World Marriage Day Mass

Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski will celebrate a Mass for World Marriage Day at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. All married couples are invited to attend and celebrate the gift of marriage. World Marriage Day honors husband and wife as the foundation of the family and the basic unit of society. World Marriage Day began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1981 and was later adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, organizer of the Mass on Feb. 13.

Divine Mercy resource for teachers

Jim and Mary Ann Melka, parishioners of Incarnate Word in Chesterfield, are making available to Catholic educators copies of “Come to My Mercy,” a 32-page booklet on the Divine Mercy devotion. Written by Father George W. Kosicki, CSB, the booklet gives details about the devotion, which traces back to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who kept a diary in the 1930s of Christ’s private revelations and His message of mercy. St. Faustina died of tuberculosis in 1938 at age 33. St. John Paul II, an ardent supporter of the devotion, canonized her in 2000 and declared Divine Mercy Sunday a worldwide feast day. The feast is observed on the last day of the octave of Easter and celebrates the fullness of Christ’s Resurrection. Copies of the booklet are free to any Catholic school teacher upon request. For more information, email [email protected].

New St. Francis Community Services executive director

Liz Hare has been named the executive director of St. Francis Community Services, one of the eight federated agencies of Catholic Charities of St. Louis, effective Feb. 1. Hare previously served as executive director of the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program, working to improve food security in regions all over the world.

Hare, a St. Louis native and parishioner of Christ the King in University City, will replace outgoing executive director Karen Wallensak, who has served with Catholic Charities for 31 years.

“Liz has a passion for justice, devotion to improving the well-being of vulnerable people and diverse cultural experiences that make her a perfect fit for our mission,” said St. Francis Community Services Board Chair Marina Cahill. “As we welcome Liz, we also celebrate Karen’s impressive legacy of helping our Church minister to people on the margins.”

Rachel’s Vineyard retreat

Men, women and couples wounded by abortion are invited to attend an archdiocesan Rachel’s Vineyard retreat Feb. 18-20. A trained and compassionate team, including a priest and professional therapist, will lead participants through the critical steps of healing after abortion and encounter the merciful love of Jesus Christ.

The retreat will be held in the St. Louis area, with COVID-19 precautions in place (exact location shared at registration). The cost is $100 to attend, which includes two night’s lodging and all meals and materials. To register by Feb. 7 or get more information, contact (314) 406-0815 or [email protected]. All information and inquiries are confidential.

Duchesne soccer star

Duchesne High School senior Gabbi Schlapper has received an invitation to the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program National Training Camp Jan. 27-30 in Tampa, Florida. She is the only Missouri high school student in her age group to be selected to participate in the youth soccer program, which identifies and develops top players in the country and to help them gain recognition on a national level. Gabbi also was named the Olympic Development Program Player of the Year by the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.

La Salle family garden

La Salle Retreat Center in Glencoe is opening its garden space to the community for a family garden. The program will provide an opportunity for all gardeners (beginner to skilled) to learn and use gardening practices. Families pay a fee to grow a row in La Salle’s one-acre garden. The garden is divided into rows of different lengths, and fees vary depending on the length of row. The retreat center also will provide education opportunities and instructional material to help all gardeners grow. For more information, see www.lasalleretreat.org.

Catholic schools open houses

Many Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis are having open houses during Catholic Schools Week, celebrated Jan. 30-Feb. 5 this year. To find out if your local school is having an open house, contact the school or find more information about the schools online at the Office of Catholic Education and Formation’s website, www.archstlschools.org.

Catholic Men for Christ

The annual Catholic Men for Christ conference will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, at St. Louis University High School. The conference seeks to engage, educate and encourage Catholic men to live their faith and to lead their families in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Speakers include Father Paul Hoesing, Jeff Cavins and Steve Allgeyer. Tickets are $40, which includes a box lunch. To register, visit www.catholicmenforchrist.org, or call (314) 792-7182.

Catholic Women for Christ

The 2022 Catholic Women for Christ Conference will be held Saturday, March 12, at St. Louis University High School. Presenters will include Julianne Stanz, noted international speaker and director of evangelization and discipleship for the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin; Chika Anyanwu, director of missionary experience for Vagabond Missions; and Father Paul Hoesing, vice-rector for formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary who who will serve as president-rector beginning in July. For information, call (314) 792-7182. Register at www.catholicwomenforchrist.org.

Joseph Challenge Pilgrimage

The seventh annual Joseph Challenge Pilgrimage will take place April 30-May 1. Organized by lay Catholic men, the Joseph Challenge Pilgrimage is a walking pilgrimage of more than two dozen miles over a period of two days from St. Joseph Parish in Manchester to the Shrine of St. Joseph in Downtown St. Louis. It also incorporates time for prayer, reflection, fraternity and silence and a way to embrace challenges. The pilgrimage takes place every year on a weekend near the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, May 1, and is open to men ages 18 and older. For more information or to sign up, visit josephchallenge.com.