Archdiocesan news briefs
Spiritual growth for musicians
All parish musicians, choir members, cantors and liturgists are invited to “Taste and See: Finding Peace in Christ’s Presence,” a Lenten retreat from 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 21, at St. Agnes Church in Bloomsdale. The morning will be led by Brother David Hardy, OP, a Dominican student brother who is an organist and pianist and serves as choir director for his community. The event is sponsored by the National Pastoral Musicians St. Louis. Freewill offerings will be accepted. RSVP by Feb. 19 to Lisa Doerr at lisa@doerrs.org.
Pro-Life Mass and Rosary
The monthly Pro-Life Mass and Rosary hosted by the archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate (formerly the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Mass and Rosary) will be celebrated at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Assumption Church, 4725 Mattis Road in south St. Louis County. The Rosary will be prayed before Mass. Prayers will be offered on behalf of women and men facing unplanned pregnancies and for a greater respect for all human life, especially the unborn child. The monthly Mass is celebrated at different churches around the archdiocese.
Marriage mini retreat
“God Chose You For Me: A New Experience,” is a mini retreat for married couples sponsored by the Jubilant Marriages initiative and Worldwide Marriage Encounter. The experience is designed to deepen the spiritual connection between married couples. Hosted by a priest or deacon, a married couple and a surviving spouse, participants will be invited to create a personal prayer for their marriage and realize God’s call to a relationship of unity and holiness. The retreat will be offered from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Immaculate Conception in Dardenne Prairie, and again on Saturday, March 21, at St. Clare of Assisi in Ellisville.
Finding God in Suffering
The Daughters of St. Paul will host a five-week study and discussion, “Finding God in Suffering” from 2-3 p.m. on Thursdays in Lent from Feb. 26 through March 26 at Pauline Books &Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. The meetings will include videos based on Father Christopher Mahar’s book, “Finding God in Suffering,” which explores topics including St. Paul and the experience of the cross, search for meaning and the discovery of God, love and redemptive suffering, thorns in the flesh and bringing light to the dark. There will be time for personal prayer afterward.
Parenting in a digital world
Sister Nancy Usselmann of the Daughters of St. Paul will give a presentation, “Parenting the Media: Raising Disciples in a Digital World,” from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Pauline Books &Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. Sister Nancy, director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies and author of “Media Fasting,” will invite parents to move from reacting to media to pastorally guiding their family’s digital life. She will give participants practical tools for setting healthy media boundaries and modeling virtue online. For more information, call (314) 965-3512.
Gabriel’s Retreat
Gabriel’s Retreat Ministries will host its next retreat for pregnant and new mothers from March 27-29 at La Salle Retreat Center in Wildwood. Gabriel’s Retreats are open to any pregnant or new mother up to one year postpartum who is experiencing unexpectedness in her pregnancy or postpartum. Retreats are free and open to all regardless of faith, marital status or pregnancy situation. To learn more and register, visit gabrielsretreat.org.
