Archdiocesan News Briefs | August 20-26, 2012

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Jesuit profession

Brother Kenneth Homan, a St. Louis native, was one of nine men professing perpetual vows in the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) Aug. 11 for the Wisconsin Jesuit Province at St. Thomas More Church in St. Paul, Minn. Brother Kenneth, 20, is the son of Kenneth and Sharon Homan. His home parish is St. Joan of Arc in south St. Louis. He graduated from St. Louis University High School in 2008, then studied theology and history at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He taught at schools in St. Louis and Omaha and was a national park tour guide. All nine men who professed vows spent the last two years in study at the Jesuit novitiate in St. Paul. Brother Kenneth will be attending Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y.

Women of Providence

Sister Barbara McMullen, a Sister of Divine Providence, is the new executive director of the Women of Providence in Collaboration. The group is an association of religious congregations bearing the name and charism of Providence that brings these congregations together to promote the theology and spirituality of Providence and to witness a preferential option for the poor in a global society. Sister Barbara held the same position from 2000-07. She left to serve as assistant provincial on the Provincial Leadership Team of her community from 2007-12. Earlier in her career, she was senior associate for mission and sponsor services for the Catholic Health Association in St. Louis. The Sisters of Divine Providence is an international community of women religious numbering nearly 700.

Inspiring youths

Two students at Our Lady of Sorrows School in south St. Louis are winners in the 2011 Knights of Columbus essay contest. The topic was "The Responsibility of a Catholic in Free Society." Valerie Murphy, an eighth-grader at the time of the essay contest, is the only State of Missouri essay contest winner and is runner-up in the KC Supreme Council International Essay Contest. She is an incoming freshman at Rosati-Kain High School. Maddy Pasque, a sixth-grader during the 2011-2012 school year, is the sixth-grade KC State of Missouri winner. Both girls will receive awards at the KC Council 453 meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in south St. Louis.

Erase the stigma

"When Mental Illness Hits Home" is the theme of the Erase the Stigma of Mental Illness conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Ill. The opening presentation on Friday will outline transitions that often accompany a mental illness. Tom Smith and Nanci Schiman will discuss transitions in their families and Kelly Gable and Melanie Wylie will talk about treatment options. On Saturday Linea Johnson and her mother, Cinda Johnson, will share their journey through the initial diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness. Cost of the event is $40 for one day and $60 for both. To register call (618) 394-6270 or see ols15.eventsbot.com.

Kickball tourney

The archdiocesan Office of Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring a kickball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Assumption Parish, 4725 Mattis Road in south St. Louis County. Team registration deposit of $75 is due Tuesday, Aug. 28. Registration is $200 per team. For more information, go online to archstl.org/youngadults or email brianmiller@archstl.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.

Apostles of the Sacred Heart professions, novitiate

Several members of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus recently professed first vows, renewed vows or entered the novitiate during ceremonies earlier this month at the community's provincial house in Hamden, Conn. On Aug. 3, Sisters Desiree Joseph, Michele Stockton and Lauren Elizabeth Zak entered the community's novitiate. Sister Desiree will be missioned at St. Ambrose School on the Hill in south St. Louis; Sister Lauren Elizabeth, a native of Florissant, will be missioned at a high school in Tallahassee, Fla.; and Sister Michele will be missioned in Greensburg, Pa.

On Aug. 4, Sisters Carolyn Brown, Cara Grace Kissell and Kathryn Press professed their first vows in Hamden. Sisters Carolyn and Cara Grace will continue their studies at St. Louis University, and Sister Kathryn will be missioned at St. Ambrose School. Sisters Susan Francis Graham, Colleen Patricia Mattingly and Carrie Christine Zagurskie also renewed their vows as junior professed sisters Aug. 4. Sister Susan is a nurse at St. Anthony's Medical Center. Sister Colleen is a teacher at Cor Jesu Academy and Sister Carrie is a teacher at St. Ambrose.

Ursuline profession

Sister Mary Beisiegel professed her final vows as an Ursuline Sister of the Roman Union Aug. 12 at the chapel of Ursuline Academy in Kirkwood. Father Thomas Wyrsch presided at the ceremony and celebrated Mass. Sister Mary, a native of Belleville, Ill., has a bachelor's degree in accounting and has served as an accountant for numerous religious communities. After her first profession in 2007, she moved from the community's novitiate in Chicago to St. Louis, where she studied theology at Aquinas Institute. Sister Mary currently is the assistant to the provincial treasurer for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

That St. Louis question

Where'd you go to high school? It's answered in a new novel, "Where We Belong," by Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of "Something Borrowed, Something Blue." The new book tells the story of a female student at Bishop DuBourg High School dating a male student from Chaminade College Preparatory School.

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.

Christmas pilgrimage

Former St. Louis Bishop Michael Sheridan, now of Colorado Springs, Colo., will lead a Christmas pilgrimage to Bavaria Nov. 30-Dec. 8. Sponsored by The Colorado Catholic Herald, the tour has a "Footsteps of Benedict XVI" theme. Many of the stops will be in locations where the pope taught at, grew up in, and served as a diocesan priest or lectured in. Only 40 spaces are available. The first 20 to make a deposit will receive a free, signed DVD of EWTN's "The Bishop and the Actor," where Bishop Sheridan conducted an insightful hour-long interview on the Catholic arts with Leonardo DeFilippis. For information, contact Susan Prendergast at Select International Tours at 1 (800) 842-4842, or susan@select-intl.com.

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.

New directors

The Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation board of directors has re-elected Jack Schreiber and Russ Isaak for three-year terms and elected three one-year-term officers -- Kevin Short, president; Mike Mooney, treasurer; and Edith Cunnane, secretary.