Jesuits’ third veterans retreat

The White House Retreat in south county will host its annual Veteran’s Spiritual Retreat just before Independence Day. Open to men and women of any faith who have served in the U. S. military, the three-day retreat — Friday-Sunday, June 29-July 1 — will feature spiritual talks, small-group discussions, quiet time for personal prayer and meditation, non-denominational prayer services and more. Father James Conroy, SJ, a Vietnam era veteran and Jesuit priest, will again direct the retreat, which includes two nights of overnight accommodations and all meals, at minimal cost. The only charge is a $25 deposit. White House holds fundraising events throughout the year to help offset the cost of hosting this retreat, which it views as a way to give back to men and women who served our country. For more information about the retreat, visit www.whretreat.org/veterans-retreat. For registration, call (314) 416-6400. The retreat has space for 88 veterans; 24 attended the first year, with 48 in 2017. White House Retreat is at 7400 Christopher Drive.

Vocation discernment retreat

The Sisters of St. Joseph Vocation Team will host a vocations discernment retreat for women interested in religious life Friday, June 8, to Sunday, June 10, at the sisters’ provincial motherhouse in south St. Louis. The “MORE Weekend” will consist of each element of the acronym: Ministry, at Marian Middle School and an organic garden; the core value of the sisters, being One with God and neighbor; Reflection and prayer, focusing on discernment and the call to unifying love; and Engagement with the sisters in community, meals and celebration. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.stlouisreview.com/jvt.

End-of-life discussion from Catholic perspective

The Roman Catholic Foundation is hosting a series of presentations, “The Conversation: A Catholic Perspective on End-of-Life Issues.” The next session will be for Ste. Genevieve Deanery parishioners on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish in Farmington. In each four-hour session, a priest theologian will discuss the principles of Catholic bioethics, a topic of interest for many Catholics making health care plans for themselves or caring for ill or aging loved ones. The free seminar will also include presentations on Catholic funeral and cemetery planning, estate planning and advance directives and charitable gift planning. Lunch will be provided. Future sessions will be: Saturday, May 5 at St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in St. Louis, for South City Deanery parishioners; and Saturday, May 19 at at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Washington, for Washington Deanery parishioners. For registration, visit www.rcfstl.org.

Break the walls of injustice

“Break Down the Walls of Injustice,” a prayer service for social justice, will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Christ Prince of Peace Church, 415 Weidman Road in Manchester. The service is presented by the Knights of Columbus Council #12986, in partnership with Christ Prince of Peace, the archdiocesan Peace and Justice Commission, and Solomon Temple M. B. Church. Also featured will be the Michael Latchison Singing Ministry. For information, call (636) 391-1307 or email [email protected].

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.

Generosity of Joseph Honors Gala

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province will honor several individuals for their devotion to serving others in a way that recognizes human dignity, at the 12th annual Generosity of Joseph Honors Gala on Friday, April 20, at the Sisters’ historic motherhouse in south St. Louis. Honorees include: Anne and David Borgmeyer, DDS, who will be recognized for bringing their gifts of music to St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish; Cheryl Broekelmann, who provides innovative educational experiences for students and their families at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf; and Dr. Vanee Wongsurawat, who provides medical care to sisters-in-residence at Nazareth Living Center. For more information and tickets, visit www.csjsl.org or call (314) 678-0328.

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.

Infertility support

Enkindle Infertility Support Ministry, a program of the archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning, is hosting a group gathering for those who struggle with infertility. The gathering will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Office of Natural Family Planning, 11700 Studt Ave. Suite C, in Creve Coeur. To RSVP or for more information, call (314) 991-0327 or visit bit.ly/EnkindleSpring2018. Enkindle Ministry is hosting a group gathering to talk about some of the feelings that come with infertility. This group will give you a chance to communicate your individual experience and to hear from others ways that have helped them navigate through and cope with these difficult stages.

Up in the sky

St. Louis University will host “Jesuits and the Sciences” from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, April 24, at the new Jesuit Archives and Research Center, 3920 West Pine Blvd. The keynote speaker will be astrophysicist Jesuit Father P. David Brown. He joined the Vatican Observatory in 2008 where he continues to work on various aspects of stellar evolution and serves as caretaker of the telescopes at Castel Gandolfo. The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will examine the contributions of Jesuits to the sciences and technology. For more information, contact Silvana Siddhali, in the Department of History at (314) 977-2997 or [email protected].

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.stlouisreview.com/jwi