Medicaid waiver opposed

The Missouri Catholic Conference has joined Catholic Charities of St. Louis and other social service agencies in urging the Missouri Senate to put aside legislation that would require the state of Missouri to seek a waiver from the current federal Medicaid program. The MCC described the bill as premature, as Congress is presently considering major changes to Medicaid. Mo HealthNet, Missouri's version of Medicaid, is administered by the state of Missouri, but it's governed by federal guidelines and most of the funding comes from the federal government. According to the MCC, SB 28 raises more questions than it answers. The bill might lead to a capped amount of federal dollars received by Missouri. That in turn might force Missouri to use more state revenue to fund the program or, alternatively, to cut Medicaid health coverage. The MCC reminded lawmakers that Medicaid pays for more than 60 percent of nursing home care in Missouri. The Senate briefly debated SB 28 and then laid the bill onto the informal calendar.

Property sold

Apostles Church recently purchased Visitation-St. Ann Shrine Church, 4515 Evans Ave., which closed last summer. The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1909, 28 years after Our Lady of the Visitation Parish's founding. Then part of the Grand Prairie area of the city, the first church was built on two acres donated by St. Louis philanthropist Samuel Cupples, of Cupples House and Cupples warehouses fame. Over the years, Visitation parish merged with neighboring Holy Ghost and St. Ann parishes, and played a vital role in integration. The St. Ann Shrine and the annual St. Ann Novena were to be relocated to St. Nicholas Church Downtown, with St. Elizabeth Mother of John of Baptist and St. Alphonsus "Rock" parishes welcoming Visitation-St. Ann parishioners. Archdiocesan policy provides that sale proceeds, minus debt and expenses, go to the parishes designated to take in the former parishioners.

Want a challenge?

St. Patrick Center's 40 in 40 Housing Challenge seeks to help end homelessness for 40 clients and their families in the next 40 days. Three opportunities are available. 1) Provide a move-in kit (www.stlouisreview.com/bfM) for a client/family that includes the necessary items to start a home. Items from the move-in kit can also be purchased from an Amazon wish list (www.stlouisreview.com/bfe) and shipped directly to St. Patrick Center. 2) Purchase gift cards to Costco, Sam's Club, and/or Weekends Only to provide mattresses and bed frames for clients. New items, such as mattresses and bed frames, can be delivered to St. Patrick Center. 3) Provide items on the center's food pantry wish list (www.stlouisreview.com/bft). Drop off donated Items at St. Patrick Center in Downtown St. Louis Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the receiving dock on Hadley Street. A Saturday drop off will be on March 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. Gift cards may be mailed to St. Patrick Center, c/o 40 in 40 Housing Challenge, 800 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101. For information, contact Katie Joseph at [email protected] or (314) 802-1976.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spiritual healing

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will preside at a prayer service for spiritual healing for survivors of physical, sexual or emotional abuse at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at St. Simon the Apostle Church, 11011 Mueller Road in Green Park. Family members and friends of abuse survivors also are encouraged to attend, as well as those who help abused people, who work to prevent abuse, and who want to pray for healing and reconciliation. For more information, contact Carol Brescia, assistance coordinator at the archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection, at [email protected] or (314) 378-3627.

Infertility support

Enkindle, a ministry of the Office of Natural Family Planning, offers free half-hour counseling sessions each month for anyone trying to conceive a child. The sessions are with a licensed professional counselor and a registered nurse. The next available appointments are on Thursday, April 13, and Thursday, May 11. To schedule an appointment, call (314) 997-7576.

Risen Jesus Party

The Daughters of St. Paul will host their third annual Risen Jesus Party for kids ages 3-7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Pauline Books & Media in Crestwood. The party will help little ones prepare for Easter and understand the new life Jesus brings with the Resurrection. The free party includes prayer in the sister's chapel, story time, a photo shoot with Jesus (costumes provided) and more. For information, call (314) 965-3512.