Holiday performance at Peter and Paul Community Services
The Stephen Haake Trio, along with singer Maria Vargo, performed a concert Dec. 18, right, for residents of Peter and Paul Community Services’ shelter at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Soulard. The concert was part of the On a Brighter Note Holiday Jazz Series organized by Str8ahead.org, a local nonprofit organization that supports regional artists committed to the performance of straight ahead jazz for nontraditional audiences. The concert also was in memory of St. Louis blues musician Tom Hall, who for more than 30 years played a Christmas concert at the Soulard shelter. He died in a house fire in April 2023.
Execution date set
The Missouri Supreme Court has set an April execution date for Brian Dorsey. Dorsey was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben, on Dec. 23, 2006, at their home near New Bloomfield. The execution is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. Missouri put four people to death in 2023, one of just five states to carry out the death penalty. The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible in all cases because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.
Holiday concert
“FaithSongs: ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” a concert featuring holiday music will, be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Christ the King Parish, 7316 Balson Ave. in University City. The concert will feature singers and instrumentalists from several churches that comprise Christ the King Parish, including All Saints in University City, St. Joseph in Clayton, St. Rita in Vinita Park and St. Roch in St. Louis. The concert is free and open to the public.
New Year Country
Church Tour
The 2024 New Year Country Church Tour will be held from noon-4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, at participating churches for visitors to view and enjoy Christmas decorations and traditions. Someone from each church will greet guests and provide information on the church history and events. Participating churches include Assumption in New Haven, Holy Family in Port Hudson, Immaculate Conception in Augusta, Our Lady of Lourdes in Washington, St. Ann in Clover Bottom, St. Francis Borgia in Washington, St. Gertrude in Krakow, St. John the Baptist in Villa Ridge, St. John Lutheran in Beaufort, St. Joseph in Neier, St. Vincent de Paul in Dutzow, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Washington and St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Washington. A map with a driving route will be at
www.stannchurchcloverbottom.org.
Holy Hour for vocations
A Holy Hour for priestly and religious vocations will be held from 7-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the Monastery of St. Clare (Poor Clare nuns), 200 Marycrest Drive in south St. Louis County. The monastery is located off the 6000 block of Telegraph Road.