St. Francis Borgia record giving

St. Francis Borgia Regional High School’s annual Day of Giving held Oct. 8 raised a record-breaking $152,006. That’s a 25.3% increase over the previous high of $121,318 raised in 2020. As part of the fundraising efforts, the school had a matching gift challenge, used social media and mailings, text message giving, and a “Food Truck Friday.” Located in Washington, St. Francis Borgia Regional High School is a co-ed archdiocesan high school serving Franklin and surrounding counties.

Jewish-Catholic dialogue

“Walking Together: 50 Years of Jewish-Catholic Dialogue” will feature a virtual conversation with Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski and Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman on “Nostra Aetate (the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)” and its impact on Jewish-Catholic dialogue over the last 50 years. The program will be from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23. Rabbi Stiffman is rabbi emeritus of Shaare Emeth Congregation and chair of Catholic-Jewish relations at the American Jewish Committee. Register at bit.ly/3kmB4Te.

Call to stop the violence

Students from Cardinal Ritter College Prep are calling on all local high school students and those that love them to join in a march against gun violence in St. Louis on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Cardinal Ritter College Prep 2020 graduate Isis Aaliyah Mahr was killed Oct. 17 in an act of gun violence. Mahr, who was working to become a nurse, was returning home from work at an elderly care facility when she was shot and killed. The rally date is significant because on Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat at the front of a bus beginning the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and march organizers refuse to accept violence. Superintendents of every metropolitan Catholic, public, parochial and private school are invited to join the march at 9 a.m. beginning at Wohl Community Center, 1515 N. Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Louis. The march will culminate with a rally at Cardinal Ritter College Prep, 701 N. Spring Ave. in St. Louis.

Pictures at the manger

The Daughters of St. Paul are hosting Pictures at the Manger from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Pauline Books & Media, 9804 Watson Road in Crestwood. The event will include the opportunity for children to have their pictures taken at a manger scene. Treat bags will be provided. Families are asked to register in advance for a time to pictures taken at the manger scene. Nativity costumes will not be provided, but participants are invited to bring their own. Register online at: connect.pauline.org/manger/. For more information, contact Sister Laura Brown, FSP, at [email protected] or (314) 965-3512.

National Night of Prayer for Life

Parishes in the archdiocese will participate in the National Night of Prayer for Life, a time for eucharistic adoration and prayer for the unborn, an end to abortion and protection of the sanctity of human life. Local parishes will join others across the country to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother to establish a culture of life.

The evening prayer spans the feast of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday, Dec. 8, and the anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s first apparition to St. Juan Diego on Thursday, Dec. 9. If your parish is hosting a time of prayer for the National Night of Prayer for Life, please contact reporter Jennifer Brinker at [email protected]. A listing of participating parishes will be included in an upcoming edition of the Review.

Advent Lessons and Carols

The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral) will host Advent Lessons and Carols at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, with Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski presiding. Music will be provided by the combined choirs of the Old Cathedral and the Shrine of St. Joseph. The event is free and open to the public.

In memorium

Don Heeb, long-time St. John Vianney High School athletic director, head football coach, teacher and mentor to generations of Griffins, died Nov. 10 at age 85, following a battle with dementia. Heeb retired as head coach in 1996 after 30 years of coaching the football program. He led the Griffins to 12 conference championships and eight Missouri playoff appearances, including three state quarterfinals and one final four. Heeb accumulated 210 wins with only three losing seasons in his tenure. In 1995, he was selected to the Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He also coached track and golf. A statement from the school noted that he taught players to face challenges, rise from failure, and rejoice in victory. He taught them to be leaders, to work as a team, and to represent the school with pride. Survivors include his wife, Billie; daughter, Robyn; son, Chris; and six grandchildren.

NFP intro sessions

Couples planning their weddings, wanting a natural way to plan their families, or having difficulty conceiving, are invited to sign up for an introductory session in Natural Family Planning. Visit the archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning at stlouisnfp.org for more information on several Church-approved methods of NFP. Or to schedule an appointment, see bit.ly/NFPintro. Introductory classes are held weekly at various locations.

Dred Scott decision

As part of Missouri Catholic Conference’s 2021 Virtual Annual Assembly, a new episode of MCC from the Capitol highlights a move by the state to denounce the Dred Scott decision. During the 2021 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly unanimously voted to denounce the 1852 Missouri Supreme Court decision which denied Dred and Harriett Scott freedom from slavery. Joyce Jones, MCC Public Policy Committee chairwoman, and Msgr. Michael Witt, professor of Church history at Kenrick Seminary, join the podcast to discuss this historic vote along with other historic examples of systemic racial injustice, which continue to impact people of color today. Listen to this episode at bit.ly/3km9WE3.