Roman Catholic Foundation adds board members

The Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri has named three couples to its Board of Trustees: Dan and Mary Charles, Grant and Tiffany Dino and Deacon Matt and Gina Witte. Dan Charles is a partner of a global financial services firm, while Mary is active in their children’s school communities and volunteers in youth and spiritual formation programs; they belong to St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood. Grant Dino is CEO and co-founder of a pharmaceutical firm, and Tiffany is active as a community volunteer; they belong to Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield. A financial advisor by trade, Matt Witte is also a permanent deacon, serving at his home parish of Ste. Genevieve du Bois in Warson Woods and at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, and Gina is studying criminology and criminal justice; they’re involved in police chaplaincy and prison ministry. The couples round out the foundation’s board, which is co-chaired by Don and Nancy Ross.

UPCOMING EVENTS

#BeautyatLaSalle

La Salle Retreat Center will host its second photography contest, #BeautyatLaSalle, but with a few changes from the inaugural contest in 2018. Most significantly, the contest incorporates photos taken on LaSalle’s grounds for an entire year of beauty, from May 1, 2018 to Friday, May 10; mounted prints are due by noon that day. The contest is open to amateur photographers of all ages, and a panel of photography experts has been added to the public vote; photos will be displayed for voting at La Salle noon-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, which is Founders Day. Winning photographs will be announced Wednesday, May 22, at www.facebook.com/lasalleretreat. Cash prizes totaling $400 will be awarded for first through fifth places. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/2RcSJQU or call (636) 938-5374.

Adoration for life

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent will have adoration on Mondays in January to pray for an end to abortion and a reversal of Roe vs. Wade. Adoration will take place at the convent, 4311 Forest Park Ave., after Mass at 7 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (314) 449-8612.

Training for deacons

Over the next month, St. Joseph Parish in Clayton will host a three-session workshop to train deacons on the art of chanting the sacred words of Exsultet at the beginning of Holy Saturday Mass, with the solitary flame of the Pascal Candle flickering. Liturgically, the chanting of the Exsultet stands as an office of the highest order for a deacon. Though the chanting takes only nine or 10 minutes, the task may seem daunting if one has never chanted the text, but the workshop will help deacons prepare for the privilege of proclaiming this at the Easter Vigil. The first night of the workshop will be Thursday, Jan. 17, with additional sessions on Thursday, Feb. 7 and Thursday, Feb. 14. All 1½-hour sessions will start at 7 p.m. Interested deacons may get more information by contacting Adam Thomé, director of sacred music at St. Joseph, at [email protected].

Rise up

A family-friendly community service project at St. Vincent Home for Children in conjunction with We Rise Up 4 Kids will be held from 1-4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at St. Vincent Home, 7401 Florissant Road in Normandy. Participants will join members of the U.S. Coast Guard in putting together “blessing bags” for youth served by St. Vincent, and then enjoy food, games, a “Selfie Station,” art projects, door prizes and more. Individuals, companies, churches and organizations are asked to donate items for the bags from a list at www.bit.ly/2Rgv42a. Items may be dropped off at St. Vincent weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call (314) 261-6011 or (314) 791-1460 after business hours.

Discernment retreat

A retreat for men ages 18-40 who are considering the possibility of becoming a priest will be held the weekend of Feb. 15-17 at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Shrewsbury. The retreat will include time for quiet prayer and reflections on how God is at work in each person’s life. Register for the free event at www.bit.ly/vocations19. For more information, contact Father Brian Fallon at (314) 809-0250 or [email protected].