Peggy Winckowski named woman of the year
Peggy Winckowski, a parishioner at St. Stephen Protomartyr and a Bishop DuBourg High School alumna, has been named one of USA Today’s 2026 Women of the Year. Winckowski has gained national recognition for her Wednesday Breakfast Club, a weekly tradition she started with her grandson Sam and his friends. After Sam’s death in 2022, she has continued to host his friends for breakfast every Wednesday. To read our 2022 story about “Grandma Peggy,” visit stlreview.com/40tGdOl.
St. Francis de Sales preservation gift
St. Francis de Sales Oratory has received a gift of $1 million made in honor of the late Deacon Edward J. Auer, a coach and teacher at the former St. Francis de Sales High School. The donation serves as a cornerstone for the oratory’s Beauty Reborn Campaign, a multi-phased $15 million initiative to preserve and strengthen the landmark church in south St. Louis. The gift provides critical momentum for the campaign’s initial phase, which focuses on essential HVAC and electrical upgrades needed to protect the historic church and its renowned Wilhelm organ.
Deacon Auer served at St. Francis de Sales High School from the 1940s through the early 1970s as a history teacher and coach and later became a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Often described by former students as a “mountain of a man,” he was known for teaching academic and athletic skills as well as forming young men and women of character rooted in faith, discipline, leadership and service.
Subsequent phases of the Beauty Reborn Campaign will focus on restoring and preserving the oratory’s artistic and architectural features. Planned work includes conservation of the historic Emil Frei stained-glass windows, masonry and structural stabilization, renewal of the high altar and interior shrines, restoration of historic lighting, flooring and pews, and the revival of the painted interiors. The campaign also includes the establishment of an endowment to ensure long-term care and sustainability of the building. For more information on the campaign, email Elizabeth Vennari at elizabeth.vennari@ institute-christ-king.org.
Laudato Si’ series
The Pallottine Retreat &Conference Center in Florissant will offer a two-part series, “On Care of Our Common Home: Loving God in the Heart of Creation,” from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 12 and 19. Laura Weber, a professor of biblical and systematic theology at several Jesuit universities and who serves in ministries focused on spiritual ecology, will explore “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home. Participants will explore the meaning of integral ecology and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in creation and our shared responsibility to protect it. To register, visit stlreview.com/4d21Zjn.
Death with Dignity
The Christ the King Respect Life Committee will host Death with Dignity: A Catholic Perspective after 6:30 p.m. Mass on Wednesday, April 15, at Christ the King’s Monsignor Ryan Center, 7316 Balson Ave. in University City. Father Peter Fonseca will present on the Catholic perspective on death, dying and the dignity of the person.
Martha Retreat Day
All women who serve our Lord and His Church in any capacity are invited to the third annual Martha Retreat Day, a day of prayer, fellowship, and reflection from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the Hillsboro Knights of Columbus Hall, 9330 Old Highway 21 in Hillsboro. The theme for this year’s retreat is “Daughters of the Most High King.” The day includes a light breakfast, lunch, Mass and engaging talks and activities. There will be time for personal reflection and/or sharing with a friend. There is no cost to attend this retreat, but reservations are required so that we have enough supplies for all. For more information or to register, please contact director of pastoral ministry Jennifer Meehan at jmeehan@archstl.org or register at this link: forms.office.com/r/ geQah1qYBV.
