Archdiocesan news briefs
Upcoming events
Teddy Bear Christmas Land
The Trevisano Teddy Bear Christmas Land is on display nightly through the Christmas season at 9211 Laurel Hill Drive in Crestwood. Each holiday season, the Trevisano family presents the display with thousands of lights, more than 100 teddy bears, plus animations and Christmas music. Instead of collecting donations for their electric bill, the Trevisanos give the proceeds from their donation box to St. Patrick Center to help build permanent, positive change for its clients.
Christmas concert
The Valle Catholic Schools Foundation is sponsoring a Christmas concert Friday, Dec. 21, at Ste. Genevieve Church, 49 DuBourg Place in Ste. Genevieve, starting at 7 p.m. Christine Westhoff will be featured and accompanied by organist Timothy Allen. The concert is free, with refreshments and a cash bar at DuBourg Centre after the concert.
Young musicians concert
The 41st Annual Christmas Concert of The Young Catholic Musicians will be 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. Elizabeth Westhoff, director of communications for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, 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.
Benefit basketball tournament
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. 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. For donations, 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.
‘Way of Lights’ run
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will host a 5K competitive run and 1.5-mile fun walk Saturday, Jan. 5, with check-in beginning at 5 p.m. and the race starting at 6:30 p.m. Trophies will be awarded to the overall male and female winners, with medals to the top three men and top three women in each age group. Big River Running of St. Louis will provide timing services, with race results available on the day of the run. Registration costs $35; the walk is $25. For more information or to register: call (618) 394-6292, email info@snows.org or visit www.snows.org/run
Naming and commendation
Christ Prince of Peace Parish will hold the Rite of Naming and Commendation for an Infant Who Has Died Before Birth on Saturday, Jan. 5, at the parish, 415 Weidman Road in Manchester. The rite will be held at 8:30 a.m., after the regularly scheduled 8 a.m. Mass. The rite memorializes children who have died before birth, including miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion or accident. The parish respect life committee requests RSVPs to Val at (314) 402-3534 or Susan at (636) 253-6308.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
An ecumenical prayer service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at St. Monica Church, 12140 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur. A reception will follow. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which has been observed for more than 100 years, is an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity. Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). The week is traditionally observed Jan. 18-25 in churches all over the world. For more local resources, visit www.archstl.org/ecumenical.
Marriage on Tap
Father Paul Hoesing will be the main speaker at the next Marriage on Tap, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Pasta House, 8213 Delmar Blvd. in University City. Father Hoesing, dean of seminarians and director of human formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, will speak on “This is My Body, Given for You: Faithful Priesthood Needs the Faithful Witness of Faithful Marriage.” Cost is $20 per person, which includes a buffet dinner, tax and tip. Cash bar will be available. Sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the evening, is open to all married couples. RSVP by Jan. 11 to marriageontapstl@gmail.com. Visit Marriage on Tap STL on Facebook.