Archdiocesan news briefs
‘The killing can stop’
Speaking at a press conference Aug. 20, Father Tim Cook, pastor of Sts. Teresa and Bridget Parish in St. Louis, cited a “grace of cooperation” in the city among faith groups in standing together to make a difference in the violence that has ended the lives of too many young people. “The killing can stop and we can be a part of that change,” he said. More than a dozen faith and community leaders spoke at the event at Lane Tabernacle CME Church planned by the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition to urge city leaders and the state’s governor to take action to stem the gun violence that to that date resulted in the deaths of 19 children. Jesuit Father Kevin Cullen of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish also stood with the group of leaders.
Grant for school
St. Roch School in St. Louis recently received a $3,000 Helping Hands Church Grant from the Catholic Holy Family Society in Belleville, Ill. The funds will be used to expand and support both academic and cultural enrichment in St. Roch’s after-school programming. St. Roch School educates approximately 220 children in preschool to eighth grade and serves as an anchor in a diverse neighborhood, with the enrollment reflecting the diversity. Families choose the school for its academics and faith-based experience. The Catholic Holy Family Society, founded in 1914 by Slovenian immigrants who lived in Joliet, Ill., provides insurance products and annuities to Catholics and their families.
CYC website
The CYC Sports program, a ministry of the Catholic Youth Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, recently launched a new websiste, https://playcyc.org/ and a new video promotion, https://bit.ly/2lBV3Sn. The mission of CYC Sports is “building communities of faith through sports.” The focus is on providing invaluable life lessons, specifically in the areas of faith, sportsmanship and service. Since its inception, the CYC has been a community leader in offering youth programs to all children regardless of circumstances. Today, it offers leagues in nine sports on the grade school level, five on the high school level and three for young adults.
First Headmistress’s Holiday
The Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles celebrated the 250th Anniversary of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne’s birth Aug. 29 with a “First Headmistress’s Holiday.” Students were surprised with festivities throughout the day, including a “name the cow” contest for lower school and middle school students. Nearly concurrent to the celebration of her birthday in 1819, St. Philippine was preparing to move the Academy from the Duquette Mansion to a location that would support the growth of the school and allow easier access to paying students from St. Louis. Among St. Philippine’s most precious acquisitions during that first year in St. Charles were two cows. St. Philippine wrote about the cows in her letters and recounted the challenge as they refused to walk in the hot sun for the move. At one point, the cows took off for the woods and a priest followed on horseback to corral the wayward cows. The story is retold to show that if St. Philippine could move the cows, we too can we accomplish anything if we put our minds and hearts to it.
UPCOMING EVENTS
100 years
St. Mary Magdalen Parish in St. Louis is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The closing Mass for the centennial is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, with Archbishop Robert J. Carlson as principal celebrant and homilist at the church, at Kingshighway and Bancroft avenues. Music will be led by the Young Catholic Musicians. The parish also is celebrating with personalized centennial memorial pavers honoring parishioners, former students, priests, deacons, women religious, teachers and others who contributed to the parish history. For an order form, visit www.magdalen.org. The parish’s Deceased Children Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. St. Mary Magdalen was founded in 1919 in an area surrounded by farms and prairies. It developed a reputation for an active lay apostolate and as a place with many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The current church was dedicated in 1940.
Blue Mass
First responders and their families are invited to the annual Blue Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. A reception will follow Mass. First responders are invited to wear their uniforms, gather ahead of time in front of the Cathedral Basilica and process into the Cathedral at the beginning of the Mass. Special prayers will be offered for first responders, and they will be recognized during the Mass.
Pro-life video challenge
The archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate is seeking entries for its annual Pro-Life Video Challenge. Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Louis ages 13-39 are invited to make a one to five-minute video on the theme, “Respect Life.” Finalists will be invited to the 43rd annual Respect Life Convention on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the St. Charles Convention Center. The winning video will be announced and played during the luncheon, and the winner will receive a $500 prize. Entries will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 13. For more details, see www.archstl.org/respect-life-apostolate/programs/education/pro-life-video-challenge.
Exploring migration
“Exploring Migration: A Faith Journey” program begins Thursday, Sept. 19, at St. Margaret of Scotland School, 3964 Castleman Ave. in St. Louis, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. The small-group, eight-session, faith-filled program explores immigration, asylum, refugees, border issues and human trafficking in relation to Catholic teachings. Each session begins and ends with prayer and is intermixed with readings, videos, guest speakers and discussion. The cost is $20. To register, visit www.stmargaretstl.org. For more information, contact Astrid Homan at astrid@frontier.net or (636) 399-0366.
Souls and Goals
The seventh annual Souls and Goals soccer game will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at St. Dominic High School, 31 St. Dominic Drive in O’Fallon. The match pits seminarians against archdiocesan priests. Since its inception, the KGS Lions have captured four wins, and Clergy & Company have won two, including one in 2018. For information, visit www.soulsandgoals.org.