Notes from Our Pastor

October 20, 2019

Dear parishioners:
The annual Holy Cross Academy Gala and Auction is Saturday, November 16th.
I am grateful to our parishioners Lauren Knickman and Dennis Cook who represent
our parish on the Holy Cross Academy Board, and John Fechter who is assisting in
finances for the Academy. Lauren is also serving as the board chair this year and is
working tirelessly to make this year’s Gala a great success.
I ask you to consider attending the Gala this year. Seven Holy Founders parishioners
and those of the four other parishes that make up HCA are very generous in
supporting its mission. The Gala is the major fundraiser for HCA that helps meet the
financial demands of educating our children who desire full time Catholic education.
I will be attending the Gala and looking for some table mates. If you have an interest,
there is more information at legacygala@hea-stl.org.

A note to our parishioners who regularly attend 11am Sunday Eucharist! On
Sunday, October 27th we will have the honor of witnessing the marriage of
our parishioners Michael Twellman and Marianne McVey! Grateful for the
support they have felt from their fellow parishioners over these last few years, they
desired to celebrate with their parish family! So you can expect a bit of a crowd on
October 27th, as parishioners and family and friends gather to celebrate.
Congratulations, Marianne and Mike!

Pray for all who are preparing to enter into the sacrament of marriage!
Pray for all our children who attend HCA and our Parish School of religion, especially
those who are preparing to receive the sacraments.
May they all draw closer to the love of God!

In Christ,
Fr. John

October 13, 2019

Dear parishioners:
Have you taken some time for yourself and the Lord lately?
There are some wonderful opportunities for spiritual formation coming soon!

A Women’s Silent Retreat at King’s House in Bellville, IL is set for the weekend of November
8th to the 10th. If you have never had a silent, preached retreat I cannot recommend the
experience enough. We are blessed to have so many gracious retreat houses with wonderful
grounds in our St Louis area. Kings House certainly fits that description.

Our Men’s ACTS Retreat begins on the evening of December 5th and ends at 11am with the
Mass on Sunday December 8th. It will take place at Pallottine Renewal Center. Another
wonderful retreat center in our area! Men, it is not too early to be planning to attend.

Remember that you can drop by the Ursuline Chapel in the lower Parish Center any Tuesday
from 7am to 8pm for Adoration. Make a holy hour or come for a brief visit. Adoration ends at
8pm with praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet! What a gift to have the opportunity to spend quiet
time with Jesus right here at the parish!

And . . . Deacon Tom Schiller has been leading a study of the “Our Father” on Wednesday
evenings. Although there are only a few nights left, those gathering will welcome you with open
arms.  I trust that any time we give Jesus, on retreat, in adoration, or in a faith formation program will
be richly rewarded with consolation and a new closeness to Jesus.

In Christ,
Fr. John

October 6, 2019

Dear parishioners:
Every Monday morning, shortly after the 8am Mass, there is the opportunity to pray devotional
prayers under the patronage of St. Peregrine. The prayers are for those suffering from Cancer and
other life-threatening illnesses. St. Peregrine Devotions are a beautiful tradition that the Servants
of Mary brought to the parish!

St Peregrine joined the Servants of Mary in Siena in the late 1200’s and was ordained a priest.
He was known for his holiness, his preaching, as well as for his devotion to the sick and the poor.
At age sixty he developed a cancerous infection in his right leg. His condition deteriorated to the
point that his physician decided he would have to amputate his leg. The night before the
amputation Peregrine spent time praying before a fresco of the Crucifixion in the chapter room
of the Priory. He fell into a trance-like sleep and seemed to see Jesus descend from the cross and
touch his leg. The following day, the doctor arrived to perform the amputation and found no
sign of the cancer. He has been the patron Saint of those suffering from cancer since he was
beatified. We have a beautiful depiction of that miracle in the shrine in our church.

I invite you to consider joining us for Mass and devotions on Monday morning and to pray
especially for those suffering with cancer. I am grateful that members of the Secular Servites
have offered to lead these devotions.

Parishioners and others from our archdiocese keep the Servite traditions alive in our parish. If
you have an interest in knowing more about how your spiritual life can be enriched by joining
the Secular Servites, you can contact Janet Paluczak, their prioress,
at patsypal1120381@hotmail.com

St. Peregrine, pray for us!
In Christ,
Fr. John

For more parish news and information, please check our weekly bulletin.