Archdiocesan news briefs
Upcoming events
St. John Paul II parish mission
Father Jewel Aytona, CPM, will lead a parish mission Dec. 9-13 at St. John Paul II Parish, 4980 Heege Road in Affton. Each day of the mission will begin with eucharistic adoration and confessions at 6 p.m., followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. Confessions will be available again after the presentation. Topics will include God, the Father of mercies; Eucharist, food for the journey; and our heavenly Mother.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 1115 S. Florissant Road in Ferguson, will host a celebration for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The celebration will begin with a gathering at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, and continue throughout the night. Prayer and song will take place at midnight, followed by Mass at 1 a.m. Dec. 12. Las Mananitas, featuring prayers and dancing, song and breakfast, will be from 2-4:30 a.m., followed by the Rosary and re-enactment of the story of St. Juan Diego and apparitions by Our Lady. A Mass in Spanish will be celebrated at 6 a.m., followed by breakfast; a Mass in English will be celebrated at 9 a.m., followed by brunch.
Holy Trinity Parish, 3500 St. Luke Lane in St. Ann, will also celebrate the feast, beginning with an outdoor procession at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, followed by a Spanish Mass in church at 11 a.m. featuring special music and dance. A social will take place in the gymnasium afterward. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, the parish will have early morning prayer and song with a mariachi band at 5 a.m., followed by a Spanish Mass at 6 a.m. Mexican chocolate and sweet breads will be served after Mass in the church basement.
Finding peace during the holidays
“An Evening for the Divorced and Separated: Finding Comfort and Peace During the Holidays” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive in Shrewsbury. Greg DeNeal, a licensed professional counselor, will be the featured speaker at the free event sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life. For registration contact, Julie Bostick at JulieBostick@archstl.org, or (314)792-7180.
Advent vocations retreat
Has St. Louis got nuns? You bet. Single women ages 18-40 thinking about religious life will visit with them and experience religious life Dec. 14-15 in the St. Louis Convent Camino. Starting at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet motherhouse at 6400 Minnesota Ave. in St. Louis, the Camino gives single women a chance to visit Catholic sisters in their houses and convents, learn about the sisters’ communities and ministries and join them in prayer and fellowship. The cost is $25, but scholarships are available. For information or to register, visit www.goo.gl/eLJ1ck or contact Sister Amy Hereford, CSJ, at (314) 972-4763 or ahereford@csjlife.org.
Advent Taize prayer service
St. Richard Parish, 11223 Schuetz Road in Creve Coeur, will host an Advent Taize prayer service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. The St. Richard Chorale will provide music, accompanied by harp, flute, guitar, violin and handbells.
Christmas concert
The 41st Annual Christmas Concert of The Young Catholic Musicians will be performed from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, and again Friday, Dec. 28, at Seven Holy Founders Church, 6737 S. Rock Hill Road in Affton. The proclamation of the Christmas story will be presented by the 50-member orchestra and choir. Cindy Preszler, a meteorologist for many years at KSDK-TV, will narrate Dec. 27. Msgr. Joseph M. Simon, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, will narrate Dec. 28. Tickets are $10 for reserved seats and $5 for general admission. For information call (314) 962-9260 or email smithycm@sbcglobal.net. Make checks payable to YCM Concert Tickets, c/o Mary Smith 144 Cottage Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119.
Basketball with a heart
The annual Mary McDermott Third Grade Basketball Tournament will be held the weekend of Dec. 27-29 at Immacolata Parish Gym, 8900 Clayton Road in Richmond Heights. All proceeds benefit SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, in particular the Cardiac Catheterization Suite named in honor of Mary McDermott, a former patient who was born with heart and liver problems and lived to age 24. A silent auction will feature sports memorabilia items, including a St. Louis Blues sweater signed by Vladimir Tarasenko, plus four club seat tickets to the March 23 game; a U.S. National Team shirt signed by Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic; an official Flagstick Flag from The Masters signed by 2015 winner Jordan Spieth; four tickets to a Nov. 2, 2019, University of Notre Dame home football game vs Virginia Tech; a portrait of Mia Hamm signed by the star of the U.S. Women’s National Team; a 40-person St. Louis Cardinals’ suite (all inclusive) for April 19, 2019; and more. The online auction opens on Dec. 10. Visit MMcDHoops.givesmart.com or text MMcDHoops to 52182. An expanded menu of food will be available. To contribute to the cause, make a check payable to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, 3800 Park Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63110, with “Mary McDermott” on the memo line. For information, email sjm@misselaine.com or call (314) 577-5605.