UPCOMING EVENTS

First Friday Series focuses on Belize

Craig Adams, a professor of civil engineering in Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology, will present on “Billikens for Clean Water — Belize” at Saint Louis University’s First Friday Mass and Speaker Series on Friday, Feb. 1, at Boileau Hall, 38 N. Vandeventer. Ave Sponsored by SLU’s Office of Mission and Identity, the event will open at noon with Mass, followed by a light lunch then Adams’s presentation. To RSVP, email [email protected] or visit bit.ly/2AW78Xu.

Art show reflects on Black History Month

The opening reception for “History in Technicolor” will be 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at Good Shepherd Arts Center in Ferguson. The exhibit, which runs through Saturday, Feb. 23, features the art of North County students reflecting on Black History Month. Sponsored by North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice, the exhibit and reception are free and open to all. Located at 252 S. Florissant Road, the arts center is open Wednesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and other times by appointment. For more information, visit www.goodshepherdarts.org or call (314) 522-1155.

Black History Month film screening

The St. Charles Lwanga Center will host a screening and discussion of “Where the Pavement Ends,” a documentary on the relationship between the historically black municipality of Kinloch and its geographic neighbor Ferguson. The screening will be at noon Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Savoy Banquet Center, 119 S. Florissant Road in Ferguson. Admission is free, but an RSVP is required. Refreshments will be served. Contact the St. Charles Lwanga Center at (314) 367-7929 or email [email protected].

Catholic Men for Christ

The Catholic Men for Christ conference will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. 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. Doors open at 8 a.m., with a vigil Mass celebrated at 4 p.m. to conclude the event. Speakers include Ralph Martin, Deacon Larry Oney, Jesse Romero and Father Thomas Vordtriede. Tickets are $45 or $50 at the door. To register, visit www.catholicmenforchrist.org or call the Touhill box office at (314) 516-4949. For more information, call (314) 792-7183.

Catholic vision of JRR Tolkien

The Daughters of St. Paul will continue their series on JRR Tolkien on the second Monday of each month at Pauline Books & Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. Local author and actor Kevin O’Brien will present Tolkien’s Catholic vision in his classic series, the Lord of the Ring: “Two Towers” Book Four on Feb. 11; “Return of the King” Book One on March 11; and “Return of the King” Book Two on April 8. The presentations start at 7 p.m. For more information and to register, call (314) 965-3512.

Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day

La Salle Retreat Center in Glencoe will celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes on Monday, Feb. 11 (the actual feast day). Guests will pray the Rosary near the beautiful Lourdes Grotto at 11:30 am. Prayer medals and votive candles will be available. Afterward, soup and sandwiches will be served in the large dining room. The women of St. Alban Roe Parish are providing dessert. The retreat center is at 2101 Rue De LaSalle Drive, along Hwy. 109 about 3.5 miles north of Interstate 44 in Eureka. To RSVP, call (636) 938-5374.

Holy Hour for vocations

The archdiocesan Office of Vocations is co-sponsoring a eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at Ascension Church, 230 Santa Maria Drive in Chesterfield. Father Eddie Voltz, assistant vocations director for the archdiocese, will preside and preach. Confessions will be available, and a social will be held afterward in the multi-purpose room.

Imagining Jesus in His own culture

Jesuit Father Jerome Neyrey, will give talk about and autograph copies of his book, “Imagining Jesus in His Own Culture: Creating Scenarios of the Gospel for Contemplative Prayer,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at Pauline Books & Media in Crestwood. In ““Imagining Jesus,” Father Neyrey explores the culture and world of Jesus and the use of imagination in prayer. With this understanding, the Gospels are read and prayed with new eyes. Admission is free. For more information and to register, call (314) 965-3512.

Challenges of Islam

The Notre Dame Club of St. Louis and Saint Louis Priory School present the 2018 Hesburgh Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, in the Kevin Kline Theatre at St. Louis Priory School, 500 S. Mason Road in Creve Coeur. Gabriel S. Reynolds of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame will discuss “Islam, the Catholic Church, and the Future of the World.” In this lecture, Reynolds will examine how Islam challenges Christian beliefs, reflect on how the Catholic Church has responded to these challenges through the centuries and propose ways in which the Church might face the newest challenges of Muslim-Christian relations, including the rise of ISIS and global jihadism. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. A reception will follow in the lobby.

Pro-Life Lobby Day

Missouri Right to Life will host a “Show Me Life” Pro-Life Action Day Tuesday, March 12, at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Guest speaker will be Sue Thayer, former Planned Parenthood manager turned pro-life advocate. Thayer is founder and former director of Cornerstone for Life Pregnancy Center in Storm Lake, Iowa, and works with 40 days for Life as director of outreach. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with a rally in the first-floor rotunda at noon. Participants also will meet with legislators and encourage them to pass pro-life legislation. Transportation is available. For more information, call (573) 635-5110 or visit www.missourilife.org.

Ursuline Summer Service

Ursuline Summer Service, a weeklong service opportunity for women ages 18-30, will take place in McAllen, Texas, June 23-29. Participants will work with immigrant families via Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and the Humanitarian Respite Center. They also will learn about the issues facing immigrants, prepare and serve food, organize clothing and showers and provide transportation to and from bus stations. Applications are due by March 15. For more information, contact Sister Elisa Ryan, OSU, at [email protected].