Archdiocesan news

Archdiocesan news briefs

Remembrance for pandemic victims

A virtual ecumenical prayer service for remembrance, healing and unity will be led by Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski and Rev. Rodrick K. Burton, pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, along with other Christian leaders from 7-8:15 p.m. Sunday, March 21. They will offer prayer and support for people who have suffered and died during the COVID-19 pandemic. To participate in the livestreamed prayer service, visit bit.ly/2O8mmmf.

Living Rosary

Our Lady of Guadalupe for Life will host a Living Rosary for Life at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at Assumption Church, 4725 Mattis Road in south St. Louis County. The group will pray the Rosary and honor St. Joseph, patron of workers and the protector of the family. Everyone will receive a small loaf of blessed St. Joseph Bread to take with them. Our Lady of Guadalupe for Life is a nonprofit group that sponsors pro-life billboards along St. Louis area highways.

Paving paths

The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help are presenting a virtual, interactive, storytelling program called “Paving Paths to Peace & All Good: Lessons From the Life of St. Francis.” Sister Renita Brummer and others will examine stories from the life and times of St Francis of Assisi, and give a reflection on lessons to learn for today. Included is how, in the midst of the bloody Crusade battles, Francis of Assisi traveled many miles to Egypt to peacefully meet Sultan Malik al-Kamil, feared leader of the Muslims. Three times are offered: Monday, March 22, at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 24, at 2 p.m. For information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/3kYoqZZ.

Irish festivities

While Dogtown United and the Ancient Order of Hibernians announced the cancellation of the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Dogtown Irish Festival due to continuing safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, the organizations have announced a series of safe and socially distant festivities to commemorate the occasion. These festivities will feature a St. Patrick’s themed house decorating contest; family-friendly photo-op-style art installations by Painted Black STL; and sales of a Dogtown business passport featuring coupons and promotions for local businesses. Four free-standing murals are installed at St. James the Greater School, 1360 Tamm Ave.; Dogtown Veterans Memorial Park at Clayton and Tamm; Wilkinson Early Childhood Center, 1921 Prather Ave.; and Dewey International Studies School, 6746 Clayton Ave. Families are encouraged to visit these installations and take photos with them through March 31, and post them on Facebook using the hashtag #Dogtown2021.

17 for CBC hockey

The Christian Brothers College High School team won its 17th Mid-States Club Hockey Association championship and first since a four-year run of titles from 2014-17 with a 2-0 win March 6 in a Challenge Cup game vs. Marquette at Centene Community Ice Center. CBC coach John Jost’s squad rode to the victory with goals from Charlie Wind and Brennan Rumpf and seven saves from Jack Solomon in goal. CBC put 37 shots on its opponents’ goal. The school recognized the team with a rally March 8 at CBC.

Dred Scott campaign

A campaign by the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation has raised $30,000, half of what it needs to build a memorial to Dred Scott at his gravesite in Calvary Cemetery. The campaign was announced late last year. The foundation works to inform future generations about the lengths that enslaved African American men and women went to in their fight for freedom and just law. Catholic Cemeteries of St. Louis approved a new, more prominent monument after consultation with Lynne Jackson, a great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and founder of the foundation. For more information, visit dredscottlives.org. To contribute to the campaign, visit https://bit.ly/3cepg0J or send a check indicating a contribution for the memorial to the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 2009, Florissant, MO 63032.

Charities benefit from Ascension Classic

Golf icons Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson will headline the Inaugural Legends Luncheon for the Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson Thursday, July 29, at Norwood Hills Country Club. Nicklaus also will play in the Legends Charity Challenge at the club during the weekend of the Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson which is set for the week of Sept. 6-12. In October 2019, Ascension and the PGA TOUR Champions announced a four-year partnership to host a new professional golf tournament in St. Louis. Ascension is the largest nonprofit and Catholic health system in the country. Several charities will benefit from the classic and its coinciding events, including Marygrove, a residential facility for children and teens which is a Catholic Charities agency; the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. For more information about the Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson, including ticket, pro-am and hospitality availability, visit the Ascension Charity Classic website at ascensioncharityclassic.com.

New residence for SLU Jesuits

Ground soon will be broken for a new on-campus residence for Saint Louis University Jesuits, which will serve to enhance the integration of Jesuits into the campus community and university life. The decision to locate the residence on campus was made as one of the five strategic priorities SLU President Fred P. Pestello set for the university in this academic year: Continue to strengthen the Catholic and Jesuit mission. The residence will be located on the north side of Laclede Avenue, just west of Spring Avenue, with Fusz Hall to the North and Beracha and Spring Halls to the east. Jesuit Hall needs extensive repairs and maintenance. It has been home to SLU Jesuits and other members of the Society of Jesus since 1973. The building itself is more than 100 years old.

Praised be the Incarnate Word

Bridget McDermott Flood, executive director of the Incarnate Word Foundation, recently authored “Blue Hole Wisdom: My Journey with the Sisters,” a spiritual memoir and compendium of the wisdom the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio have shared with her over the past two decades. The book includes stories on different themes that apply to daily life and spiritual growth. It is available through Incarnate Word Foundation Press at incarnatewordstl.org/iwf-press.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience

The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience offers married couples the tools needed to help your marriage grow and blossom more beautifully. The next encounter in the St. Louis area will be held virtually the weekend of April 23-25, 2021. For more information or to apply, go to wwme.org, or call Terry and Eric Engholm at (314) 649-7317.