Local News

Gannon's award highlights work of Annual Catholic Appeal

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:20:29 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

Niall Gannon has received a prestigious national Community Leadership Award from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for his volunteer efforts with the Annual Catholic Appeal.

Gannon was general chairman of the 2007 Appeal and has served the ACA in various other roles, including on the ACA Council. The appeal is held each spring in parishes throughout the archdiocese. It provides support for Catholic education, parish emergencies, youth programs, social service programs serving those in need and much more.

Archdiocesan news briefs

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:33:18 +0000

Ecumenical award

Archdiocese of St. Louis joins others in suing federal government to stop HHS mandate

jenniferbrinker — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:10:21 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

Noting that “time is running out,” Archbishop Robert J. Carlson announced May 21 that the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Catholic Charities of St. Louis has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the United States government, challenging the legality of its health care mandate to be enforced beginning this August.

Accompanied by Catholic Charities president Brian O’Malley, archdiocesan chancellor Nancy Werner, legal counsel Tom Buckley and others, the Archbishop made the announcement at an afternoon press conference held at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury.

11 seminarians to be ordained for other dioceses

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:57:32 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Eleven Kenrick-Glennon seminarians will be ordained priests for other dioceses in coming weeks.

All are completing master of divinity and master of arts in theology degrees from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and, for the past year, served as transitional deacons.

Numerous seminarians from other Midwestern dioceses attend Kenrick and return to their home dioceses to be ordained and serve as priests.

Diocese of Bismarck

Abp. Carlson appoints Fr. David Skillman as vice-rector of Cardinal Glennon College

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:09:56 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson has appointed Father David Skillman as vice-rector for Cardinal Glennon College Seminary.

Father Skillman's appointment will begin this summer. He will serve under the mentorship of Auxiliary Bishop Edward J. Rice, current college director, until Bishop Rice's departure in January 2013.

Five Kenrick-Glennon seminarians to be ordained transitional deacons for other dioceses

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:49:06 +0000

Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Five Kenrick-Glennon Seminary students are being ordained transitional deacons for other dioceses this month.

All are expected to complete their master of divinity degree by spring 2013 from Kenrick School of Theology. Each is also working toward completion of his master of arts in theology.

Transitional deacons are seminarians in their last year of preparation for ordination to the priesthood. A transitional deacon may baptize, distribute Communion, witness marriages and lead rites for Christian burial.

Abp. Carlson's appointments

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:10:41 +0000

Rev. David P. Skillman, associate pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, St. Charles, is appointed vice-rector of Cardinal Glennon College, with residence at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, effective June 18, 2012.

Rev. Mr. Michael J. Benz, a transitional deacon, is assigned to assist the pastor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Oakville, effective June 1, 2012.

Rev. Mr. Raymond D. Buehler, a transitional deacon, is assigned to assist the pastor of Ascension Parish in Chesterfield, effective June 1, 2012

Several Pentecost events scheduled in archdiocese

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:56:01 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

On Sunday, May 27, the Church will celebrate the feast of Pentecost, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Blessed Mother and Jesus' disciples, as they awaited in fear in the days after His Resurrection and Ascension.

Pentecost is a birthday, of sorts, for the Church, when the Holy Spirit initiated the Church's mission, marked on the 50th day following Easter.

The archdiocesan Catholic Renewal Center is organizing several events to celebrate the feast.

Gospel comes alive for Villa students in Holy Land

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:49:52 +0000

Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

They ate falafels and shawarma. Swam in the Dead Sea. Rode a camel. Browsed shops. Checked out karaoke in a hotel ballroom. Recited Christian prayers along the Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem. Quietly walked by the Garden of Gethsemane. Attended Mass on Palm Sunday in the same city where Jesus was condemned, crucified and rose from the dead.

A trip to Israel by a group of students from Villa Duchesne High School had a profound affect on them.

Funding remains steady for Alternatives to Abortion program

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:47:17 +0000

Despite a tight state budget, the Missouri General Assembly has continued funding for women facing a crisis pregnancy.

Lawmakers approved $1.5 million for the Alternatives to Abortion program -- the same amount as last year.

The Alternatives to Abortion program has been a state program for more than 10 years and has provided a variety of services to pregnant women, including counseling, prenatal care, emergency housing, job placement assistance and adoption referrals when requested.

Aquinas Institute of Theology awards degrees, certificates on 42 students

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:57:50 +0000

Aquinas Institute of Theology conferred graduate degrees and graduate certificates on 42 men and women at a commencement at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church in Midtown St. Louis on May 11.

Answers to questions on Church teaching about same-sex marriage

josephkenny — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:18:44 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

Jesuit Father Peter Ryan, professor of moral theology and director of spiritual formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, provided answers to a few questions regarding same-sex marriage after the issue was highlighted when President Barack Obama announced he has settled his "evolving position" to support same-sex marriage.

Archdiocese launches Campaign for Religious Liberty

josephkenny — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:40:18 +0000

By Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson has announced that the Archdiocese of St. Louis is launching a "Campaign for Religious Liberty."

The six-month campaign will begin on Sunday, May 27, the feast of Pentecost, and end Nov. 25, the solemnity of Christ the King. Priests in the archdiocese were notified of the campaign this week in a letter from the archbishop.

Obituary |Deacon Howard J. VanBoovan

barbwatkins — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:22:19 +0000

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 8 at Assumption Church in O’Fallon for Deacon Howard J. VanBooven, who served at the O’Fallon parish and in hospice chaplaincy.

Deacon VanBooven, 71, died May 3. Born in Rhineland, Mo., he married the former Susan C. Black in 1964. He served his country in the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge.

Obituary | Deacon Edward J. Auer

barbwatkins — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:12:23 +0000

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 9 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in south St. Louis for Deacon Edward J. Auer, a longtime educator at St. Francis de Sales and St. John the Baptist high schools.

Deacon Auer, 89, died May 5. Born in St. Louis, he served his country in the U.S. Marines from 1943-46 and received an honorable discharge. He received a degree in education from St. Louis University.

DeSmet’s Breakfast Club provides community for students grieving the loss of a parent

jenniferbrinker — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:06:37 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

One of Michael Tambone's favorite memories of his mom was at Eastertime.

"We used to get these Easter baskets filled with candy" and other goodies, he said, a bright smile on his young face.

The sophomore at DeSmet Jesuit High School lost his mother when he was in eighth grade. She had triple bypass heart surgery and initially made it through the surgery, but died not long after.

Abp. Carlson 'profoundly disappointed' in Obama's support of same-sex marriage

josephkenny — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:49:41 +0000

“The Archdiocese of St. Louis is profoundly disappointed that President Barack Obama has given his support to same-sex marriage,” said Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, in a statement released May 10.

Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage May 9, a day before a political fundraiser in Hollywood.

Bill on religious liberty gets final legislative approval, awaits governor's signature

josephkenny — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:36:52 +0000

With just three hours left in the 2012 session of the Missouri General Assembly, legislators passed a bill upholding religious liberties and protecting rights of conscience for the citizens of Missouri.

Sen. John Lamping, R-Clayton, sponsored SB 749, which passed by supermajorities in both chambers. Twenty-eight out of 34 senators and 105 out of 163 state representatives voted for the bill. The Missouri Catholic Conference will now turn its attention to urging Gov. Nixon to sign the bill so it can become state law.