Catholic Charities board

Catholic Charities of St. Louis announced the appointment of its board of directors for fiscal year 2020. Returning to officer roles are Chair Jay Holland, Cushman & Wakefield; Vice Chair Scott Dolan, Stifel Financial; Treasurer Ed Puzzella, Christian Brothers College High School; and Secretary Judge Kathy Surratt-States, U.S. Bankruptcy Court–Eastern District of Missouri. Catholic Charities welcomed four new directors: Patrick McCruden, SSM; Laura Ng; Sandy Vest, State Farm Insurance; and Ryan Beckmann (ex officio), Charter Communications. Returning board directors include: Hap Burke, Thompson Coburn; Delaney Clement, Boeing; Mark Dorsey, KTRS; Mark Dunn, Dunn & Miller, PC; Thomas Gregory, Imprensia Communications; Mary Elizabeth Grimes, Marian School; Pat Hughes, community volunteer; Lisa McAleenan, Lockton Companies; Matt Nordman, Gershman Mortgage; Alice Prince, Maryville University; Doug Rothermich, TIAA; Father Scott Scheiderer, St. Paul Parish; Mark Siedband, Ameren; Phil Thompson, Avadel Pharmaceuticals; Tim Thompson, Accenture; Debbie Vogt, Paradoski, Vogt & Company; and Mike Zychinski, retired partner, Deloitte LLP. Catholic Charities of St. Louis President Theresa Ruzicka said that for the first time, the president of the Young Professionals group, Ryan Beckmann, will serve as an ex officio board director. Ruzicka thanked members completing their terms: Malcom Briggs, John Ebeling, Gigi McKinzie and Randy Weber.

Heart healthy Catholic schools

Holy Cross Academy and St. Roch School in St. Louis and Immaculate Conception School in Union were among several schools that recently received grants from the American Heart Association for health equipment and resources for students and educators. The funding could provide additions such as physical activity equipment, a mobile salad bar, CPR training resources, water bottle filling stations and educator training opportunities on their campuses.

In the Midwest, 65 schools have received a combined $155,607 for various wellness activities and additions. The American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge awarded more than $400,000 to more than 170 elementary schools in the United States that participated in the program’s inaugural year, 2018-19. The Kids Heart Challenge offers four physical activations to get students’ hearts pumping: jumping rope, practicing basketball skills, dancing or completing an obstacle course. The curriculum prepares children for success by supporting their physical and emotional well-being and offers new learning resources and physical activities to meet the needs of today’s youth and educators.

New soccer coaches

Alex Baer has been selected as the varsity soccer head coach at Incarnate Word Academy and Jeff Muhr will serve as the associate head coach. The selection was announced by Dan Rolfes, athletic director at Incarnate Word Academy. Baer played varsity soccer all four years at Incarnate Word and was one of four captains of the 2008 state championship team. She played at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI) and ranked second on the program’s all-time list of games played. She coached with both St. Louis Scott Gallagher and Sporting St. Louis and currently serves as the social and emotional counselor at Incarnate Word. Muhr has 28 years of coaching experience, including 15 years at the high school level. In 2004, Muhr led the Red Knights to a state championship as head coach. Muhr currently serves as the director of coaching and player development for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association. His responsibilities include oversight of the Olympic Development Program.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Naming and Commendation Rite

Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield will host a Naming and Commendation Rite on Saturday, Sept. 7 after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. The parish is located at 13416 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield. Jointly developed by the Archdiocesan Office of Worship and the Respect Life Apostolate, the Naming and Commendation Rite is designed to meet the needs of parents whose children died before birth for any reason — miscarriage, still-birth, accident or abortion. For more information, contact Cindy Reznikov at (314) 265-4315 or Deacon Ron Reuther at (636) 675-1364. For more information about the program, email [email protected] or visit online at www.archstl.org/respect-life-apostolate/programs/pastoral-care.

Blue Mass

First responders and their families are invited to the annual Blue Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. A reception will follow Mass. First responders are invited to wear their uniforms, gather ahead of time in front of the Cathedral Basilica and process into the Cathedral at the beginning of the Mass. Special prayers will be offered for our first responders, and they will be recognized during the Mass.

Care for Our Common Home retreat

Sister Paul Bernadette Bounk, CSJ, will lead a retreat, “Care for Our Common Home,” Sept. 14-15 at IL Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center in Dittmer. “St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” These opening words of “Laudato Si’”Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for the Earth, will be the basis for the retreat. To learn more or to register, visit www.ilritiro.org or call (636) 274-0554.

Pro-life video challenge

The archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate is seeking entries for its annual Pro-Life Video Challenge. Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Louis ages 13-39 are invited to make a one to five-minute video on the theme, “Respect Life.” Finalists will be invited to the 43rd annual Respect Life Convention on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the St. Charles Convention Center. The winning video will be announced and played during the luncheon, and the winner will receive a $500 prize. Entries will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 13. For more details, see www.archstl.org/respect-life-apostolate/programs/education/pro-life-video-challenge.

Souls and Goals

The seventh annual Souls and Goals soccer game will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at St. Dominic High School, 31 St. Dominic Drive in O’Fallon. The match pits seminarians against archdiocesan priests. Since its inception, the KGS Lions have captured four wins, and Clergy & Company have won two, including one in 2018. For information, visit www.soulsandgoals.org.

St. Louis Rosary Run

The third annual St. Louis Rosary Run will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. Mary of Victories Church Downtown. A 5K run/walk and a St. Stephen’s Divine Mercy one-mile fun run will begin at the church, 744 S. 3rd St. The event is presented by Credo of the Catholic Laity and St. Mary of Victories. To register, visit rosaryrun.com.

Protecting the earth

Peter Raven, president emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, will present “Protecting the Earth: An Environmental, Economic and Moral Challenge,” from noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, in the ballroom at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church, Grand and Lindell boulevards in Midtown St. Louis. Raven is one of the world’s leading botanists and advocates of conservation and diversity. Since 1990, he has been a senior science advisor to the Pontifical Academy of Science and most recently one of the minds behind the encyclical letter, “Laudato Si,” issued by Pope Francis in 2015. Raven has a deep appreciation of nature and the connection of everything and presents climate change as a moral issue for all people of the Earth. The event is sponsored by the College Church’s Circle of Creation Committee. Participants are invited to bring an optional fruit or vegetable dish for the gathering before the presentation. Mass will be celebrated at church at 10:30 a.m.