, she acted at The Muny Opera, Empress Theatre, John Falstaff Theatre, Barn and Plantation Dinner Theatres and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. A graduate of St. Louis University and Webster College, Mrs. Hanson was honored recently as a Nerinx Hall High School Alumnae Woman of Excellence.

Seminary news

The 17th annual Peter Richard Kenrick Lecture of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive in Shrewsbury. The seminary and its ordination class of 1944 are sponsoring the lecture, which will feature Jesuit Father James Swetnam, scholar of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy. His area of specialization is the Epistle to the Hebrews. For information on attending, call (314) 645-8922. Kenrick-Glennon Seminary will also hold its annual Convivium Dinner Auction on Sunday, Nov. 3. The event will begin with Mass at St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral in St. Louis, followed by the dinner auction at the Cedars. For more information, email convivium@kenrick.edu or call development director Kate Guyol at (314) 792-7435.

Aquinas leadership

Dominican Father David Caron has been named interim president of Aquinas Institute of Theology by the Provincial Council of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great (Central Province). The interim appointment is effective Aug. 15 and will extend to June 2013, while a search committee considers candidates for a permanent appointment as president of the St. Louis-based Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry administered by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). The former president, Dominican Father Richard Peddicord, is now president of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill. Father Caron, a member of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern Province), is a candidate for the permanent position.

Interfaith Partnership

The Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls is sponsoring a new Religions of the World section at the annual Festival of Nations, this year the weekend of Aug. 25-26 in Tower Grove Park in south St. Louis. Interfaith Partnership's members include many faiths and faith-based groups, including the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For more information, go online to interfaithstl.org.

Almost Home benefit

A benefit event for Almost Home will be held at the August A. Busch Jr. Family Home at Grant's Farm from 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. The event will feature tours of the mansion by Trudy Busch Valentine and networking opportunities. The annual event will kick off the "Inspired By Women" campaign to pair business women and successful role models with the homeless teen mothers at Almost Home. The Aug. 16 event is $50 per person and $75 per couple and includes live music, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a short program. Reservations may be made online at almosthomestl.org/inspired-by-women. All of the proceeds for this event will benefit Almost Home. Missouri tax credits are available for donations of $100 and above.

Run for Life

St. Louis Friends of Birthright are holding their 11th annual Run/Walk on Saturday, Sept. 1, at Creve Coeur Park. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Tremayne Shelter, followed by a 6K run around Creve Coeur Lake and 1-mile fun walk at 8:30 a.m., and a quarter-mile youth run at 9:15 a.m. Register as an individual or team at firstgiving.com/birthrightstl or call (314) 808-1845.

Wedding Jubilee Mass

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will celebrate the annual Silver and Golden Wedding Jubilee Mass at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End. Couples celebrating their 25th, 50th or 50-plus wedding anniversaries during 2012 who register before Sept. 20 will have their names and wedding date printed in the program and receive a certificate of congratulations. To register online, go to archstl.org/laityandfamilylife and choose Events from the menu on the left; then choose Silver & Golden Wedding Jubilee Mass Registration under Events. Or call the Office of Laity and Family Life at (314) 792-7170.

Adoption news

Dillon International Inc. will present a free informational meeting on international adoption from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 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, Hong Kong, Ghana and Columbia. 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 or email DillonMO@dillonadopt.com.

Video series

A 10-week video series, Divorce Care, for separated and divorced Catholics will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 6-Nov. 15, in the annex building of Mary Mother of the Church Parish, 5901 Kerth Road in south St. Louis County. For information on the free event, call (314) 846-9730 or (314) 843-5616.

Curtain time

The Catholic Youth Apostolate and the Father Willliam Scheid Players will present "Some Enchanted Evening -- The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein," Friday-Sunday, Aug. 17-19, at the Florissant Civic Center, 1 James J. Eagan Drive in Florissant. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The cast includes more than 50 young people and adults, including a number of priests. Tickets are $14 each or $12 for seniors or groups of 25 or more, and proceeds support the Catholic Youth Apostolate. For tickets contact Bridget at (314) 792-7625 or email bridgeta llen@archstl.org.

Ladies night out with Endow

Kate Sweeney of Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) will be the featured speaker at an Endow Ladies' Night Out at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company, 105 E. Jefferson in Kirkwood. There is no cost to attend. RSVP is required by Aug. 21. Call (314) 792-7460 or email judyshipp2@archstl.org.

Cathedral Concerts

This year celebrates the 20th season of St. Louis Cathedral Concerts, "Great Music in a Great Space." The first concert will be Tenebrae, a choir from London, England, performing "Passion and Precision" at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End. The season-opening party will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at Favazza's restaurant on the Hill. For more information on this year's season, call (314) 533-7662 or go online to cathedralconcerts.org.

Choir auditions

The Archdiocesan Choir will be having auditions for all voice parts beginning Tuesday, Aug. 28. The choir includes singers from the entire St. Louis area and provides music for major archdiocesan liturgies and presents concerts at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Choir tours in the past have included Italy, England, Austria and Germany. Archdiocesan Choir singers must be able to read music, have previous choir experience and be available for rehearsals on Tuesday evenings. For more information, contact the Cathedral Music office at (314) 737-8227 or music@cathedralstl.org.

Auditions for the Archdiocesan Children's Choir are open throughout the year for boys (age 8 and up) and girls (age 9 and up). Children should be able to read English fluently and have a good ear and healthy voice. The Children's Choir sings for archdiocesan events, the annual Christmas Concert at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and for Masses at the cathedral and other parishes. Periodically, the choir has gone on tours within the United States and abroad. Auditions will be held Saturday, Sept. 8. Call (314) 533-7662 for more information or to schedule an audition appointment.