New CFO
Catholic Charities of St. Louis announced Oct. 28 the appointment of Gary Kacich to the nonprofit organization’s chief financial officer role. He will assume responsibilities Jan. 11, after retiring from Peabody Energy Corporation. Kacich has worked for Peabody for more than 25 years in several finance and accounting roles and has served as vice president of internal audit for the past five years. Prior to joining Peabody, he was a division accounting manager for Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc. Kacich began his career with Ernst & Young LLP and was an audit manager when he left the firm. As CFO, Kacich will be responsible for developing and implementing financial and operational policies and strategies for the Catholic Charities Central Office and will serve as a resource for the eight Catholic Charities federated agencies. Kacich has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant. A graduate of St. John Vianney High School, he and his wife Barb are members of St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Sappington. They have two sons, Dominic and Tyler.
Grotto turns 100
A grotto in Perryville built in honor Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal turns 100 years old on Nov. 11. On the grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, its origins date to the First World War. Vincentian Superior Father William H. Musson spoke about the need for shrines in Mary’s honor in the United States, and it touched off a years-long effort to construct a rock grotto on the seminary grounds at Saint Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville. On Nov. 11, 1920, Archbishop John J. Glennon dedicated the grotto. In the century since, Catholics throughout the United States have offered prayers of thanksgiving, celebrated Marian feast days, taken part in the annual May Procession, brought their personal intentions to Mary, or simply rested under her watchful, loving gaze.
Mother/daughter retreat
The Hearts of Mary Retreat will take place Jan. 23-24, 2021, at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center. Led by staff members Julie Hickey and Jane Furey, the overnight retreat is designed to foster in various generations what St. John Paul II called the “feminine genius,” by exploring how to apply the love and virtues of Mary to our modern-day lives. The retreat is open to girls ages 7-14 and their accompanying mother, grandmother, aunt or godmother. There will be Mary-related talks for adults and children as well as games, music, crafts, eucharistic adoration, sacrament of reconciliation and Mass. Dinner, breakfast and lunch will be provided. Cost is $80 per adult and $30 per child. COVID-19 precautions will be taken and the maximum registration allowed is 42 retreatants. For more information contact Julie Hickey at julie@mretreat.org.
Saints take title
Taryn Tkachuk scored in overtime on a backhand shot to bring Villa Duchesne High School a 1-0 win over John Burroughs Oct. 31 and the Saints’ third Midwest Field Hockey Tournament title in the last four years. Villa Duchesne, 14-0 on the season, defeated Cor Jesu Academy 4-1 to reach the finals. The Saints won the title in 2017 and 2018 and came in second last year. The Midwest Field Hockey Tournament is the post-season championship for the 30 field hockey teams in the St. Louis metro area, including 10 Catholic schools, and is sponsored by the St. Louis Field Hockey Association.
Sistine Chapel exhibit comes to St. Louis
“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,” is on display at the America’s Center Downtown. The traveling exhibit, which opened Nov. 6, features Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling frescoes, covering nearly all of the America’s Ballroom’s 27,625 square feet of space. Each ceiling fresco has been reproduced in its near original size using state-of-the-art technology. The exhibit features 34 displayed reproductions, including internationally recognized “The Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgment.” The exhibit is produced by Las Vegas-based SEE Global Entertainment and presented with the support of Explore St. Louis. For more information on the exhibit, including ticket prices, see explorestlouis.com/sistine.
