Book on colors

Maurice Prater, mission advancement director for the Missionaries of the Holy Family in St. Louis, has written a third children’s book published by Divine Providence Press, “What Color is Heaven?” Illustrated by Jason Koltuniak, the book is a scriptural picture book that reveals the brilliant colors found in the Bible. While learning their colors from this book, children also learn about their Catholic faith. Prater’s companion books are “Counting on Faith” and “Saved by the Alphabet.” All three books may be purchased through Amazon or at www.divineprovidencepress.com.

Racism, wealth

The Respect Life Committee at St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood in partnership with the St. Louis Archdiocese’s Peace and Justice Commission will present a webinar, “Conversation No. 2: Conversation on Racism and Racial Wealth Gap,” from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25. Presenters include the Shell family from “Conversation No. 1,” Billy and sons, William, Shaun, and Kendal; Ray Boshara, senior advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and economic advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Marie Kenyon, director of the Peace and Justice Commission. View the webinar via the Zoom link at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85017976172 or at https://www.youtube.com/ stpeterkirkwood.

David Haas music suspended

Following multiple accusations of sexual abuse and spiritual manipulation by the composer and songwriter David Haas, GIA Publications has suspended its sponsorship and publishing relationship with Haas. Understanding the serious nature of these accusations, the Archdiocese of St. Louis is suspending the use of all David Haas music pending the results of the investigation. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis also is no longer providing David Haas a letter of suitability, and announced that it will not use Haas’ compositions at archdiocesan Masses.

Board of Directors, officers

Saint Louis Counseling announced the elections of Rene Crosswhite as board president, Stephanie King as vice president, Dan Holmes as treasurer and Jim Jaacks as secretary. Crosswhite, vice president of finance at GardaWorld Security Services, has served two years as a Saint Louis Counseling board member. King has served on the board for the past five years and was secretary for the past two years. Holmes is in his third year on the board, and Jaacks is serving the last of his three concurrent three-year terms as secretary after previously serving as treasurer for five consecutive years. The 13-member board helps govern and guide the nonprofit agency as a leader of professional counseling services. Executive Director Tom Duff said “their commitment to breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental health and ensuring that the agency provides professional, fiscally responsible and compassionate therapy and psychiatric care to people of all ages and backgrounds is essential, especially during the pandemic, when mental health is as much of a health concern as COVID-19.” Saint Louis Counseling provides professional counseling to more than 8,000 individuals in eight offices, as well as through Telehealth and the School Partnership Program, which provides in-school therapy to students in 110 parochial, public and private schools throughout 10 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis. Saint Louis Counseling is a federated agency of Catholic Charities of St. Louis.

Meaning and purpose

Saint Louis University alumnus and former faculty member Robert Wheeler Sr. has donated $1 million in support of the psychology department and Accelerating Excellence: The Campaign for Saint Louis University. The gift creates The Wheeler Endowed OntosScience Research Fund which will advance research about basic human motivation — the innate human drive to find meaning, purpose and explanation of life. It will fund graduate psychology research, graduate psychology assistantships, seminars, courses, workshops and more. Donna J. LaVoie, interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and a professor in the Department of Psychology, said: “As a Jesuit university, we are deeply concerned with issues related to meaning and purpose in individuals’ lives. With this donation, we are able to fund important graduate student research to advance our understanding on this topic, and launch the careers and expertise of future psychologists.” Wheeler earned his doctorate in psychology at Saint Louis University after 20 years in the military, then had a 20-year career at SLU, including as the director of health promotion research and adjunct associate professor of psychology.

Wedding jubilee Mass

The 2020 Annual Silver and Gold Wedding Jubilee Mass that was scheduled for Oct. 11 has been postponed to Sunday, May 2, 2021. The Mass will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, Lindell Blvd. and Newstead Ave. in St. Louis. Couples celebrating 25, 50 or more than 50 years of marriage during 2020 and plan to attend are asked to register by Sept. 11. For more information or to register, contact Madeleine Appelbaum at (314) 792-7598 or [email protected].