Living Our Faith

Working together with new mission advancement initiative, our Catholic schools will be Alive in Christ!

teakphillips — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:05:48 +0000

By Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Working together with new mission advancement initiative, our Catholic schools will be Alive in Christ!

The time for discussion is over, and the time for action has begun.

On Feb. 2, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson presented at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Manchester his priorities for Catholic education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the steps to be taken to achieve them.

File Attachment:

Summary of the Alive in Chirst mission advancement initiative

Priorities of the Alive in Chirst mission advancement initiative

Change in March for Life tone is a happy surprise

lisajohnston — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:31:52 +0000

By Lisa Johnston | lisajohnston@archstl.org

When the opportunity to help chaperone my son's pro-life club at St. Louis Priory School to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. came along, I realized how many years had passed since I had last walked the streets of our nation's capital in witness to the cause for life.

Despite 'overwhelming' needs, Holy Redeemer parishioners are constant in aid to Haiti

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:12:55 +0000

By Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

Harry Bahr agrees that the situation in Haiti is "overwhelming," citing the poverty, the lack of clean water, the sickness and the devastating aftereffects of the 2010 earthquake. But that doesn't stop him or his fellow parishioners at Holy Redeemer in Webster Groves from returning each year to offer their help.

Knights' work with Haitian amputees making progress

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:10:01 +0000

Veronica Ambuul | Catholic News Service

DENVER -- Providing prosthetic devices for amputees in Haiti is one of the Knights of Columbus initiatives that has connected Knights in the United States with victims of a major earthquake in the Caribbean nation.

At a news conference at the Knights' convention last summer, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson spoke about Healing Haiti's Children, a partnership with Project Medishare, whereby Haitians who have had limbs amputated as the result of injuries sustained in the January 2010 earthquake were given prosthetic limbs free of charge.

People of Hatitian descent born in Dominican Republic seek recognition as citizens

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:09:50 +0000

By Ezra Fieser | Catholic News Service

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The status of Haitian descendants born and raised in the Dominican Republic is drawing attention as they demand to be recognized as Dominican citizens.

A demonstration in front of government offices last month sought to call attention to the tens of thousands of people of Haitian descent whom human rights groups say have been left functionally stateless by a Dominican government policy that refuses them access to a copy of their birth certificate.

Without the birth certificate, they cannot receive an identity card.

Haitian quake survivors leaving camps for homes

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:09:41 +0000

By Dennis Sadowski | Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON -- It took almost two years, but Haitian earthquake survivor Sonya Mallebranche has a place she can call home again.

It's only three rooms, making it less than perfect, Mallebranche admits, especially for four adults and three toddler grandchildren. But Mallebranche, 51, finds it far better than living in a tattered tent in the fetid, dusty camp known as Petite Place Cazeau alongside hundreds of others displaced by the powerful Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake that leveled much of the region around Port-au-Prince.

Support sought for refugees, immigrants: 'Reach out in love and understanding'

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:36:20 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

Migrants who come to America have much to teach others, Father John Vien, pastor of St. Pius V Parish in south St. Louis, said at a Mass kicking off National Migration Week.

Father Vien gave the homily at the annual Migration Mass celebrated on Epiphany Sunday, Jan. 8, at St. Pius. The parish has always been an immigrant parish -- first to the Irish in the early 20th century and now to immigrants and refugees from around the world. The multicultural celebration welcomed parishioners and immigrants and refugees from throughout the area.

Native of Ivory Coast eagerly serves the Church in new land

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:42:13 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@stlouisreview.com

Roland N'Guessan's story similar to other Catholics who came to America a century or more ago, immigrants from Italy, Germany, Ireland or other countries.

N'Guessan is from Ivory Coast, a country that had political stability after its independence from France in 1960 up until around 2000 and a series of coups and civil war. Reports of abuses of human rights and attacks against innocent civilians followed.

Women religious hear God’s call — and answer it

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:42:14 +0000

By Barbara Watkins | bwatkins@archstl.org

National Vocation Awareness Week, observed this year Jan. 9-14, is the annual celebration in the United States to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew prayers and support for those who are considering vocations.

Following God's call to consecrated life has been grace-filled and liberating for three local women religious.

"I felt at home," said Sister Mariana Thayer, a Dominican Sister of the Congregation of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tenn., who teaches at St. Joseph School in Cottleville.

Father Patrick Driscoll's vocation journey took many twists, turns

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:42:03 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@stlouisreview.com

National Vocation Awareness Week, observed this year Jan. 9-14, is the annual celebration in the United States to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew prayers and support for those who are considering vocations.

Father Patrick Driscoll's vocation journey took a number of twists and turns -- he was ordained at age 48 -- but one of the key points occurred when a fellow parishioner asked him if he'd consider the priesthood.

Pay attention to possible vocations, Kenrick-Glennon seminarian says

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:41:27 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@stlouisreview.com

National Vocation Awareness Week, observed this year Jan. 9-14, is the annual celebration in the United States to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew prayers and support for those who are considering vocations.

When John Stearns talks about vocations he makes sure to remind people to ask others -- even single professional men who may seem settled in their career -- if they would consider a vocation.

Family Time: Reaching out to Rosati residents lifts everyon'e spirits

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:53:40 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@stlouisreview.com

It's no big deal.

Just part of the fabric of their families' Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

Such a priority that everything else just fits around it.

For about 15 years, the Schaus and Klipsch families have been making Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for clients of Rosati Group Home, a St. Patrick Center housing program. In 2008, when Rosati Apartments opened, they began providing meals there, too.

The meals are served to some 40 people.

Receiving gifts: Recipients, volunteers say St. Patrick Center meets their needs

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:55:41 +0000

By Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

Ricardo Alvarado didn't just have a grin -- he beamed.

He wasn't going to have much of a Christmas, with his relatives far away in California, until he was notified by St. Patrick Center that he was chosen as a recipient of the Christmas Wishes family sponsorship program.

"It means a lot to me," Alvarado said, noting that he would not have received gifts otherwise. "It makes me feel like I'm important."

Pope celebrates Guadalupe feast, confirms he'll travel to Mexico, Cuba

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:03:27 +0000

Cindy Wooden and Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY -- Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and confirming he will travel to Mexico and Cuba in the spring, Pope Benedict XVI called on the people of Latin America to hold firm to their faith.

During his homily at the Mass Dec. 12 in St. Peter's Basilica, the pope prayed that God would guide the decisions of the Latin American people, so they could progress in "building a society based on the development of good, the triumph of love and the expansion of justice."

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a daylong affair treasured by many

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:02:27 +0000

Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org

For Saralicia Cortez, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is special because "she helped the Mexicans learn about the religion of Catholics."

Saralicia, a student at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Ferguson, portrayed Mary in a re-enactment of Our Lady's visits to St. Juan Diego near Mexico City in December 1531. Saralicia said she was proud to take part in the events at her parish church because of the connection of the feast to her heritage and because it shows how important the faith is to the people.