Archdiocesan news

Archdiocesan news briefs

Shoes and more

Students at St. Simon the Apostle School in south St. Louis County recently funded the purchase of shoes and socks for more than two dozen students from Hancock Elementary School. Several St. Simon seventh-graders accompanied the Hancock students to a Shoe Carnival store where the manager, Christa Bosher, opened the store for the private shopping event. The effort was part of a weekender’s program in which St. Simon students pack 40 bags of food on Fridays for Hancock Elementary School students who have limited access to food on the weekends or breaks from school.

New labor, delivery unit

Mercy Hospital South announced it will rebuild its labor and delivery unit. The improvements will include larger patient rooms, new technology and greater access to newborn services. Mercy will create 14 spacious labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms with new separate family waiting rooms close to the mothers’ rooms. The rebuild also will include an eight-bed, level 2 neonatal intensive care unit, a relocated perinatal center, four triage rooms, renovated operating (c-section) rooms and space for future growth. The Boniface Foundation is making a donation to cover the $18 million cost of the project. Construction is planned in four phases from 2019-21.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Holy Land

On Good Friday, April 19, the annual collection for the Holy Land will be taken up in all parishes throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The financial assistance of Catholics throughout the world supports the holy places as well as social and charitable activities, educational and scientific activities and pastoral activities.

Missionaries of St. Peter Claver anniversary

The Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver will celebrate the community’s 125th anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at St. Anselm Church, 530 South Mason Road in Creve Coeur. Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Hermann, will be the principal celebrant at the Mass. A reception will follow in the parish center. Founded by Blessed Mary Theresa Ledóchowska in April of 1894, the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver are dedicated to God and service of the missionary Church.

St. Gianna Culture of Life Relay

St. Louis Life Runners are partnering with St. Gianna Church in Wentzville and St. Mary of Victories Church Downtown for the second annual St. Gianna Culture of Life Relay on Saturday, April 27. The relay includes a prayer and foot relay beginning at 7 a.m. at St Gianna and finishing at St. Mary of Victories Church at approximately 5 p.m. Life Runners will meet for prayer and a blessing at the Shrine of St. Gianna and begin the 43-mile relay along the Busch Greenway Trail. The route will pass by Planned Parenthood Forest Park at approximately 3:15 p.m., where other Life Runners teammates will hold a prayer hour from 3-4 p.m., before continuing to the finish line. To learn more, visit stgiannacultureofliferelay.weebly.com.

Ignatian Spirituality Project

Jesuit Father Bill Creed, co-founder of the Ignatian Spirituality Project, will give the Tony McDonald Memorial Capstone Lecture from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church, 3620 Lindell Blvd. Father Creed will speak on the work of the Ignatian Spirituality Project in 30 cities across the U.S., including St. Louis. He will also talk about the inspiration for helping homeless individuals recovering from alcohol and drug additions, integrating St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises with 12-step recovery programs. For more information on the Ignatian Spirituality Project, visit www.ispretreats.org.

Project Rachel retreat

Project Rachel, a program of the Respect Life Apostolate that ministers to women who have suffered the trauma of an abortion experience, will offer a retreat on Saturday, May 11. The retreat will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in a confidential, home-like setting. The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Mass will be offered. The retreat is led by Marisol Pfaff, a certified spiritual director and Project Rachel coordinator for the Respect Life Apostolate. Pfaff has extensive experience leading women to find spiritual healing. In addition, Marisol suffered through an abortion herself and wants to help others bring forth the healing grace of God. Cost is $30 with a $10 deposit at time of registration. Financial assistance is available. The location of the retreat is kept confidential until registration is completed. For information or to register, contact Marisol Pfaff at (314) 792.7596 or email mpfaff@archstl.org.

Il Ritiro retreat

Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center in Dittmer will offer a retreat, “Gospel Joys & Toys: Revisiting Former Childhood Toys to Rekindle our Gospel Mission,” on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Brother Marc Sheckells, OFM, a Franciscan Friar of the Sacred Heart Province, will share how the building of community and the recalling and reflective thinking of early childhood memories can continue to shape, and even rekindle a love for a Franciscan-based Gospel mission. Registration is $30 and includes lunch. Call (636) 274-0554 or email il.ritiro@gmail.com for information or to register. Or visit Ilritiro.org.

The Next Chapter

Information sessions are planned for the Next Chapter program for people who are approaching retirement or who are recently retired. Saint Louis University’s Office of Mission and Identity sponsors the six-month guided journey assisting people to discern who God is calling them to be and do in their next chapter of life. The information sessions will be held on SLU’s campus in Boileau Hall at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, Thursday, May 23, Thursday, June 6, and Tuesday, Sept. 17. For information or to reserve a spot for an information session, email Tom Auffenberg at thomas.auffenberg@slu.edu indicating which information session you will attend.

Marriage Encounter

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is hosting two weekend retreats this summer for couples looking to grow closer together. The weekends will be offered June 21-23 at the Chiara Center in Springfield, Ill., or Aug. 9-11 at the Courtyard Marriott in St. Peters. To apply or for more information, visit stl-wwme.org/schedule.php or call (314) 649-7317.

Fiat Community

Fiat Community, a faith-based community for people in their 20s and 30s, is seeking new members. The community, located near St. Andrew Parish in Lemay, welcomes those who are interested in nurturing their spirituality and/or discerning their next step in life. Community members share meals and prayer, while contributing to monthly rent and household responsibilities. They are offered spiritual direction and ongoing formation experiences through an arrangement with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. For more information or to visit the community, email fiathousecommunity@gmail.com.