Catholic Women of the Year
Two women were named honorees at the annual Catholic Woman of the Year event, sponsored by St. Joseph Radio-Media Network Sept. 13 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski presented certificates to all nominees, who represented parishes and organizations across the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Bobette Figler, nominated by the Disability Ministry and ACTS community at Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield, was raised in a Jewish household, endured an abusive childhood and lived in foster homes as a teenager before entering the Catholic Church in 2011 after a priest introduced her to the faith while she was in a women’s shelter. Joanie Hasser, a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Shrewsbury, is a retired home health nurse of 40 years, a mother of four and a co-founder of the Apostolate of Spiritual Motherhood for Priests, which promotes prayer for archdiocesan priests. She serves as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and lector, helps coordinate eucharistic adoration and has volunteered in OCIA and youth ministry. Diagnosed with ALS in 2022, she has offered her suffering for priests and the salvation of souls.
Justice for all
The Archdiocese of St. Louis will host “Economic Justice for All at 40,” a conversation on the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter, economic justice, Catholic social teaching and how the Church is called to act, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive in Shrewsbury. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. Speakers are Jim Bailey, chair and associate professor of theology at Duquesne University and author of “Rethinking Poverty,” and Ray Boshara, senior policy advisor at Washington University and the Aspen Institute and a member of the archdiocesan Peace &Justice Commission. The event is presented with the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province and the William L. Clay Sr. Institute of Civic Engagement and Economic Justice at Saint Louis University. To RSVP, visit stlreview.com/4yOhjZe or email Marie Kenyon at mariekenyon@archstl.org.
Adoption grants
The Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Fund provides grants to couples seeking to adopt a child. Administered by the archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning, the grant is available to local couples who have started the process of building their family through the loving choice of adoption or who have adopted in the past two years. To request an application, visit www.nfpgoodforlife.com/arjc-adoption-grant/ or contact the NFP office at (314) 997-7576 or stlnfp@archstl.org. The deadline for applications is Sunday, Nov. 1.
The Umoja Circle
In observance of Black Catholic History Month, the archdiocesan Office of Racial Harmony will host The Umoja Circle, a Black Catholic community synodal process for parish renewal after a merger, from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the St. Charles Lwanga Center, 8240 Washington St. in Vinita Park. Cynthia Bailey Manns, director of adult learning at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community in Minneapolis, will be the guest speaker. She was one of four U.S. laypeople chosen as a voting member of the 2023 Synod on Synodality in Rome, the first synod to include lay voting delegates, and she returned as a delegate for the second general assembly in October 2024 representing the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Bailey Manns holds a doctor of ministry degree in spiritual direction and is an adjunct faculty member at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Registration is required only for those staying for lunch. For more information or to register for lunch, visit www.racialharmonystl.org.
Christ Alive Through Mary
Women’s witness ministry Christ Alive Through Mary will host a morning of breakfast, fellowship and prayer from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury. Michaela Rodriguez, chief operating officer of Reach Reproductive Health, will speak. Cost is $20. Register online at stlreview.com/4AWADEW or call the Catholic Renewal Center at (314) 731-6100.
