Benefit concert

“Joy to the World: a Christmas Concert” benefits Catholic Charities of St. Louis and will be livestreamed from the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. Performers include the St. Louis Cathedral Concerts musicians, featuring tenor Scott Kennebeck, organist John Powell Walsh and violinist Lenora, joined by the Archdiocesan Handbell Choir and student choirs from Cor Jesu Academy, St. Louis University High School and Visitation Academy. The event will be performed live to a limited, sold-out audience. There is no cost to view the livestream; however, an optional gift to Catholic Charities will help it serve people in need, at Christmastime and throughout the year. For more information, register for the free livestream, and/or make a gift, visit ccstl.events or scan the QR code above. A recording of the concert will be posted on the site beginning Dec. 4. An abbreviated recording will air on KSDK Channel 5 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday, Dec. 8, and on Christmas Day. See TV listings for times. The federation of eight agencies is inspired by Christ to assist people in need, work to improve social conditions and unite with others in this mission.

Pray for Dobbs decision

More than a dozen locations in the metro St. Louis area will be hosting prayer events on Tuesday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 1, for a just outcome to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral arguments begin Dec. 1; the case has the potential to challenge the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalized abortion throughout the country. For a listing of locations and times, see the Respect Life Apostolate’s Facebook event at https://stlreview.com/3HJM5bD.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent will offer eucharistic adoration in its chapel from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 1. Participants are invited to pray at the convent and outside the abortion facility on the sidewalk. For more information, contact Amy Kosta at [email protected].

#iGiveCatholic

Catholic organizations within the archdiocese are participating in the U.S. Catholic Church’s giving day celebrating all aspects of the Catholic faith — #iGiveCatholic, which inspires people to “Give Catholic” on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30. #iGiveCatholic will be a time for the faithful in participating dioceses to donate both online and offline to their favorite participating Catholic parishes, schools and ministries. Parishes, schools and ministries are raising funds for a capital improvement, their annual fundraiser or another project of their choosing. #iGiveCatholic brings the Catholic community together to give thanks and give back. Visit stl.igivecatholic.org.

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.

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 have 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 (314) 965-3512 or [email protected].

First Saturday Mass/Brown Scapular enrollment

A First Saturday Mass and devotions and Brown Scapular presentation and enrollment will be held at Saturday, Dec. 4, at St. Cletus Church 2750 Zumbehl Road in St. Charles. After an 8 a.m. Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and Perpetual Help devotions will be recited. At 9:30 a.m. Father Timothy Elliott will speak on the power of the Brown Scapular and enroll all participants.

Swim sensations

Several swimmers from Catholic schools excelled at the Missouri State High School Activities Association swimming and diving championships Nov. 11.

In Class 1, Christian Brothers College High School finished fifth. CBC’s Max Wehrmann took first place in the 100-yard backstroke and second in the 200-yard freestyle. CBC’s Evan Liberto, Andrew Becker, Conner Suthers and Wehrmann combined for first in the 400-yard freestyle relay and third in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Chaminade’s Matthew Judkins took first in the 100-yard butterfly and Trey Cunneen was second in the 500-yard freestyle.

In Class 2, St. Louis University High School tied for second place. Cooper Scharff took first place in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. SLUH’s Sebastian Lawrence was first in 1-meter diving. SLUH finished first in the 400-yard freestyle relay and second in the 200-yard medley relay with Jonas Hostetler, Jason Cabra, Ned Mehmeti and Scharff swimming in both relays.

Other fall sports

Cor Jesu Academy won the Class 5 Missouri State High School Activities Association girls volleyball championship Nov. 5, defeating Lee’s Summit West 25‑14, 25‑18, 22‑25 and 25‑23. St. Dominic High School was third in Class 5, Nerinx Hall took fourth place in Class 4 and Valle Catholic High School was third in Class 3.

In the Missouri State High School Activities Association boys cross country meet, St. Vincent High School’s girls team finished third in Class 1 and Cor Jesu Academy was third in Class 5. On the boys side, Valle Catholic was fourth in Class 1 and St. Louis University High School took fourth place in Class 5. Valle’s Peter Roth was fifth in Class 1 boys and Cor Jesu’s Frances Luna was seventh in Class 5 girls.

St. Pius X High School in Festus finished second in the Class 1 Missouri State High School Activities Association boys soccer playoffs. The Lancers lost to Lutheran St. Charles 3-0 in the finals Nov. 20 after defeating Fair Grove 4-0 and Brentwood 7-1 earlier in the playoffs.

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.

Thanksgiving food drive

Students at St. Patrick School in Wentzville recently hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the St. Vincent DePaul Society and Caring and Sharing. The school’s food drive is a tradition that goes back at least 20 years and has grown in size throughout the years. The school developed a point system, where food items are either worth one or two points, and set a goal this year of 5,000 points. The final tally was more than 9,000 points, which is the equivalent of 140 filled milk crates, along with many cases, boxes and baskets full of food.

Mercy opens clinic at “The Hub”

Mercy Clinic has announced it has joined forces with The Tabernacle Community Development Corp. to offer health care and social services at “The Hub” in north St. Louis. Mercy Clinic North St. Louis, 3000 East Prairie Ave., will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, with a provider available for walk-in visits Tuesday through Thursday mornings. Services include a community health worker to assist with Mercy services, Medicaid and ACA enrollment, social assessments, transportation arrangements and more. A social worker will be available to provide behavioral health support in collaboration with our primary care provider. A family medicine nurse practitioner will be available to provide convenient care services for pediatric and adult patients. In early 2022, an OB/GYN will provide women’s health services.

The Tabernacle Community Development Corp., led by Pastor Andre Alexander of The Tabernacle Church, has been renovating the former Farragut Elementary branch building in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood into a community resources center called “The Hub.” Pathways to Progress, a collaborative effort of Catholic Charities of St. Louis, along with its federated agency St. Francis Community Services, established an office at The Hub in the fall of 2021, following an expansion of its services to north St. Louis in fall 2020.

Advent day of reflection

The archdiocesan Office of Racial Harmony and Father William Dotson, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, will host an Advent Day of Reflection from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 18, at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 601 N 4th Street in St. Charles. The theme is “God Hears the Cry of the Poor.” Lunch will be provided. Registration can be completed by visiting the Office of Racial Harmony website at: www.parishsupportstl.com. For more information, contact [email protected].