Theology on Tap announced!

Festival of Faiths and Cultures and Theology on Tap
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

Saturday, September 9

Festival 10 am - 7 pm
Theology on Tap - 6:30 pm


The Festival of Faiths and Cultures is a celebration of people from around the world. Come enjoy food and craft vendors, demonstrations, an outdoor and indoor stage featuring dancers and musicians, an interfaith room and an interactive children's village! For more information and directions visit www.snows.org.


The Theology on Tap is in conjunction with the festival and will feature Doug Cripe of the Metro East Interfaith Partnership as our speaker. The evening's topic: Think Globally, Act Locally. Celebrating different peoples and working towards peace. The Tap begins at 6:30 pm in the Visitor's Center - come enjoy free food and interesting conversation. For more information about Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Belleville - www.bellevilleyam.com

Lutheran Church robbed and left leaking

Read the Story Here

I'm sure this church could use our prayers and - if you have it - our money.

Copper thefts are on the rise - several air conditioners, gutters, decorative pieces have been stolen as of late from several homes and businesses.

Fall Parish Picnic Schedule

It's that time of year - time for Quilt Bingos and Chicken Dinners - Octoberfests and Kirchenfests - carnival rides and beer gardens!

Here is the Schedule from The August 24th issue of The Messenger:

August

26 - Mascoutah, Holy childhood

September

3 - Kaskaskia, Immaculate Conception

St Libory, St Liborius

4 - Columbia, Immaculate Conception

8-9 - Caseyville, St Stephen

Centralia, St Mary

Freeburg, St Joseph

9 - Belleville, Our Lady Queen of Peace

10 - Belleville, St Teresa

16 - Belleville, St Augustine


October

1 - Anna, St Mary

7 - Raddle, St Ann

Millstadt, St James - Schlactfest



Check out www.diobelle.org for a listing of parish websites if you'd like more info!

Archaeology Day at Cahokia Mounds

Archaeology Day at Cahokia Mounds - Tomorrow, August 26.



We will meet at 1pm at the Dairy Queen at 157 and Interstate 64 to head off to the Mounds.

Look back here for info on cancellation due to rain.



Hope to see you there!





Information about this event from the Mounds website is listed below:

ARCHAEOLOGY DAY AT CAHOKIA MOUNDS, AUGUST 26

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will be hosting the third annual “Archaeology Day,” Saturday, August 26, from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be over 25 demonstrations, special exhibits, and hands-on activities for people of all ages.

Expert craftpersons will demonstrate how ancient American Indians made arrowheads
and stone tools, produced fire by friction, made cordage from natural fibers, and carved bone andshell ornaments. They will also demonstrate making bows and arrows, clay pottery, and usingfingerweaving to make sashes and belts. Dedicated professional and amateur archaeologists will show visitors touring the excavations how archaeologists dig and map, and visitors can try their hand at sifting the excavations soils for artifacts and also washing 1000 year old artifacts from the digs. Other archaeologists will show how modern technology is used for detecting belowsurface features with “remote sensing” electronic or magnetic instruments and soil coring, how to use global positioning systems, and how to identify animal bones. An expert on Indian rock art will explain the meaning of the various symbols, and a professional storyteller will relate myths and legends of the Native Americans.

Other “hands-on” activities for visitors will include playing the “chunkey” game by
tossing markers at a rolling stone disk; throwing spears with an “atlatl” spear thrower; and flintknapping an arrowhead. There will also be displays from several other Midwestern mound sites and information about training and educational opportunities in the field of archaeology at various institutions.

Food and refreshment booths will be available, including “kettle maize.” And, you can
take home a souvenir “Archaeology Day” badge for a donation to the event.

Archaeology Day is sponsored by the Cahokia Archaeological Society, Eckert’s Country
Store, Restaurant and Pick-Your-Own Garden Center, and Golden Management Developers of New Neighborhoods for Contemporary Lifestyles. Additional support is provided by the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site staff and volunteers and the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis in
Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55/70 (exit 6) and Interstate 255 (exit 24), and Illinois Route 111, on Collinsville Road. For more information, call 618-346-5160 or go to www.cahokiamounds.com.

Around town...

Here are a few things happening in the area -


Young Adult night at the Zoo and Ted Drewes -
Tonight - Friday, August 18
Meet at 5pm at the Central Stage, Javier Mendoza performing.
Then off to Ted Drewes for a St Louis tradition...


