ADVENT/CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Seminary's Advent Novena

Kenrick-Glennon Seminary will host an Advent Novena Wednesday, Dec. 6, through Thursday, Dec. 14, at the seminary. Starting at 7 p.m. each day, the novena features prayer, Scripture, a reflective homily and hymns. A different homilist will speak each night: Father Paul Hoesing (Dec. 6), Father Lawrence Brennan (Dec. 7), Father James Mason (Dec. 8), Father Jason Schumer (Dec. 9), Father Scott Jones (Dec. 10), Father Mirco Sosio, AVI (Dec. 11), Deacon Todd Shepherd (Dec. 12), Father Chris Martin (Dec. 13) and Bishop Robert J. Hermann (Dec. 14). For information, visit www.kenrick.edu/novena

Parish Mission Night

David Kauffman will perform an Advent Parish Mission Night concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Sacred Heart Church, 751 N. Jefferson St. in Florissant. Song, story and reflection are included. The choir will join Kauffman on a few songs. For more information, call (314) 837-3757.

Pauline's Christmas concert

The Daughters of St. Paul will perform their annual Christmas concert, "Love Among Us," at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday, Dec. 7, at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh Blvd. in Creve Coeur. The sisters will offer unique renditions of Christmas favorites as well as contemporary inspirational songs in their annual family concert celebrating Christ's birth. Tickets are $15 per person. For information, visit www.pauline.org/STLconcert or call (314) 965-6935.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Teddy Bear Christmas

The Trevisano Teddy Bear Christmas Land is on display nightly through the Christmas season at 9211 Laurel Hill Drive in Crestwood. Each holiday season the Trevisano family presents the display with thousands of lights, more than 100 teddy bears, plus animation and Christmas music. Instead of collecting donations for their electric bill, the Trevisanos give the proceeds from their donation box to St. Patrick Center to help build permanent, positive change for its clients. Santa Claus will visit with children there on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Exoneree's story

Anthony Ray Hinton, a death row exoneree, will share his story of wrongful conviction, survival on Alabama's death row and decades-long journey to exoneration and freedom at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the Center for Global Citizenship at St. Louis University. For information on Hinton or the Equal Justice Initiative, visit eji.org. For information on the event, email [email protected].

Poverty and public policy

A program on "Poverty and Public Policy" will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Immaculate Conception Parish, 7717 Highway N in Dardenne Prairie. Catholic Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Charles County Catholics are sponsoring the event. Area state senators, state representatives and St. Charles County officials have been invited to the brief presentation and to hear citizen concerns about poverty-related issues. Anyone planning to attend is asked to contact Tamara Kenny at

[email protected] or (314) 256-5948.

Performances benefit Franciscan Sisters OLPH

The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will benefit from two sets of performances at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker will have two shows on Saturday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Then, "A Celebration of Peace and All Good" — the debut live performance of Dawn Weber & Friends' new jazz album — will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, in the Curtain Call Lounge at the Fox. Tickets are limited, with a $50 donation per ticket. For information, visit fsolph.org or call (314) 965-3700.

Basketball with a heart

The annual Mary McDermott Third Grade Basketball Tournament will be held the weekend of Dec. 28-30 at Immacolata Parish Gym, 8900 Clayton Road in Richmond Heights. All proceeds benefit SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, in particular the Cardiac Catheterization Suite named in honor of Mary McDermott, a former patient who was born with heart and liver problems and lived to age 24. A silent auction will feature sports memorabilia items, including a St. Louis Cardinals jersey signed by Dexter Fowler; a St. Louis Blues sweater signed by Vladimir Tarasenko and a game-used stick signed by Alexander Steen, plus four tickets to the March 21 game; a U.S. Women's National Team shirt signed by team captain and St. Louisan Becky Sauerbrunn; four tickets for the Sept. 8 University of Notre Dame home football game vs Ball State; a Manchester City shirt signed by members of the current EPL team; an official Barcelona shirt signed by Lionel Messi; and more. An expanded menu of food will be available. To contribute to the cause, make a check payable to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation, 3800 Park Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63110, with "Mary McDermott" on the memo line. For information, email [email protected] or call (314) 577-5605.

St. John Neumann production

Actor Kevin O'Brien will perform "St. John Neumann: Missionary to Immigrants" in the Daughters of St. Paul Children's Reader's Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 6, 10:30-11:30 am at Pauline Books & Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. The production is based on the children's book of the same name by local author Sister Laura Brown. Children ages 7-11 are invited to learn about this humble, hard-working saint who trusted in God's providence. A trivia contest with prizes, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and a chance to meet the author also are part of the morning. Admission is free. For more information call (314) 965-3512.