Sr. Chiara Grace makes first profession

Sister Chiara Grace Maurer made her first profession of vows with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville Dominicans) on Aug. 10 in Nashville, Tennessee. Sister Chiara Grace is the former Alexia Maurer, and she attended St. Joseph Parish in Cottleville.

Tyler McClay joins Catholic Charities

Deacon Tyler McClay joined Catholic Charities of St. Louis in September as director of advocacy. He previously served for 12 years as general counsel and then executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, the public policy agency of the Catholic Church in Missouri.

Deacon McClay will work with senior leadership at Catholic Charities to advance the mission of the organization, coordinating Catholic Charities’ efforts to address the needs of the poor and vulnerable at the parish level, as well as working with state and congressional lawmakers to promote and advance the many programs administered by Catholic Charity agencies throughout the area.

Deacon McClay is a licensed attorney and spent the first 20 years of his career working as a criminal and civil trial attorney in Florida, and in St. Louis starting in 2001. He was ordained a deacon in April 2016 in the Diocese of Jefferson City. He is in the process of transferring his faculties for service in a parish here.

Fontbonne centennial celebration

Fontbonne University is marking its 100th anniversary with a yearlong celebration during the 2022-23 academic year. Celebrations will include religious, academic, athletic and social gatherings, with planned activities centered on its Catholic identity and the relationship Fontbonne shares with its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the public.

The highlight of the year is a special access to the Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in over 500 years. The university will have on display Volume 6, Gospels and Acts. A lecture will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20, given by Tim Ternes, director of the Saint John’s Bible, in the Jack C. Taylor Library, 6800 Wydown Blvd. in St. Louis. The event is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required by calling the library (314) 889-1417. Information about scheduling docent-led individual and group tours throughout the year is available at stlreview.com/3Banudo.

40 Days for Life kickoff

Coalition Life will kick off its 40 Days for Life fall campaign with a rally at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Assumption Church, 4725 Mattis Road in south St. Louis County. The campaign, which includes prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil outside of abortion facilities and community outreach, will take place Sept. 28-Nov. 6 and include prayer vigil times outside Planned Parenthood facilities in St. Louis, Fairview Heights and Flossmoor, Illinois, and a future Planned Parenthood site in Carbondale, Illinois. Volunteers are needed to sign up for prayer times. For more information, see coalitionlife.com.

First responders’ Mass

A Mass for first responders will be held at 8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 29 (the feast of St. Michael the Archangel), at St. Ambrose Church, 5130 Wilson Ave. on the Hill. All are welcome, and police, fire and emergency medical personnel will be recognized at the Mass. A reception will follow.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend experience for married couples of all ages. Couples will rekindle romance, enhance meaningful communication and deepen and renew their commitment to one another. The next weekend will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in St. Peters. For more information or to apply, go to wwme.org, or call Terry and Eric Engholm at (314) 649-7317.