Saturday, August 19th
Summerfest at Cathedral in Belleville
SUMMERFEST PICNIC!!!
THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2006
4:00 P.M. - Midnight
Come enjoy old favorites like the QUILT GAMES, All-you-can-eat
Chicken Dinner, and Game Stands! And, check out the new
attractions - added Children’s Games, raffles and new food and
drinks!

Have you thought about studying theology or a career in ministry?

You are
cordially invited to spend
60 minutes for your Spiritual Life
on
Thursday, September 14, 2006
12:00—1:00 pm and 5:30—6:30 pm
at the
Aquinas Institute of Theology
located at
23 South Spring Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri

Each session will include prayer,
a mini-course by a faculty member,
tour of the Institute, and Q&A session.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information or to reserve your spot,
please contact
Jared Ainsworth-Bryson, M.Div. (05)
Director of Admissions
Phone: 314.256.8806 Email: admissions@ai.edu



ST. MONICA'S YOUNG ADULTS (19-39ish years old) COFFEE HOUSE
St. Monica's Catholic Church
Msgr. Schneider Church Hall (basement)
12136 Olive Blvd at I-270
Friday, September 15, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

Join other young adults (19-39ish year olds) for the Coffee House, a
relaxing evening with a variety of desserts and coffees. Bring a
friend and be prepared for a fun evening of friends, reflection, and
discussion on "The State of Cloning in the State of Missouri" with
Laura Gidley-Feltz, RN.

Cost: FREE. Good will donation of $3-$5 to cover our expenses is
appreciated.

Sponsored by St. Monica's Young Adult Ministry.
Established in July 2000.
Co-sponsored by St. Monica's Pro-Life Committee.

For more details, contact stmonicasyoungadults@yahoo.com or
314.440.4455.

Mission trip to Tijuana

I recently had the opportunity to take a young adult mission trip to Tijuana in Mexico.

Our group went in solidarity with the Novena to Our Lady of the Snows. We stayed in La Morita (one of the colonias around Tijuana) at the parish house. This is a picture of La Morita from San Eugenio.

It is a bit overwhelming to try and describe all that I saw in the nine days there. The people were wonderfully welcoming, always offering a drink and a chair. We saw much sickness and poverty, but the people were always ready to give.

The Oblates that we worked with were wonderful examples of what is it to serve Christ by serving others. The Oblates offer work to many of their neighbors. One woman waters the flowers daily because her husband is not working, another young man is building a new storage building. Sometimes, though, the Oblates help others by purchasing medicine or giving families food. There is a clinic on the grounds of San Eugenio as well as classrooms for catechesis and sacramental preparation.
This is Victor, he had a kidney transplant thanks to help from the Oblates and other agencies. The Oblates continue to provide the medicine Victor requires to keep his body from rejecting the kidney.



The Oblates helped to build and maintain the chapels in each of the colonias. Terrazas uno, Terrazas dos, Rojo Gomez, El Nino and a new chapel in Fuentes are all very simple and a source of pride for those that live near by. The chapels are not forced on the people by the Oblates, rather, the Catholics who live in the area often have Mass and catechesis in someone’s home and then they petition the Oblates for a chapel. The faith of the people we encountered was very strong!

Many people who live in La Morita came because they could no longer make a living in their home towns. They left their families and their homes to find work. In Tijuana work consists of a few things: working at the factories for $50- $100 dollars/week or finding work in construction, street repair and sometimes farm work. To purchase property in La Morita you need $2000. As you can see – it would take you a long time to earn $2000 at $50/week, especially when you need to feed and clothe your family. Most homes in La Morita begin as old garage doors and a dirt floor. Over time people can build their homes from lumber or cement blocks. Even the concrete floors are very expensive, it takes a long time for a family to afford that luxury.

Our group also took a trip to see the border. Very disturbing. At any time there are two heat-seeking helicopters and border patrol agents and is lit up at night. On the border there are hundreds of white crosses and coffins with names of individuals and families that have lost their lives crossing the border.

I think the biggest impact on myself is the realization that I can help the people of La Morita here at home. I can recycle, I can use less resources, I can know what is going on in the world, I can speak up for the people with no voice. I encourage all of you to do so, too.

*Note* For some reason I can't upload any more pictures - I'll keep trying!

Meet me at the Muny...

*NOTE*
This night will only be cancelled if the Muny cancels the performance.
www.muny.org

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
at the Muny


Enjoy the final Muny show of the season in the free seats!


August 10th
Meet at 5:50 in the Upper Muny Parking Lot near the consession stand - we will get in line at 6pm and will not allow line butters!

Enjoy a picnic dinner before you get in line - or you can bring in some snacks to munch while you watch. (please check with the muny for restrictions on coolers, glass, etc)