Archdiocesan news briefs
Sacred Heart Valley Park supports prison nursery
The Respect Life ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Valley Park partnered with the Missouri prison nursery program for a collection benefiting incarcerated women and their babies. The prison nursery at Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia offers the chance for incarcerated mothers to care for their babies while learning parenting skills and receiving therapeutic programming. Sacred Heart parishioners wrote cards with prayers for the mothers and babies and donated enough baby and personal care items to fill three SUVs, which were driven to the prison in Vandalia. The donations will also be used for the mothers as they transition out of prison upon release.
Relic of Veronica’s veil in St. Louis
“Sacri Vultus,” a sanctioned Vatican relic of Veronica’s veil, will be at several locations in the Archdiocese of St. Louis for veneration in November. The relic will be on display from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at St. Austin School, 11211 Schuetz Road in Creve Coeur; after the 8 a.m. Mass on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis; and after the 9:30 a.m. Mass until noon on Sunday, Nov. 8, at St. Monica Church, 12136 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur.
Jubilee Year of St. Francis
Father Michael Jennrich, OFM, will speak on “Why St. Francis? And Why This Jubilee?” from 3-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Immaculate Conception Parish Chapel, 7701 State Route N in Dardenne Prairie. Learn why Pope Leo XIV declared the Jubilee Year of St. Francis and how secular Franciscans live the joy of the Gospel in their daily lives. All attendees will receive a Jubilee holy card. For more information about the event or the secular Franciscans, contact Jan Parker, OFS, at stclareregionofs@gmail.com.
Building a Creation Care Team
The archdiocesan Laudato Si Commission will host a workshop on starting a Creation Care Team from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury. Participants will learn how to build a team of people at a parish or organization to focus on what can be done to care for our common home. To register for the free event, visit stlreview.com/4zZrme4. For more information, contact (314) 472-3141 or LaudatoSiCommission@archstl.org.
Fish fry micro grants
The archdiocesan Laudato Si Commission is offering micro grants of $500-2,000 to Catholic parishes and ecumenical partners that are implementing sustainable practices into their Lenten fish fries. The Solid Waste Management District of St. Louis and Jefferson County (SWMD) has awarded funds to increase the size of the grants this year. Funds could be used to contract with a composting service or using compostable or reusable serveware, such as plates, cups and utensils. Grant applications are due Thursday, Nov. 19, and grant winners will be announced in December. To view a video presentation from the recent Sustainable Fish Fry Workshop and apply for a micro grant, visit stlreview.com/4zYSkT4.
Thanksgiving concert
The Combined Christian Choir will celebrate its 30th anniversary with its annual Thanksgiving concert, “Thank You for the Music,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 214 W. Fifth St. in Washington. The program will feature the songs most often nominated by choir members and audience members from the group’s 30-year history. Singers from throughout the community are invited to join the choir, which includes 60-70 members from area churches and accompanied by an instrumental ensemble. Four rehearsals are planned, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the St. Francis Borgia choir room in Jesuit Hall, at Main and Cedar streets in Washington. For more information, call Paige Byrne Shortal at (314) 583-1522. Admission is free, and the church is fully accessible. The concert will be interpreted for the deaf, and a freewill offering will be donated to local charities.
