Decree of suspension of effects issued for Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in St. Louis has appealed to the Vatican its merger with St. Joan of Arc and St. Mary Magdalen parishes as part of All Things New and received a new decree suspending the effects of the original decree announced in May. Seven other parishes also appealed to the Vatican and on July 31 received a decree suspending the effects of the original decree.

The new decrees instruct the pastor, lay leaders and archdiocesan support team to halt any decision that might be difficult to reverse if the Vatican’s Dicastery for Clergy decides against the merging or suppression of a parish.

“As a bishop, I am called to uphold canon law, and in this I am upholding the canonical process that we made very clear was available to people,” Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski said, speaking about the decrees of suspension of effects issued July 31. “It’s to respect the process of appeal of my decisions and the canonical process and recourse to Rome.”

During a suspension of effects, the finances of the appealing parish, including bank accounts and finance council, will remain unchanged. Other elements, such as merging parishioner registrations and transferring parish records and archives, also will be put on hold.

The parish’s ministry-related activities will continue, including any current or interim Mass schedules; and combining pastoral councils and ministries such as RCIA and youth ministry.

Read the new decree for Our Lady of Sorrows at allthingsnew.archstl.org/ Decrees-and-Letters. Read more at stlreview.com/3KlZrO3.

German Mass and festival

Msgr. Michael Witt will celebrate Mass in German at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, at the German Cultural Society of St. Louis, 3652 S. Jefferson Ave. The Damenchor will sing to the accompaniment of the Deutschmeister Brass Band. Mass will be followed by lunch and traditional Kirchweih music and dancing. For more information, visit germanstl.org.

Young Catholic Professionals panel

The St. Louis chapter of the Young Catholic Professionals will host its next executive panel discussion from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at St. Mary Magdalen, 4924 Bancroft Ave. in south St. Louis. Panelists will discuss navigating joint finances with financial prudence. Event is free, but register at: stlreview.com/3OvZhVu

Intentional accompaniment conference

Michael Hall of Catholic Christian Outreach Canada and author of “Intentional Accompaniment: An Apprenticeship for a New Generation of Builders,” will lead a conference on intentional accompaniment from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at St. Louis University High School. Hall will discuss how to evangelize and teach basic skills to walk with others in seeking to bring them the Good News of Jesus Christ. To register, visit stlreview.com/3Dx6CiM.

Wedding Jubilee Mass

The annual Golden and Silver Wedding Jubilee Mass will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The Mass celebrates couples with 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and over 50 years of marriage. Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call (314) 792-7178 or visit archstl.org/jubilee.