Rural Parish Clinic to open in Hillsboro
The Rural Parish Clinic will open its fourth mobile medical clinic site in the Archdiocese of St. Louis on June 3 in Hillsboro at Good Shepherd Parish, 703 3rd Street. The clinic will be open to patients on the first Thursday of each month, starting June 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mobile medical clinic provides free primary health care services to uninsured, low-income people in rural areas of the archdiocese Those seeking care can make an appointment by calling 1 (888) 870-9610. Walk-in patients accepted as availability allows. Rural Parish Clinic also has locations at St. Joachim Parish in Old Mines, the former St. Clare School in St. Clair and Son Rise Baptist Church in Bonne Terre.
Beyond Sunday scholarships
The Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri awarded more than $1.5 million in Beyond Sunday scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year to students of middle-income families and local Catholic schools. In all, $1.5 million was awarded to 1,021 students attending 117 Catholic elementary and high schools for the 2021-2022 school year. A total of $10.3 million has been awarded to 2,101 students attending 137 Catholic schools since 2016.
High school Beyond Sunday scholarship recipients, called Beyond Sunday Fellows, also become part of a community of fellows, which meets several times each year for community service projects and shared faith experience.
Incarceration forum
The Criminal Justice Ministry will hold a virtual incarceration forum on COVID-19’s impact on re-entry from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, May 20. The COVID-19 pandemic had a broad impact on the criminal justice system, for those experiencing incarceration or being released from incarceration, as well as for organizations and people providing services to this population. Panelists will speak on issues of public health, service adaptation and other challenges and successes produced by the pandemic. Panelists will include Criminal Justice Ministry staff members, Dr. Fred Rottnek, director of community medicine at the SLU School of Medicine; Akilah Pelt, St. Louis City bail disruptor/client advocate with The Bail Project; and April Foster, director of programs with The Center for Women in Transition. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3eygdKn.
Education tax credit
The Missouri Senate passed HB 349 by a vote of 20-13, and it now goes to Gov. Mike Parson for his signature before being enacted into law. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R-St. Peters), creates a tax credit for donations to education scholarship organizations that offer scholarships to students to attend non-public schools. The bill will allow public school students with an IEP (individualized education plan) and students whose parents meet certain income requirements to apply for the scholarships. The Missouri Catholic Conference supported this bill.
Eucharistic procession at SLU
On the last day of classes May 10, almost 200 students from Saint Louis University’s Catholic Studies Centre held a eucharistic procession on campus thanking God for all the hidden gifts of this year. “It was certainly not the year we expected, but there were many graces this year in our learning a greater sense of stillness and presence, certainly a year to remember,” said graduating senior George Lawrence
Retreat for mid-life singles
A Reflect Catholic weekend retreat for mid-life singles looking for a renewed sense of connection and purpose will be held at King’s House Retreat Center in Belleville, Illinois, on June 4-6. Cost is $210 including meals and a single room. Reflect Catholic retreats for singles are for and about adults in their mid-30s to 50s. It helps people know themselves better and discover more about their capacity for life as a single person. The experience calls participants to believe in their value to the Lord and to devote themselves to caring for and serving others. Visit www.ReflectRetreat.com, e-mail reflect.stlouis@gmail.com, or call (314) 283-0044 for details.
Breast cancer healing Mass
A Mass for those who have been affected by breast cancer will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2618 S. Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood. Survivors and patients as well as family members and friends are welcome. The Mass will offer those in attendance the opportunity to join their sufferings with Christ in prayer for peace and healing of all. Father Jack Siefert, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, will be the celebrant. A reception will be held after Mass. For more information, call the parish at (314) 961-8400 or email madeleineappelbaum@archstl.org.
Summer social justice camp
Students entering sixth through ninth grade are invited to a Social Justice Camp at St. Francis Xavier “College” Church from June 28-July 2. Participants will learn how social justice issues are integral to the Catholic faith. They will see firsthand the needs that exist in our community and will have the opportunity for onsite visits and hands-on service to help vulnerable populations.
Through group discussions and artwork and journaling, students will develop solutions to the injustices they see. Cost for the camp is $250, which includes off-site transportation and snacks. Camp hours are 9 a.m.-3 pm, with early arrival at 8:30. For more information contact Terry Edelmann at (314) 712.4216 or terry@sfxstl.org.
Ignatian spiritual exercises
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, adapted for persons in all walks of life over a nine-month period, are offered through the Bridges Foundation based in St. Louis. The retreat combines small weekly gatherings, a commitment to daily prayer following the Exercises, and one-on-one meetings with a trained prayer companion.
The retreat runs from September to May and coincides with the Church’s liturgical calendar. Virtual, “live” Zoom-based information sessions are being offered in connection with five St. Louis-area sites on various days throughout the summer, beginning in July. Contact executive director Steve Givens at (314) 401-2072 or by email at executive.director@bridgesfoundation.org to reserve a spot at one of the information sessions or receive a Zoom invitation to the virtual session. For more information, visit www.bridgesfoundation.org.
