Saint Louis Review - All Articles

Blunt, McCaskill called keys to immigration reform

josephkenny — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:46:02 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

The Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) says Sens. Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill of Missouri are keys to whether the U.S. Senate passes a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a major overhaul of the nation's immigration laws by as soon as July 4, MCC reported. The bill, S.B. 744, is sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators.

Italian media report step toward Blessed John Paul’s canonization

jenniferbrinker — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:02:07 +0000

By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Although the process is not complete and is supposed to be secret at this point, Italian media are reporting that the canonization of Blessed John Paul II is another step closer.

The Italian news agency ANSA and many Italian papers say Vatican sources confirmed June 18 that the theological consultants to the Congregation for Saints' Causes affirmed that the description of prayers and events surrounding an alleged miracle provide evidence that the healing was accomplished through the intercession of the late pope.

All-stars from Catholic schools shine at Busch

josephkenny — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:38 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

The Missouri team lost the PNC Bank High School Baseball Showcase June 14 at Busch Stadium, but several players from local Catholic schools stood out on the field where Hall of Famers and hometown heroes make memories.

The all-stars from Missouri lost 9-7 to their counterparts from the Illinois side of the metro area. The loss didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the players, who treasured the opportunity to play a game under the lights in the Major League ballpark in Downtown St. Louis.

Charity partnership provides storm-affected residents with fresh food

jenniferbrinker — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:31:30 +0000

By Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

A partnership between Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is providing fresh food to residents of Berkeley who were affected by recent storms in the area.

MAN OF THE HOUSE | What is holy? It may be closer than you think

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:01:08 +0000

Mike Eisenbath

The moment doesn't last that long. A few minutes, tops.

It happens every Saturday morning I'm able to drag my body out of bed at 6 o'clock to join my brothers in Christ at a local Bread Company. Either Larry Boldt or Jim LaVictoire passes out a card to each member of our group -- usually from six to 10 men -- and we together pray the "Litany of Humility." It is solemn, deliberate, as each of us reads one line, then the group responds.

O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.

THE GOOD STEWARD | Ordinary Time is a season of grace

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:01:00 +0000

Dan Conway

Time is a gift of God. Time is integral to God's creation. What God made and determined to be good includes the movement of history. Time had a beginning -- eons ago -- and it will have an end when the Lord returns on the Last Day.

Vatican cites obligation to aid, defend refugees

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:00:52 +0000

Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY -- Catholic laity have an obligation to root out traces of xenophobia in their hearts and recognize refugees as their brothers and sisters -- children of God whose dignity must be protected, said a new Vatican document.

"Welcoming Christ in Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons," a document of pastoral guidelines for providing material and spiritual assistance to people forced to leave their homes was published June 6 by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which promotes and coordinates Catholic charitable activity.

SVDP opens fifth thrift store in St. Louis area

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:00:44 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has opened its fifth thrift store in the St. Louis area amid a booming popularity in thrifting.

The new store opened earlier this month at 3924 Lemay Ferry Road in south St. Louis County. The store features clothing, household items, toys and furniture in a 14,000 square-foot showroom. A grand opening is planned for late June. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. All of the society's thrift stores are closed on Sundays.

Lay members meet to contribute to Regnum Christi's transformation

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:00:32 +0000

Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

ROME -- Members of Regnum Christi, the lay movement associated with the Legionaries of Christ, said they don't feel they are on a salvage mission, but rather are part of a transformation.

'Little but mighty' boy overcomes obstacles

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:00:24 +0000

At a mere 21 weeks into her pregnancy, Tracey Sheahan went into labor. Because she was only at the halfway point of a typical full-term pregnancy and the baby was unlikely to survive if delivered, the doctors postponed Sheahan's labor and placed her on bed rest.

Tracey and the baby's father, Juan Castillo, were warned by doctors to brace themselves for the possibility their baby could suffer long-term developmental delays and disabilities due to prematurity.

'Wired' for serving others with Project Life

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:00:10 +0000

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They're called "Feet Washers," and they united last week to serve God and others through Project Life.

One hundred teens participated in the weeklong service retreat, which is organized annually by the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry. The office is part of the Catholic Youth Apostolate.

Pope discards prepared text to answer students' questions

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:59:18 +0000

Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis ditched a 1,250-word prepared speech to students, saying it would be "a tad boring" to read out loud, and opted instead to just quickly hit the high points and spend the rest of the time answering people's questions.

"Would you like that?" he asked as some 9,000 students, alumni and teachers from Jesuit-run schools and associations in Italy and Albania yelled "Yes" with cheers and applause.

Enthusiasm reigns at Liturgy Camp

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:59:00 +0000

Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24).

When Aaron Frei showed the high school students photos of some of the stained-glass art his family studio is known for around the country, he asked them about the symbolism behind the art.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Assisting veterans

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:58:49 +0000

Thank you for your recent coverage in the May 20-26 issue of the St. Louis Review regarding the challenges faced by women veterans. In fact, two of the women highlighted, Elisha Perez and Elenore Baker, have benefited from U.S. VETS (United States Veterans Initiative). We are a national organization (www.usvetsinc.org) that has provided counseling services and transitional housing to veterans for 20 years. Across 12 sites nationwide, U.S. VETS houses about 3,300 veterans on any given day.

Franciscan Sisters of Mary join effort for safe cleanup of landfill

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:58:40 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

Residents and others concerned for years about the cleanup of radioactive waste at the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton have gained a new ally in the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.

Implications of emergency contraception

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:58:27 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

The recent push to make emergency contraception more widely available in the United States raises questions about the mechanisms of the drug and the implications of making it available as an over-the-counter product.

Wash U. Catholic Student Center a refuge for helping students appreciate sexuality

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:58:18 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

Pharmacy student Tracey Nguyen recently recalled being taught in one of her classes that pregnancy begins when the human embryo has successfully implanted in a woman's uterus.

As a Catholic, Nguyen took issue with that. And it's certainly an issue that does not come without debate, both in the spheres of science and faith. Some in the medical field, along with the Catholic Church, hold that pregnancy begins at conception, while others state that pregnancy starts at implantation. The issue is one that sits at the heart of the abortion debate.

Jesuit criticizes Western support of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:58:05 +0000

Deborah GyapongCatholic News Service

OTTAWA, Ontario -- A priest who directs the Jesuit Cultural Center in Alexandria, Egypt, blasted Western support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt during a visit to Parliament Hill.

Jesuit Father Henri Boulad, 82, a Melkite Catholic, singled out the United States, France and Great Britain for their support of the Islamist group, which he said has created a regime far worse than the military dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak that preceded it. He warned of looming catastrophe.

EDITORIAL | Department of Special Education excels with the help of many

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:57:56 +0000

Msgr. Elmer Behrmann, the visionary priest who founded the archdiocesan Department of Special Education in 1950, was someone you met but couldn't forget.

DEAR FATHER | Mass is key element to keeping Sabbath holy

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:57:45 +0000

Father John Mayo

One of my favorite memories from growing up that I like to share with the children in our day school and parish school of religion are from Sundays before stores were open on that day. In particular, I remember the stillness, silence and the fuller rest and relaxation my family and I were able to enjoy. When I speak about such things to the kids today, they look at me as if I am lying to them; they cannot imagine not being able to go to a store or a restaurant whenever they wanted to.