English Tutoring Project hires executive director
The Board of Directors of the English Tutoring Project (ETP) announced that Sister Anne Henehan, a Sister of Mercy, will take over as the new executive director. Sister Anne will succeed Sister Kathleen Koenen, SSND, who is retiring in September after nearly eight years leading the organization. Sister Anne first joined ETP in 2015 as a tutor at St. Cecilia School and Academy. Before joining ETP, Sister Anne taught English as a Second Language and was an academic tutor for seminarians in the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, and at the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas. Her experience includes teaching refugee and immigrant children and adults in Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, as well as the countries of Slovenia, Spain and Mexico. Sister Anne is fluent in Spanish and French. ETP partners with Catholic elementary schools in the St. Louis Archdiocese to ensure students from immigrant and refugee families acquire the necessary English language skills to succeed in school. For more information, visit www.englishtutoringproject.org.
Mercy hikes starting wage
Mercy will increase the starting wage for all co-workers across its multistate footprint. The $18 million additional annual commitment will raise more than 6,000 co-workers’ pay to $15 an hour and serve as the starting wage for all newly hired co-workers. “This decision is rooted in our values and promotes the common good for our co-workers and the communities where they serve,” said Lynn Britton, Mercy president and CEO. The new minimum wage will be implemented across Mercy as of Sept. 19. Among those with an increase are housekeepers, food service, transportation and pharmacy, medical and lab technicians. Mercy serves a geographical area that has a significant percentage of jobs under $15 an hour, including Arkansas, which has the highest percentage of those jobs in the U.S.: Arkansas, 47.4%; Oklahoma 43.8%; Missouri, 41.6%.
Christmas in July (August)
A Christmas in July appeal went out this month from Fr. Bob’s Outreach, a ministry of Msgr. Robert J. Gettinger, pastor of St. Augustine Parish in St. Louis, and his helpers. The ministry helps people in need with prayer and with utility bills, Christmas baskets and funeral assistance. Because of increased need in the day-to-day programs, Fr. Bob’s Outreach is seeking to raise additional funds and gear up for the distribution of more than 4,000 gift cards at the Christmas program. Contributions have allowed the ministry to help more than 100 families each week with utility or rent assistance, with checks made out directly to their landlord or utility company. Fr. Bob’s Outreach continues to help Most Holy Trinity Parish/Our Lady of Perpetual Help Food Pantry with utility assistance also. To contribute, visit www.FatherBobsOutreach.com or paypal.me/FatherBobsoutreach.
Surviving divorce
Surviving Divorce — BEHOLD Ministry is hosting “Surviving Divorce: Hope and Healing for the Catholic Family,” an 11-week DVD program featuring Catholic experts and lay men and women on the journey to healing. The program is intended for anyone going through the divorce process now or those who have been divorced for many years. A program begins Thursday, Sept. 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive in Shrewsbury. Contact Don Gayou at donaldedwg@gmail.com or call (314) 406-3098 to register or for more information.
Blue Mass
All first responders and their families are invited to the Blue Mass to be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, followed by a reception. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski is the celebrant and homilist at this Mass at the cathedral basilica, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End of St. Louis. The archdiocese will follow the guidance of the city of St. Louis regarding mask requirements. First responders are invited to wear uniforms, gather ahead of time in front of the cathedral basilica and process in at the beginning of the Mass. Prayers will be offered for first responders, and they will be recognized during the Mass. The Blue Mass is celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for those employed in the field of public safety, such as police officers, firefighters, 911 operators, EMS personnel and others. The Mass dates back to 1934 and calls forth in us a greater awareness of and gratitude for the lives of those who serve so faithfully. For information, contact Jennifer Stanard at (314) 792-7812 or stanard@archstl.org.
150 years
Nazareth Living Center in Oakville will mark the start of its 150th anniversary celebration with a blessing of apple trees and a reflection on its history and future. The gathering is at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at the center, 2 Nazareth Lane. When the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet purchased the land in 1869 that would become Nazareth, it was a working farm and orchard. In 1872, the first Sisters of St. Joseph came to live there a, and the farm provided food for the Sisters and their neighbors there and at the motherhouse in Carondelet. Anyone planning to attend the event is asked to call (314) 649-4650.
Support for housing
Depaul USA–St. Louis will hold their 8th annual 5K fun/run walk on Saturday, Oct. 2 in Tower Grove Park. The money raised will go toward the three supportive housing programs based in St. Louis City that support homeless men, women and youth. The run begins at 9 a.m. and walk begins at 9:10 a.m. Overall and age group winners will be given out. To register, visit www.depaulusa.org/stl-5k or register Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. For information, email steve.wiederkehr@depaulusa.org.
Veterans Day run/walk
St. Patrick Center’s 6th Annual Veterans Day 5K, Presented by Keeley Companies, will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, at Soldier’s Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St. in Downtown St. Louis. Proceeds go to St. Patrick Center’s mission of transforming lives through sustainable housing, employment and health care. Last year, because of the support of donors and sponsors, the agency assisted 3,700 clients, of which 854 were veterans. St. Patrick Center helped 385 veterans and their families find permanent housing, 148 veterans increased their income and 81 veterans found jobs through the center’s employment and benefits services. Veterans comprise 25% of St. Patrick Center’s client population. The events include a 5K run or walk, 1-mile run, kids’ dash or virtual 5k run or walk. For information or to register, visit bit.ly/3Dd9VKu.
MOCAN alerts
The Missouri Catholic Advocacy Network (MOCAN) helps legislators understand the Catholic perspective and pass legislation for the common good of all people. MOCAN members receive Action Alerts that ask members to contact their representatives on urgent legislative matters. Members also receive the Missouri Catholic Conference Weekly Update, with the latest news from the state capitol, around Missouri and the rest of the nation, as well as Good News, a bi-monthly newsletter. As MOCAN grows, so does the Catholic voice in the legislative arena. Visit mocatholic.org or send an email to mocatholic@mocatholic.org for details.
