Valle Catholic nabs another ‘Do The Right Thing’ honor
Valle Catholic Grade School fifth-grader Trey Metzger was among recipients of a Do The Right Thing Award on March 21 at the St. Louis City Metropolitan Police Department. With parents, Alan and Jill, and fifth-grade teacher Natalie Grass in attendance, Trey was honored for standing up for a classmate who had been teased by two other students during Grass’s brief absence from the classroom. The teasing stopped before she returned, but Trey told her “in front of everyone, exactly what had happened,” Grass wrote in nominating Trey. “Eventually Trey’s courage led to the entire class … sticking up for a classmate.” Trey’s mom, Jill, is principal at Valle. Kindergartener Colton Joseph Lipp recently received a Do The Thing Thing Award for his care and concern for an injured teacher. The nonprofit Do the Right Thing of Greater St. Louis, Inc. partners with law enforcement, schools, media and businesses to recognize and promote positive social behaviors of school-aged youth.
Catholic Charities receives national accreditation
Catholic Charities of St. Louis has announced that the organization has once again achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). Catholic Charities of St. Louis is a federation of eight agencies: Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, St. Francis Community Services, Catholic Family Services, Good Shepherd Children & Family Services, Marygrove, Queen of Peace Center, St. Martha’s Hall and St. Patrick Center. This is the seventh accreditation for Catholic Charities of St. Louis. The accreditation is a process that includes demonstrated compliance with internationally-recognized best practice standards through written evidence, onsite interviews with board members, staff and clients, and stakeholder surveys. COA evaluated all aspects of Catholic Charities’ programs, services, management, and administration. The organization last went through the process of achieving accreditation in 2013.
Upcoming events
#SpringatLaSalle
The La Salle Retreat Center in Glencoe will host a photography contest — #SpringatLaSalle — Sunday, April 1, through Wednesday, May 9, at their sprawling property on Missouri Highway 109, just north of Eureka. The contest focuses on “the natural beauty of our grounds and grottoes during the springtime,” with the photos taken through May 9. Every photo submitted will be displayed noon-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at La Salle. Attendees will choose first, second and third place. Winning photos will be used by La Salle for marketing purposes, and cash prizes also will be awarded. For contest guidelines and more information, visit
www.stlouisreview.com/jvj.
Volunteer spotlight
Three awards will be presented on Tuesday, April 3, at the annual dinner to recognize service to people helped by Doorways. The program, which receives funds from the Annual Catholic Appeal, serves individuals and families who are homeless, or near homeless, and struggle with HIV/AIDS. Rev. Dr. Jeff Moore, pastor of the Webster Groves Christian Church, will receive the 2018 Volunteer Award. Carole Hunt will receive the 2018 Michael Edlin Award. She recently retired from Ameren and has remained an active at Doorways in a number of volunteer efforts. Sandberg Phoenix & Von Gontard, P.C. will receive the 2018 Generosity Award. The law firm provides pro bono legal services to Doorways. The dinner is sponsored by St. Mary’s Health Center, a longtime partner and advocate for Doorways, an interfaith organization that provides emergency and permanent housing to people affected by HIV/AIDS in Missouri and Illinois.
‘Art of Wellness’ exhibit
Good Shepherd Arts Center in Ferguson will host an art exhibit April 6-28 featuring the works of clients, partners and staff from Queen of Peace Center and Adolescent Resource Center. The show, “The Art of Wellness: Hope, Dignity and Respect,” begins with an opening reception 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 6, at the arts center, which is at 252 S. Florissant Road. An alcohol-free event, the reception is free and open to the public. The arts center hours are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 2-8 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and by appointment Tuesday. It’s closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call (314) 522-1155, email [email protected] or visit www.goodshepherdarts.org.
Learning to Pray retreat
Father Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., will lead a retreat, “Francis of Assisi: Learning to Pray,” from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center in Dittmer. Father Hellmann will lead participants through several of the prayers written by St. Francis. Participants will be allowed time for personal reflection upon St. Francis’ experience of prayer to help them understand their own journey. Cost is $30, and lunch is included. To register, call (636) 274-0554, email [email protected] or visit
www.il-ritiro.org.
Belize and SLU
Belize 2020 is sponsoring three speaker events during St. Louis University’s Atlas Week, April 6-14. Participation is free and advance registration is not required. A program on the SLU and Belize 2020 partnership will be at noon Monday, April 9, in the Center for Global Citizenship Auditorium. Another program updating the work of Belize 2020 and soliciting feedback will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at Busch Student Center 251AB. Education and Belize is the focus at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in Busch Student Center 253B. Belize 2020 is a partnership between Belize City, Belize and SLU bridging the learning gap in schools. Two teachers from Belize are attending St. Louis University in the School of Education in the graduate program. Rose Mes recently completed her master’s degree in special education with the emphasis of learning disabilities and is a learning consultant at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Belize. For more information on Atlas Week, visit www.stlouisreview.com/jdQ.
