Hurricane Relief

Catholic Charities
American Red Cross
Federal Emergency Management Administration

Quiz on Suitability for the Ordained or Religious Life

There are many popular online personality tests, but here is one that is different:

http://www.testyourcall.com

This tests your call for a vocation to the Religous life. I found out about this website at the Carmelite Monastery in Clayton. Registration is required.

Blogs by Local Seminarians

Here are some blogs of seminarians in the Saint Louis area:

Mathew 12:37 - Blog by a God-Fearing Seminarian by Jeff Geerling, of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Saint Louis: http://homepage.mac.com/geerlingguy/blog/; this includes his observations of the state of the Faith in Europe. Also see his personal website http://homepage.mac.com/geerlingguy/.

The Heart of a Seminarian, by Kevin Muniz, a Seminarian for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois: http://www.muniz.motime.com/

Journal of God's Call, by Chris Rossman, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, studying at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary: http://rossman.ussnomad.org/blog/

The Seminary Blues, by Christian Malewski, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, studying at Kenerick-Glennon Seminary: http://semblues.blogspot.com/

Photo of Saint Francis Xavier Church at Saint Louis University

Here is Saint Francis Xavier Church, at Saint Louis University, located on the southwest corner of Grand and Lindell Boulevards in midtown Saint Louis City. It can be said of this magnificent church that "they don't build 'em like that anymore." Construction of the church started in 1883 and it is modeled after the neo-Gothic, 19th century Cathedral of Saint Colman in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. The interior has been redesigned according to the suggestions of the controversial statement from the USCCB Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy of 1978, "Environment and Art in Catholic Worship", with a large baptismal pool at the entry to the nave, and a large raised platform with an altar table at the transept; the high altar has been retained, and the former sanctuary is now the location of the musicians and choir. The church is beautifully lit at night, and is the most prominent landmark of the University campus, whch has recently had a vast landscaping renovation, which includes distinctive fencing, some of which is visible at the bottom of the photo.

In the left of the photo you can see DuBourg Hall, designed by Thomas Walsh, who also was the first architect of the church. To the right you can see two Masonic Temples, whose cold rationality and occult symbolism contrast greatly with the warm humanism and simple faith of the Church across Lindell Boulevard.

This church is commonly known in Saint Louis as "College Church", has parish status, and is staffed by members of the Society of Jesus, and is known for its well-attended 10:00 p.m. Sunday Masses that are offered during the school year.

Professor James Hitchcock to speak at next Credo dinner

James Hitchcock, Ph.D., professor of history at Saint Louis University, columnist, and author of numerous bookswill speak at the next Credo of the Catholic Laity dinner on Sunday, September 18th, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Clayton, Missouri

His talk will be on marriage. "The recent approval of Same Sex Marriage in Massachusetts, Canada, and several European countries has made this issue a hot topic. His talk will examine the institution of marriage, its civilizing effect on humanity and why marriage between people of the same gender is not possible."

Cost of the dinner is $20 per person. Dinner choices are chicken fried steak or baked white fish. Send check to:

Howard Brandt
4386 Honeydew Lane
Saint Louis, MO 63128
(314) 894-0357

Radisson Hotel Clayton
7750 Carondelet Ave
Saint Louis, Missouri 63105

Free parking at 7777 Bonhomme Garage.

Bishop Thomas G. Doran of the Diocese of Rockford will speak at the Christ the King banquet on Tuesday, November 8th, 2005 at the Radisson in Clayton. This is cosponsored by Credo and the Catholic Central Union.