Pro-life awards

Jeannine Sinak received the Cardinal Carberry Award at the 50th anniversary Respect Life Conference held Oct. 15 at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury. The award is presented annually to an individual(s) who has made a significant contribution to the pro-life movement. The honor is named after the late Cardinal Carberry, who started the archdiocesan Pro-Life Committee in St. Louis — the first in the nation — after the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. Sinak is a parishioner at Queen of All Saints in Oakville, where she has served as a longtime pro-life coordinator. She also has served on the executive board of the Respect Life Apostolate, assists with organizing various pro-life events around the archdiocese and has been instrumental in bringing youths to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life.

Several people also were recognized with the Friend of Life Award, which is given to individuals who are doing extraordinary work in their pro-life ministries, most often at the parish level:

Amy Kosta, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi in Oakville, for her involvement in various ministries, including parish youth ministry, the St. Louis chapter of Life Runners and the archdiocese’s Abortion Healing Ministry retreat team. As a past staff member of the Respect Life Apostolate, Kosta served as coordinator of the Our Lady of Guadalupe convent.

William Durbin, a parishioner of St. Clare of Assisi in Ellisville, for his service as a parish pro-life coordinator and as state co-director of Life Chain. Even in retirement, Durbin continues to assist parishes in the archdiocese and across the state to become involved in the ecumenical, pro-life prayer event.

#iGiveCatholic

The deadline to register for #iGiveCatholic is Friday, Nov. 3. #iGiveCatholic is a giving day event for the faithful from participating dioceses across the nation and the world to unite and donate to their favorite participating Catholic parishes, schools and ministries. #iGiveCatholic presents an opportunity for Catholics to support the organizations they are most passionate about on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28. In 2022, 1,231 donors gave over $363,000 to 83 ministries in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. If you are an administrator of a parish, school or nonprofit ministry within the Archdiocese of St. Louis and would like to be part of the Giving Day, apply at stl.igivecatholic.org.

Young Catholic Professionals

The St. Louis chapter of Young Catholic Professionals will host its next executive speaker series event from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Covenant Network, 4424 Hampton Ave. Deacon James Bornholdt, a rocket scientist, will present “Made in God’s Image: Embracing Our Inventive Nature.” For more information and to register, visit stlreview.com/3rNQ83v

Adoption grant deadline

The deadline to apply for the Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Grant is Wednesday, Nov. 1. Sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning, the grant assists families in the process of adopting a child. Since its inception in 2009, the grant has awarded nearly $250,000 total to 46 grant recipients, allowing 50 children to be adopted into their forever families. To apply, visit bit.ly/ARJCgrantapp. For questions, email [email protected].

The Summit vocations event

The archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry is teaming up with the Office of Vocations to host “The Summit,” a vocations event for middle school youths, on Friday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The day will include talks, prayer, music, time to interact with men and women religious and Mass with Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. To learn more or to register a group, visit stlyouth.org/youth-events/the-summit.

Come and See the seminary

The archdiocesan Office of Vocations will host a Come and See retreat for high school men who are interested in learning more about seminary life Nov. 10-12 at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Retreatants will arrive Friday at 5 p.m. and depart Sunday after 9 a.m. Mass. The retreat is free. To learn more or to register, visit www.stlvocations.org/retreat.