St. Louis Catholic to be nominated as federal judge

President Donald Trump has announced his intent to nominate St. Louis Catholic Sarah Pitlyk as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Pitlyk is a special counsel at the Thomas More Society, where her practice focuses on constitutional and civil rights litigation. She worked on cases including a defeat of St. Louis City’s “abortion sanctuary city” ordinance, an embryo custody appeal, amicus briefs in several landmark pro-life and religious liberty cases, in addition to contract, employment and tax disputes, according to her biography. She also is part of a team defending undercover journalists against civil lawsuits and criminal charges resulting from an investigation of illegal fetal tissue trafficking.

Before joining the Thomas More Society, Pitlyk worked at Clark & Sauer LLC, a civil litigation firm in St. Louis, and was an associate at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation from law school, she served as a law clerk to then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Pitlyk earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, master’s degrees from Georgetown University and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar, and her law degree from Yale Law School.

Pitlyk attended Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and now resides in St. Louis with her husband, Mark, and four children.

Marketing God

Donna A. Heckler has released a new book, “Marketing God: Inspired Strategies for Building the Kingdom,” published by Our Sunday Visitor. The book is meant for Catholic parishes, dioceses, religious orders, Catholic organizations, start-ups, apostolates, and anyone who is passionate about the Christian faith and wants to share it effectively. A parishioner of Annunziata in Ladue, Heckler is a global brand strategy executive involved in brand marketing. She also wrote “Living Like a Lady When You Have Cancer.” For information, visit www.donnaaheckler.com.

Move-in items

St. Patrick Center, a Housing First agency, seeks help with stocking the agency’s move-in kits for clients who are ready to move into permanent housing. Requested are comforter sets, bath towels, washcloths, pots/pans, shower curtains and hooks, mops, hangers and laundry baskets. People may drop off donated items Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Patrick Center’s donation center dock at the back of the building, 800 N. Tucker Blvd. in Downtown St. Louis. For more information, visit www.stpatrickcenter.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Senior Day with Daughters of St. Paul

The Daughters of St. Paul will continue their monthly Senior Day on the second Thursday of each month, beginning on Sept. 12, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Pauline Books & Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. Father John Johnson will lead a discussion of Pope Francis’ recent apostolic exhortation, “On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World,” followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, refreshments and fellowship. For more information and to register call (314) 965-3512.

Divorce ministry

Catholic Divorce Ministry will host a conference on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for all who have experienced divorce or loss of a relationship, and those who love them. Co-Sponsors are the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Office of Marriage and Family Life and St. Joseph Catholic Radio. Topics include: How to Fall in Love with God after Divorce, Catholic Divorce, Healing with God and the Church, Annulments, and Forgiveness. Cost is $25 (includes lunch) if registration is received before Sept. 1. Additional details are available on www.nacsdc.org along with a registration form.

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.il-ritiro.org or call (636) 274-0554.

John O’Leary talk

Author and speaker John O’Leary will visit Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 7148 Forsyth Blvd. in University City, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. O’Leary will share his story of surviving severe burns from a home explosion during his childhood. Refreshments will follow the presentation in the parish commons.

End of life issues

The Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri will present, “The Conversation: A Catholic Perspective on End-of-Life Issues,” on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic School (Parish Hall), 501 St. Louis St., in Florissant. Father Peter Fonseca will discuss the principles of Catholic bioethics, a topic of interest for many Catholics making health care plans for themselves or caring for ill or aging loved ones. The free seminar will also include presentations on Catholic funeral and cemetery planning, estate planning and advance directives and charitable gift planning. To register, visit rcfstl.org/the-conversation or call (314) 918-2892.

Studying the New Testament

The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study at St. Cletus Parish in St. Charles will study the Letters of Sts. Peter, James and John. These books of the New Testament look at the early Church’s teachings and give instructions on living faithfully in our current world and persevering during times of trial. Sessions will be on Mondays from 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. beginning Sept. 30. For more information or to register, contact Jan DuBray at (636) 947-4654.