Archdiocesan news

Archdiocesan news briefs

Auditions set

The Young Catholic Musicians orchestra and choir will hold auditions during July for singers and instrumentalists ages 10 to 17. The Young Catholic Musicians’ 47th season begins in August. In the past, the Young Catholic Musicians have led the music for Mass at various churches, encouraging full and active participation. The young musicians also have performed two concerts each year and have taken part in tours. For additional information or to schedule an audition, contact Father Bruce Forman at revycm@charter.net or (314) 231-7464 or Mary Smith at SmithYCM@sbcglobal.net or (314) 962-4040.

Volunteers sought for Haiti packathon

A Feed Haiti Packathon will be held at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 14. Over a two-hour shift, a group of up to 400 people will pack 200,000 meals for Hôpital Sacré Coeur, the largest private hospital in the north of Haiti. The food will be distributed to the most vulnerable and poor – especially children, the blind and the elderly. To learn more about the Packathon, donate or register as a volunteer, visit www.classy.org/team/360746.

Feed My People receives grant

Feed My People, a Christian food pantry and thrift store in south St. Louis County and High Ridge supported by more than 25 churches and several community agencies, recently received a grant of $15,000 from the Bayer Fund for the packaging, storage and distribution of produce, shelf-stable items and other products. In 2020, the Bayer Fund awarded more than $17 million to more than 3,400 charitable and nonprofit organizations. Feed My People accepts donations of food and personal care items weekdays from 8:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. at 171 Kingston Drive in St. Louis County and 3295 Ottomeyer Road in High Ridge. Church groups interested in organizing food drives are asked to call Stephanie Berberich at (314) 631-4900.

Catholic Charities’ board

Catholic Charities of St. Louis recently announced the appointment of its board of directors for fiscal year 2022. Returning to the board in officer roles are chair Ed Puzzella, CBC High School; vice chair Debbie Vogt Paradoski, Vogt & Company; treasurer Mark Siedband, Ameren; and secretary Pat Hughes, community volunteer. Catholic Charities welcomed four new board directors: Brian M. Davies, Great Southern Bank; Bryan Graiff, Brown Smith Wallace; Trevor Green, St. Louis County Police Department; and Kathy Jackson, Hazelwood School District. Nicole Colbert-Botchway, 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, and Dan Queathem, Steier Group, will serve as new ad hoc committee members. Returning board directors include: Hap Burke, Delaney Clement, Mary Elizabeth Grimes, Louis Jones, Lisa McAleenan, Patrick McCruden, Cory Nardoni (ex officio), Laura Ng, Matt Nordmann, Jason Norman, Alice Prince, Father Scott Scheiderer, Jack Terschluse (ex officio), Teresa Santiago Turner, Sandy Vest, and Mike Zychinski. “For more than a century, Catholic Charities has served the St. Louis region,” said Catholic Charities of St. Louis President Theresa Ruzicka. “In our mission to offer help and hope to people in need, including those still experiencing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we benefit from our board directors’ scope of experience and diverse perspectives.”

Merit scholar

National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced July 12 the names of 1,000 additional winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities. Included is Michael T. Moen of Saint Louis Priory School, who has been selected for a National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who will attend their institution. College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

A scientific approach

The Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST) in St. Louis is offering two upcoming webinars. “The Fallen Angel Model: Deeper into the Mysteries” will be presented from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, July 31. Authors Joe P. Provenzano, Deacon Ron D. Morgan and Dan R. Provenzano, will present the idea that the fall of the angels initiated the evolution of the universe. ITEST members received a free copy of the book. Others may purchase the book at bit.ly/3hDX9fj prior to the webinar. Register for the webinar at faithscience.org/fam. This webinar is offered free of charge but donations are appreciated.

“Love Letters from Your Father: The Gospel of John” will be offered from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28. Catholic missionary and evangelist Romuald Simeone will address the question: Will the Real Gospel Jesus Please Stand Up? The webinar fee is $10. No fee is charged ITEST members, clergy, seminarians, and consecrated religious. Register at faithscience.org/love-letters. For information, email Sheila Roth at itest@archstl.org.

Biking for Babies

Biking for Babies, a pro-life organization connecting young adults with a passion for athletics and service to pregnancy resource centers, made a stop in St. Louis July 17. A Celebration of Life event was held at St. Joseph Parish in Manchester. Members shared about their approach to building a culture of life amidst the nation’s war on human dignity. To learn more about Biking for Babies, visit bikingforbabies.com. The archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate is a sponsor of Biking for Babies.

Famous Amos

Amos Bartelsmeyer, an Olympic athlete competing in the 2020 Olympics, participated in the CYC track team while attending Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School from kindergarten through fourth grade (2000-05) before attending Mary Institute Country Day School. The middle-distance runner will compete in the 1500-meter race with the track and field team from Germany, his native country before moving to St. Louis as a youngster. “We are thrilled to see Amos join the many other Sacred Heart school athletes at the Olympic games in Tokyo and we wish him well. His Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill community is rooting for him,” reported Alice Dickherber, assistant head of school for strategic advancement at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School.