Entries for April 2024

Dear Parishioners, Congratulations to our eighth-grade students who were confirmed last week; it was a beautiful ceremony. Special thanks to our PSR coordinator Mrs. Julie Reagan and our eighth-grade teacher Mr. Dan Mauro. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples to wait in Jer...

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Dear Parishioners:

This coming Wednesday we celebrate the feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker. Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955.

While this is a recent feast, the relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers has a longer history. In a constantly necessary effort to keep Jesus from being removed from ordinary human life, the Church has from the beginning proudly emphasized that Jesus was a carpenter, obviously trained by Joseph in both the satisfactions and the drudgery of that vocation. Humanity is like God not only in thinking and loving, but also in creating. Whether we make a table or a cathedral, we are called to bear fruit with our hands and mind, for the building up of the Body of Christ.

In Brothers of Men, René Voillaume of the Little Brothers of Jesus speaks about ordinary work and holiness: “Now this holiness (of Jesus) became a reality in the most ordinary circumstances of life, those of word, of the family and the social life of a village, and this is an emphatic affirmation of the fact that the most obscure and humdrum human activities are entirely compatible with the perfection of the Son of God...in relation to this mystery, involves the conviction that the evangelical holiness proper to a child of God is possible in the ordinary circumstances of someone who is poor and obliged to work for his living.”

Let us especially give thanks for all those who labor for us, let us give thanks for the gifts that we have been given and let the example of Saint Joseph guide us in the works of our lives. On a final note, thank you to all of you who labor for us here at Annunziata and for the fruits of your labor which we all have been blessed to receive.

Lastly, I would like to personally thank Mr. Nicholas Samsel and Mr. Daniel Mauro for all the great contributions and care they have given our parish these past nine months. This is their last weekend here at Ste Genevive du Bois and the Church of the Annunziata as they return to their Diocese to be ordained Transitional Deacons this May. It has been a joy to have them with us and on behalf of our community may our prayers and wishes go with them. Blessings and Godspeed for both men!

Reminder: Our ACA campaign began last week please consider a gift to the needy of our Archdiocese. As I mentioned, I would love to see 100% participation in this campaign, it would say so much to our care for our community.

Easter Blessings!

Msgr. John Shamleffer

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Dear Parishioners:

One of the gifts of the Easter season is baptism. We are blessed to celebrate many Baptisms a year here at the Church of the Annunziata.  The gift of new life is a great gift to our families and our entire parish community. It was wonderful on Easter to have so many families and their children with us at Mass. The sounds of life were joyful for all.

I especially want our Parents of Young Children to know how grateful we are that you and your family have joined us for Mass at Annunziata.  It is our hope that your little ones will grow up to be vital members of our parish family. We are grateful that you begin this journey with us. I and all of our parish family realize that it’s not easy to get your whole family to Mass, and it can be even more difficult to keep all of your little ones still throughout Mass, but your kids should know that this church is their home and we, the community, are all brothers and sisters. They should feel welcome and at home in this place of worship, in the house of God.

We invite you to sing, pray, teach, respond, and explain what is going on at Mass with your children. Our liturgy is full of life and our little ones learn how to worship through you and your participation. Children learn by example and your dedication to coming to Mass and attentiveness to it will be their best lesson.

The presence of children in Mass is a gift to our church and a sign that we are growing! We rejoice that our children are with us, and that our parish welcomes new life! Please remember to keep encouraging our young families, offer your help if they need it, and support them as best you can!

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Special congratulations to our second graders as they received their First Communion this Saturday April 20!

Easter Blessings!

Msgr John Shamleffer

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Dear Parishioners:

During this Easter season we hear from the Acts of the Apostles “Look at those Christians, see how they love one another”!  As we celebrate the gift of the risen Lord in our midst this Easter Season, let us remember the love of God who gave all for us and that same love that we are called to share with each other.

We proclaim that His Love For the Life of the World as we unite with other Catholics and men and women of faith across the Archdiocese. Through the Annual Catholic Appeal, we join together and make possible the Church’s mission of evangelization, education and the many ministries of charity. Your participation in the Appeal helps our parish remain vibrant and keeps our school of religion Alive in Christ. It is important that we all participate and encourage every family and individual in our parish to do so as well.

Our Annual Catholic Appeal: “His Love For the Life of the World”, is the largest and most important annual appeal in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  Your donations are vital to so many in our Archdiocese.  Those you help are: our school children, our teachers, our senior citizens, and our parishes in need.  This appeal also reaches out to a wider community in our city, to the poor, the homeless and the most vulnerable in our society, all are helped by your generous donations.

Thank you for your generous support of the Appeal in the past. Wherever people have a genuine need in our Archdiocese, the Annual Catholic Appeal is likely to be involved in meeting that need. Your gift is critical to the success of this Appeal.

This is one time a year; we come together as Catholics to make this gift to those who need us. At times of joy and celebration, loneliness and grief, birth and death they come to the Church.  Your gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal helps the Church be the Church for them.

The reason I am asking for your support today is because I know of your generosity in assisting those in need.  I am so proud of all we do here at The Church of the Annunziata for those in need, and I would love it if we could once again bring Christ’s face to our community here in St. Louis.

I would love it if 100 % of our parish would participate, even if it were only $10.  Our sharing with those in need would speak volumes to our world.  There is a Haitian saying “that God gives the gifts, but doesn’t share. The sharing is up to us”.

I would ask that all of you prayerfully and thoughtfully consider a gift this year.  If you cannot make a monetary gift this year, I would ask that you remember those most in need in your prayers as we show solidarity with all the people of God.  If you have any questions or concerns about the campaign please contact me.

Our Appeal begins the weekend of April 20-21; let us pray for its success and for the Church of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  May God bless you and your family.

Easter Blessings!

Msgr. John Shamleffer

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Dear Parishioners:

Blessed Easter and many thanks to all who helped prepare, participate and attend our Holy Week services.  The altar society, the clergy and all of our various ministers helped to enhance these beautiful liturgies.  Many thanks for their countless hours and gifts that they give to our community.  The Easter decorations are beautiful; our music ministers, ministers, Deacon Tom, and Msgr Leykem brought joy to our celebrations.  I especially want to thank our faith-filled parishioners who through word and action bring Christ to so many.  If you have not had the opportunity to attend Holy Week services in the past years, please consider attending next year as a gift to yourself. 

Next year Easter is April 20, 2025. Our Easter season is celebrated for seven weeks as we break open the word of the Lord and reflect on his presence in our lives.  During the Easter season we celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.  Let us please pray for our young men and women as they prepare to receive these life-giving sacraments here at the Church of the Annunziata.

Our eighth-grade class will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Tuesday, April 30th, here at Annunziata; and our second-grade class will receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Saturday,  April 20th.  Let us pray for these young men and women as they prepare for their Sacraments.   Also, many marriages take place here at the Church of the Annunziata during Easter time.  Let us all also pray for these couples as they prepare to share their lives together in the Sacrament of Marriage.  Lastly, but very importantly, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, Archbishop Rozanski will ordain five men to the priesthood, to be of service to the people of God.  Finally, during this joyful season of Easter, let us pray for our Pope Francis that he be guided and strengthened by the workings of the Holy Spirit and Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski as he guides our Archdiocese.  As you can see, we are truly a richly blessed Church.

Easter Blessings!

Msgr. John Shamleffer

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