Parish Partners Needed for SLU Bicentennial Mass
As it prepares to celebrate its bicentennial with Mass under the Gateway Arch, Saint Louis University needs partners from local parishes to spread the word about September’s celebration.
Parish captains and other volunteers are needed to help organize participation and to spread the word about the September 23 Mass and festivities that will take place at the newly-renovated Arch grounds in downtown St. Louis. A planning meeting for parish partners is set for June 8, from 7 to 8 p.m., at DeSmet Jesuit High School, in Room 213.
“Our way of thinking is that this is a huge celebration,” Meg Connolly, SLU executive development director, said, “not just for Saint Louis University, but also for celebrating 200 years of Catholic education in the Archdiocese and the city of St. Louis.”
The effort has been led by alumnae Joan Lipic (Cook ’59) and Mary Ferrick (Nurs ’62), according to Connolly.
“Their energy and enthusiasm have been amazing,” she noted.
The hope for the parish partner effort, Connolly continued, is that other alumni, SLU parents, friends and other members of the University community will be “the eyes and ears within parishes to build enthusiasm” for the bicentennial’s events in September and beyond. SLU is seeking volunteers of all ages and walks of life and the goal, according to Connolly, is to have as many parishes across the St. Louis metro area represented as possible at the Mass.
“This is a celebration for everyone,” she said, “and having members of our SLU family in the parishes engaged will help bring the celebration to everyone.”
Saint Louis University was founded in 1818. The September 23 Mass and festivities kick off 15 months of celebrations of the University’s 200 years as part of the St. Louis region. St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will preside at the Mass with Ronald Mercier, S.J., provincial of the Jesuits’ Central and Southern Province, will be the principal concelebrant.
Our way of thinking is that this is a huge celebration, not just for Saint Louis University, but also for celebrating 200 years of Catholic education in the Archdiocese and the city of St. Louis.
Meg Connolly, SLU executive development director
The Mass will be one of the first major events on the renovated Arch grounds, which were also home to St. Louis Academy, SLU’s first iteration. SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., has called the site “the physical and metaphorical nexus of Saint Louis University’s bicentennial and the genesis of the first Catholic, Jesuit university west of the Mississippi.” The September 23 events are also part of the University’s 2017 Homecoming celebrations.
Those interested in taking part in the organizational meeting can register by visiting alumni.slu.edu/parishvolunteers.
For questions or to register, contact alumni@slu.edu.
Read more about SLU’s bicentennial celebrations or see the original story.
Portions of this story have appeared previously on the SLU bicentennial home page.