High schools

Though St. Elizabeth Academy in south St. Louis has announced that it is closing at the end of the current school year, numerous options remain for students in the area and elsewhere to receive a Catholic education.

Robert Oliveri, associate superintendent for secondary school administration for the archdiocese, said that the commitment to the students couldn't be stronger and quality opportunities are available for the students.

"Our goal for the Catholic Education Center is to assist in the transition and retain every girl in Catholic education," Oliveri said.

St. Elizabeth Academy will close at the end of the current school year, according to a news release from the school and its sponsor, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon.

The release noted that “with great sadness,” the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood have approved the recommendation of the St. Elizabeth Academy board of directors to close the school due to declining enrollment.

The role of a parent raising Catholic teens in today's world can be a challenging one, and the Parent Network of Catholic High Schools is providing some help.

The network is sponsoring the fifth annual Mass and Blessing of Parents and Teenagers at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Villa Duchesne Chapel, 801 S. Spoede Road in Frontenac.

The event is seen as an opportunity to pray together for children, families and schools. A reception will follow the Mass, which will be celebrated by Father Gerald Blessing, associate pastor of Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield.

All Catholics know missionary priests go to foreign shores to spread the Gospel. But here at home another type of missionary priest is forming the faith of the youth of the Church in a more familiar setting -- Catholic high schools.

St. Mary's High School is remembering and honoring former students who died serving their country.

The southside archdiocesan boys high school has a new plaque bearing the names of 23 former students at St. Mary's and its predecessor school, South Side Catholic High School, who died while in the military in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The plaque was dedicated during an all-school Mass Dec. 12 and hangs in the hallway near the school chapel.

As a basketball player, Nolan Berry gets asked about following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, former St. Louis University and NBA star Ed Macauley.

But what often is missed is the influence in everyday life of that same grandfather, pro-life advocate and community leader Deacon Ed Macauley.