Catholic Charities scam warning
There have been reports nationwide of scammers claiming to represent Catholic Charities, most recently including many falsely claiming enrollment in nonexistent immigration legal services programs and demanding payment. Please note: Neither Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis nor Catholic Charities USA ever request fees from clients. Catholic Charities representatives never reach out via social media or messaging apps, pressure you for personal information or demand immediate action. If you receive a solicitation claiming to be from Catholic Charities, please hang up/disregard and immediately contact Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese St. Louis to confirm whether it was a valid or a scam.
Novena to St. Clare
The annual Novena to St. Clare will take place Aug. 2-10 at the Monastery of St. Clare (Poor Clare Nuns), 200 Marycrest Drive in south St. Louis County. The monastery is located off Telegraph Road. The novena will begin each evening at 7 p.m. with night prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Poor Clare Nuns also will host an all-day adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday, Aug. 3, beginning at 7:30 a.m. and concluding just before the novena.
The monastery is a designated pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of Hope, and the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence — remission of the temporal punishment due to sins — by visiting for a pilgrimage or pious visit, in addition to the usual conditions for indulgence.
Concert supports tornado relief
At the Combined Christian Choir’s summer concert on June 29, an offering was collected for storm victims in Franklin County and metropolitan St. Louis. The choir donated $1,000 each to Franklin County United Way and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “While most of us move on to other matters, those who lost their homes and possessions will live with the aftermath for a very long time,” choir co-director Paige Byrne Shortal said. “Feeling forgotten adds to the burden and we wanted them to know they are remembered.”
Safe Haven Baby Box in O’Fallon
A new Safe Haven Baby Box in Missouri debuted with a blessing held July 15 at the O’Fallon Fire House #3. The Baby Box, located on an external wall of the building and available 24 hours, seven days a week, allows a safe, anonymous and legal way to surrender a baby. It marked the 347th location in the nation and the seventh in Missouri. The O’Fallon Knights of Columbus #2269 and Ladies Auxiliary at Assumption Parish raised $15,000 from a trivia night to support the installation of the baby box.
Monthly 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 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at St. Alban Roe Church, 2001 Shepherd Road in Wildwood. 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.
Goretti Fine Art unveils historical painting
A new painting from Defiance-based Goretti Fine Art commemorating Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean De Smet’s first public Mass in present-day Wyoming was unveiled earlier this month to mark the 185th anniversary of that Mass. The 31×50” oil painting “La Prairie de la Messe” by brother-sister team George Capps and Polly Capps Paule contains 12 portraits of individuals present at the 1840 Mass, features a detailed reconstruction of a period portable Mass kit and showcases the cultural diversity of the era’s Rocky Mountain fur trade. A full-scale replica of the painting (the original is in a private collection) was selected for display at the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, Wyoming, as part of an exhibit showcasing the intersection between fine art and faithful historical representation. To learn more, visit gorettifineart.com/la-prairie-de-la-messe.
Holy Smokers at Sacred Heart in Valley Park
The Knights of Columbus Council #8887 is hosting a festive “Holy Smokers” barbeque competition on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Sacred Heart Parish, 17 Ann Ave., in Valley Park. The 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. event will feature competitions for the best barbeque and Bloody Mary cocktails. Rules and registration to enter the competition and judge the entries can be found at www.sacredheartvp.org/holy-smokers. The Knights will be selling barbeque meals and refreshments throughout the day. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Sacred Heart Valley Park eighth-grade student scholarship.