Organ concert
St. Louis organists Andrzej Zahorski and Stephen Mager will present the “Divine Monologue,” which will conclude a series of concerts commemorating the 50th anniversary of St. Louis Abbey Church organ. The concert will take place at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, April 15, at the abbey church, 500 S. Mason Road in Creve Coeur. The organ is one of the first instruments built in the United States that fully represent ideals of the organ revival movement, which was inspired by the work of Albert Schweitzer. The movement was dedicated to a full restoration of the beauty of the pipe organ through a recovery of the most valuable parts of the organ-building tradition. The abbey church’s organ was built in 1967 by Georg Hradetzky, and remains one of best neoclassic instruments in the region.
Pursuit of justice
A symposium on the commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy will be held April 17-18 in celebration of St. Louis University’s bicentennial. Included is a performance and opening keynote address at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the Sinquefield State Room of Dubourg Hall, Room 409; a panel discussion at noon Wednesday, April 18, in Boileau Hall; a dialogue on activism at 4 p.m. April 18, in the Center for Global Citizenship, Seminar Room 124A; and an evening chapel service at 7:30 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church on campus. For information, visit www.stlouisreview.com/jdV.
Reflection on Laudato Si’
Mary Evelyn Tucker will present “Our Sacred Earth, Our Common Home: A Reflection and Action on Laudato Si’” from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Ill. Tucker is a senior lecturer and research scholar at the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale Divinity School. The event is sponsored by the shrine in conjunction with La Vista Ecological Learning Center, the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Complexities of poverty
A forum on the complexities of poverty in the community will be held from 7-9 p.m. Monday, April 23, at Mary Queen of Peace School Gym, 680 Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. Speakers are Sam Bufe, statistical data analyst at Washington University’s Center for Social Development, which conducts research on the predictors of poverty and implements programs to help combat it; Sheila Burton, executive director of Join Hands ESL, which provides children in East Louis with access to quality education from early childhood through college; and Ed Johnson, executive director of Webster Rock Hill Ministries, a cooperative effort of churches with services ranging from tutoring and summer camp to food and energy assistance. The forum is co-sponsored by the parish Women’s League and Men’s Club. The event is offered at no charge. Freewill donations for presenting agencies will be accepted. For more information, contact Jean Brooking at (314) 971-0383.
Discipleship in modern world
The Daughters of St. Paul will host Catholic speaker and author Kelly Wahlquist for a Women, WINE and Wisdom presentation, “How to Become America’s Next Model … Disciple,” on Wednesday, April 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Pauline Book’s & Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. Wahlquist will focus on women’s call to discipleship in a world in which Christian principles are rarely upheld, truth is subjective and life redefined. The event will include appetizers and dessert. The cost is $20 per person, and space is limited. For registration, call (314) 965-3512 or visit www.gatewaywine.eventbrite.com.
LaSalle dinner and tour
La Salle Retreat Center will host a dinner and a behind-the-scenes tour on Wednesday, April 25 from 6-9 p.m. Explore the historical buildings and hear stories from Christian Brothers who attended school at La Salle, which is at 2101 Rue De LaSalle Drive in Glencoe on Highway 109 north of Eureka. The cost is $30 per person, which includes cocktails, three-course dinner, tour and historical book. Space is limited. For registration, visit www.LaSalleRetreat.org.
Retreat weekend
A Koinonia Retreat Weekend for Divorced or Separated Catholics (“DASK”) and other Christians will be held Friday-Sunday, April 27-29 at Todd Hall Retreat Center, 320 Todd Hall Center Drive in Columbia, Ill. The cost of $110 includes room, double occupancy, and six meals. Call Jean at (314) 704-1870 or Carol at (314) 775-1253 for a brochure and registration. A $50 deposit will reserve a space.
Family retreat and vacation
The annual Missouri Holy Family Fest will be held Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 9-12, at Eagle Hurst Ranch near Steelville. Sponsored by the Apostolate For Family Consecration, the fest features daily Masses, Rosaries, Chaplets of Divine Mercy and adoration. Father James Wasser, Missionaries of the Holy Family, will be the camp priest. The ranch features horseback riding, pony rides, fishing, tennis and more. For information, visit www.eaglehurstranch.com/family-fest-weekend. To register, call (314) 638-3382, (800) 257-2624.