St. Louis Review

08/01/2025

When Father Thomas Sserwadda arrived at Sacred Heart in 2022, parishioners were curious to learn more about his homeland in the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda. “They say, we want to see the faith in Africa,” he said. “And the big question: ‘Why is Uganda special in Africa, and why is your faith so vibrant?’ I tell them, our story is built on the Ugandan martyrs and St. Charles Lwanga.”

Parishioners had the chance to see that faith in action through a visit to Uganda earlier this summer. What began as a mission trip quickly turned into a pilgrimage, highlighting themes of connection, friendship, love and an experience of the universal Church.

Sacred Heart parishioner Patsy Baldes, who helped organize the trip, wrote in a reflection that the visit was more about encounter than it was about giving. “We came with open hearts and left overflowing with joy, humility and a renewed understanding of the Church universal,” she wrote. “We received love, faith, laughter and inspiration far beyond what we brought.”

Father Thomas Sserwadda leads Sacred Heart Florissant parishioners to visit homeland of Uganda

07/31/2025

As Jacob Gearon and Mackenzie Wilson eagerly anticipate their September wedding day, some of their most important preparation happens from the comfy couches in the Smock family’s front living room.

The engaged couple regularly meets with Jill and Dave Smock, married for 43 years, to share a meal and talk through spiritual and practical components of marriage.

“They really make you dig deep,” Mackenzie said. “And it’s not just us giving examples about our life and saying where we struggle; they’ve related it to their lives as well, and tell us where they’ve struggled and how they’ve gotten over that. …Being able to share, and have someone relate to it, and relate it back to God and how to grow from that experience, has really been a game-changer.”

The Side-by-Side marriage mentorship program is a new initiative in the Southern Vicariate that pairs a veteran married couple with an engaged couple, ideally in the same parish, to lead them through marriage preparation and the first months of newlywed life.

Program pairs veteran couples with engaged couples for marriage preparation and beyond

07/30/2025

The Plarn Patrol at St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish turns plastic bag trash into treasure.

The group — named for the plastic “yarn” they use — turns used plastic bags into sleeping mats for people experiencing homelessness. Members work together to flatten the bags, cut them into strips, tie the strips together and then crochet them into 6x3' mats.

“It’s so purposeful, taking out of the environment things that could be devastating and helping that by repurposing it for something useful,” Sister Suzanne Giblin, CSJ, said.

St. Stephen Parish group uses plastic strips to crochet sleeping mats for those experiencing homelessness

07/29/2025

Children dove deeper into their Catholic faith and experienced some summer fun along the way at Totus Tuus at Ste. Genevieve Parish the week of July 7.

The name of the summer program, offered at nearly two dozen locations around the Archdiocese of St. Louis in June and July, translates from Latin to “totally yours” and was the motto of St. John Paul II.

Totus Tuus missionary team leader Morgan Tracy said the kids learned about the life of Jesus through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, how to pray the Rosary and about the seven sacraments.

“My hope is that they retain some of the information about just how beautiful Jesus and the sacraments are,” Tracy said.
https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/encouraging-and-fostering-love-for-jesus-at-totus-tuus/

07/28/2025

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski celebrated a Mass of dedication July 22 for the new Chapel of the Risen Christ in Resurrection Cemetery in south St. Louis County. The new chapel will be used for funeral and special-occasion Masses, prayer services and other purposes such as providing a space, in the presence of the Eucharist, for visitors to remember those who have died.

07/27/2025

The feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated on Aug. 6. According to the Church’s theological tradition, Jesus doesn’t change during the Transfiguration. Rather, what is always already true about Him becomes, for a moment, visible to His followers.

I think we all have “transfiguration moments” in our own lives, writes Archbishop Rozanski. We find ourselves peaceful and trusting in God even in the midst of trials, patient even when faced with difficult people or clear and gentle when correction needs to be offered. These are moments when the power of Jesus flows into our lives and through our lives to others.

Then we come back down the mountain and ordinary, fallen life resumes!

The transfigured life is offered to us by God. We have glimpses of it, both in ourselves and in others. What does it take to live that transfigured life more often, more easily and more deeply?

This week, we can ask ourselves what we have to give up be more available to those transfigured moments

07/26/2025

Most of us are very familiar with the story of S***m and Gomorrah, which we hear in this Sunday's first reading. But maybe not many of us are familiar with Abraham’s bartering with God.

Abraham also shows us the power of asking God for His help for others, writes Father Wester.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Abraham’s bartering with God for others shows us an another way to pray, in addition to our familiar prayers

07/25/2025

Summer should be spent cultivating time with God, relaxing and caring for others, Pope Leo XIV said at Mass in a breezy hilltown during his brief summer break.

“During the summer, we have more free time in which to gather our thoughts and reflect and also to travel and spend time with each other,” he said in his homily during Mass July 20 in the Cathedral of St. Pancras Martyr in the town of Albano Laziale, southeast of Rome.

“Let us make good use of this, by leaving behind the whirlwind of commitments and worries in order to savor a few moments of peace and reflection, taking time as well to visit other places and share in the joy of seeing others, as I am doing here today,” he said.

Like the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, we need to balance our busyness with rest and prayer, Pope Leo said

07/23/2025

In 36 years of marriage, with seven children ranging from 18-33 years old and nine grandchildren, Kay and Paul Halfmann have the real-life experience to know what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes to nurturing a prayer life.

Now as empty nesters, the Halfmanns continue to nurture that sense of prayer within their marriage with some practical approaches. Read their tips from the June/July edition of Catholic St. Louis magazine:

In 36 years of marriage, with seven children ranging from 18-33 years old and nine grandchildren, Kay and Paul Halfmann have the real-life experience to

07/22/2025

Local radio host Adam Wright certainly understands the meaning of redemptive suffering. Currently living with neuroendocrine tumors, he has used this suffering as a means of spiritual growth in his life and has become a source of inspiration to many.

“That’s how I get through the roughest of days, is to say, ‘OK God, I can’t today, but you can. Please send me the grace I need,’” he said. “I will pour myself out, but send the wind for the sails. And I trust that He will.” Read Adam's story in the June/July edition of Catholic St. Louis magazine:

In April 2024, Adam Wright traveled to Jefferson City to give a talk at a men’s conference on a topic he’d spoken on many times before: “Don’t waste your

07/21/2025

Off exit 129 in Perryville, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at St. Mary's of the Barrens Church is welcoming people from around the nation during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025.

The church and shrine in Perryville is one of nine Jubilee Pilgrimage sites in the archdiocese designated by Archbishop Rozanski for the 2025 Jubilee Year. The faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence — remission of the temporal punishment due to sins — by visiting any of the nine sites for a pilgrimage or pious visit, in addition to the usual conditions for an indulgence.

“Our Lady is, for many, a sign of hope, so the opportunity to have our church and our grounds available and open for people to experience their faith and also learn a little bit more about the Miraculous Medal, and the Church in general,” has been a blessing, said Frank Ryan, volunteer coordinator for the Association of the Miraculous Medal.

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is one of nine archdiocesan pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025

07/19/2025

The Gospel this weekend is the very familiar story of Martha and Mary. We often read the story and interpret it in one of two ways: either sit at the feet of Jesus and prove to be a great spiritual person or perform busy work and be a good person who perhaps puts spirituality second.

Maybe instead of looking at the either/or part of the passage, we could look for connections, writes Father Wester. Is there a connection in our life between the service that we offer others and the way we praise and worship God? Does our service lead to adoration, and does our adoration lead to service?

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time | We don’t have to choose the path of either Mary or Martha, we can choose both with the proper balance