‘Guns in Church’ provision removed

Legislation that would have allowed concealed carry permit holders to bring their guns into church without the permission of the church or pastor was removed from a larger firearms bill in committee. This means that churches will continue to have the same authority over who can and cannot carry a concealed weapon into church as do other private entities such as schools, childcare facilities, bars, and riverboats.

To read about Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski’s and other faith leaders’ opposition to the original bill, see www.stlreview.com/33VWlLd

Retreat for mid-life singles

A Reflect Catholic weekend retreat for mid-life singles looking for a renewed sense of connection and purpose will be held at King’s House Retreat Center in Belleville, Illinois, on June 4-6. Cost is $210 including meals and a single room. Reflect Catholic retreats for singles are for and about adults in their mid-30s to 50s. It helps people know themselves better and discover more about their capacity for life as a single person. The experience calls participants to believe in their value to the Lord and to devote themselves to caring for and serving others. Visit www.ReflectRetreat.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (314) 283-0044 for details.

Breast cancer healing Mass

A Mass for those who have been affected by breast cancer will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2618 S. Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood. Survivors and patients as well as family members and friends are welcome. The Mass will offer those in attendance the opportunity to join their sufferings with Christ in prayer for peace and healing of all. Father Jack Siefert, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, will be the celebrant. A reception will be held after Mass. For more information, call the parish at (314) 961-8400 or email [email protected].

Summer social justice camp

Students entering sixth through ninth grade are invited to a Social Justice Camp at St. Francis Xavier “College” Church from June 28-July 2. Participants will learn how social justice issues are integral to the Catholic faith. They will see firsthand the needs that exist in our community and will have the opportunity for onsite visits and hands-on service to help vulnerable populations.

Through group discussions and artwork and journaling, students will develop solutions to the injustices they see. Cost for the camp is $250, which includes off-site transportation and snacks. Camp hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with early arrival at 8:30. For more information contact Terry Edelmann at (314) 712-4216 or [email protected].

Ignatian spiritual exercises

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, adapted for persons in all walks of life over a nine-month period, are offered through the Bridges Foundation based in St. Louis. The retreat combines small weekly gatherings, a commitment to daily prayer following the Exercises, and one-on-one meetings with a trained prayer companion.

The retreat runs from September to May and coincides with the Church’s liturgical calendar. Virtual, “live” Zoom-based information sessions are being offered in connection with five St. Louis-area sites on various days throughout the summer, beginning in July. Contact executive director Steve Givens at (314) 401-2072 or by email at executive.director@ bridgesfoundation.org to reserve a spot at one of the information sessions or receive a Zoom invitation to the virtual session. For more information, visit www.bridgesfoundation.org.

Vaccine appointments

The FDA has approved emergency use authorization for anyone age 12 and older to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and Mercy has appointments open for parents who are ready to schedule the vaccination. Go to mercy.net/MoVaccine. To accommodate busy family schedules, Mercy’s COVID Vaccine Clinics have varying hours with some weekend dates. Patients younger than 18 must have a parent or guardian present at their appointment. The second dose of the vaccine will be scheduled when the first is administered.

Eucharistic miracles exhibit

A Vatican International Eucharistic Miracles of the World exhibition will be held June 4-6 at Ascension Parish, 230 Santa Maria Drive in Chesterfield. The event will provide information on the many eucharistic miracles that have happened around the world throughout history. Included will be children’s story time, presentations and more. Hours are 3-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 3-4; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 5, and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 6. A Corpus Christi procession will be held following 5:30 p.m. Mass June 6. For further information and a full schedule of events, visit ascensionchesterfield.org/miracles.

Legislation update

‘Raise the Age’ passes

After a confusing start and a lack of funds, the “Raise the Age” law now has the tools to be fully implemented. The House Truly Agreed and Finally Passed SB 53 and SB 60, sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville), which contained language that fixes the date when juvenile certification would switch from 17 to 18 and specifies that it is not retroactive. It further stipulates that funding for the program will be distributed through county circuit courts rather than the state treasury.

Prescription drug monitoring OK’d

After years of debate in the Missouri legislature, the General Assembly has finally approved a prescription drug monitoring program. Implementing a statewide program has long been the goal of Sen. Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston), who sponsored the bill for eight years in the House before moving to the Senate. SB 63 allows medical professionals to access opioid prescription information in order to prevent patients seeking more medication than they need to address their chronic pain complaints. The law as passed limits access to private information to medical professionals, specifically prohibits the information from being used to deny firearm purchases, and includes a rolling purge of the data every three years. The program will be administered by a task force of health care professionals. The Senate passed SB 63 by a vote of 20-12 earlier in the session, and on May 11, the House Truly Agreed and Finally Passed the bill by a vote of 83-70. The Missouri Catholic Conference has long supported the program as a tool to fight against the opioid epidemic. Missouri is the only state that does not have a statewide prescription drug monitoring program.