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DECEMBER 2016 /JANUARY 2017 C AT H O L I C S T LO U I S .C O M
S T E WA R D S H I P GIVING GUIDE KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS GIFTS PIZZA IS BREAD FOR LIFE
REACHING THE
YO U N G MOBILE CHURCH
AND
W I T H A N AG E S PA N O F T WO D E C A D E S A N D A M O B I L E M I N D S E T, T H E R E P R E S E N TAT I O N O F YO U N G A D U LT S IN THE CHURCH SEEMS ELUSIVE. HERE’S HOW TWO PA R I S H E S A R E R E AC H I N G O U T
N
EDITOR
REACH OUT ACROSS GENERATIONS
8
Look at ways to reach, retain young adults
JESUS’ PEACE
L ast year, parish viability studies in the archdiocese revealed that our Church struggles to reach and retain young adults. Often very mobile, they tend to use digital technology, move frequently, don’t often register at a parish and shop around for faith communities. Their connections often are different from generations that are more analog. Our cover story this issue examines opportunities to reach “the mobile Church.” It isn’t an impossible task but requires action across generations. Technology has progressed at an incredible pace, and research confirms what we often witness: Younger generations are more plugged in than older generations. The major social media movement is just a decade old and now is a major means of communication, especially among young adults and youth. According to the Pew Research Center, about 90 percent of American young adults (18-29) use social media, while 35 percent of those 65 or older do; generations between them use social media with similar disparity: 77 percent of those 30-49 and 51 percent of people 50-64. Digital evangelization potentially reaches billions of users, and those most comfortable with social media — digital natives — should be encouraged to proclaim their faith digitally. It is critical that our Church improve its communication and technology efforts. A 2012 study by The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate revealed that 53 percent of adults surveyed were unaware of any significant Church presence online. That same year, Pew research indicated that 83 percent of young adults used social media. But this topic isn’t just about medium. It’s about engagement. Our Church depends on ministries that appeal to a broad range of ages that have a broad range of interests and needs. The article in this issue spreads the word about the efforts underway in our archdiocese to involve young adults. Let’s continue the conversation and spread those efforts throughout the archdiocese.
TEAK PHILLIPS is the director of publications for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He and his family are parishioners of St. Ambrose Church on the Hill. He can be reached at teakphillips@archstl.org or follow him on Twitter or Instagram: @teakphillips. Catholic St. Louis is supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal.
Ask
Advent is a time to prepare for spiritual renewal of the Incarnation
28
Feature
REACH OUT AND READ Program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital promotes reading at regular pediatric visits
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FAITH AND PIZZA Joey Valenza shares how his Catholic faith guides his family’s pizzeria
1: Title of Publication: Catholic St. Louis magazine 3: Date of Filing: October 1, 2016
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Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
Profile
INSIDE D E C E M B E R
|
J A N U A R Y
16 T H E YO U N G A N D M O B I L E C H U R C H P R OV I D I N G S O L I D FA I T H - F O R M AT I O N OPPORTUNITIES IS KEY TO REACHING OUT TO YO U N G A D U LT S — A N O F T E N O N -T H E - G O G R O U P T Y P I C A L LY T O U G H T O I D E N T I F Y.
10
13
Relate
14
Pray
Family
STEWARDSHIP
PRAYER AS COMMUNICATION
CHRIST-CENTERED
Proper planning and budgeting make it easier to be a good steward with our resources
Fulfilling prayer involves fostering an intimated communication with God
Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, here are some simple ways to make Jesus a focal point of gift-giving
4: Frequency of Issue: Bi-Monthly 7: Location of known office of publication: 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis MO, 63119 8: Location of headquarters
or general business offices of publisher: Same
Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, MO 63119
9: Name and address of publisher and editor:
10: Owner: Archdiocese of St. Louis, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, MO 63119
Publisher: Most Reverend Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis Editor: Teak Philips, 20
11: Know bondholders and other security holders, owning or holding 1 percent or more
of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: NONE 15: Average No. Copies Each Issue during Preceding 12 Months: 150,416 A. Total Number of Copies (Net press run): 151,300 3
ARCHBISHOP
G R E A T
P E O P L E
o f
F A I T H
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross gives witness to connection between truth and love St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross — known as Edith Stein before she became a Carmelite nun — was killed in 1942, both because she was Jewish by birth and because of her Catholic faith. What does she teach us about being a witness to Christ?
ARCHBISHOP ROBERT J. CARLSON
is the ninth archbishop of St. Louis. @abp_carlson
When St. John Paul II canonized her in 1998, he said, “St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross says to us all: Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth! One without the other becomes a destructive lie.” The deepest reason for this connection is articulated by St. Thomas Aquinas. He maintains that Jesus is the Word made flesh. But St. Thomas points out that Jesus is not just any Word; He is the Word that breathes forth love. Since the Holy Spirit is love, and Jesus breathes forth the Spirit, that makes perfect biblical sense. Why should that matter to us? Because we live in a culture that thinks truth and love can be separated. Some think love means affirming everyone and everything. But that’s love without truth. Jesus challenged people — He loved everyone, but He didn’t affirm everything.
The quest for truth and its expression in love did not seem at odds to her; on the contrary, she realized that they call for one another. (St. John Paul II) The Son is the Word — not any sort of Word, but one who breathes forth Love. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
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Some think that truth is truth, no matter how it’s stated. But some words breathe forth cynicism and sarcasm rather than love; we’ve seen too much of words that incite to violence rather than promote peace. Those words are alien to Jesus, even when they’re true, because they don’t breathe forth love. If St. Thomas Aquinas is right, it explains St. John Paul II’s link between truth and love. And if St. John Paul II is right, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is a saint for our times. How does her life give witness to the connection between truth and love? St. Teresa was raised in an observant and loving Jewish household. For whatever reason, at the age of 14, she made a conscious decision to stop praying and abandoned her faith. At the age of 29, however, while visiting friends, she happened to pick up a copy of St. Teresa of Avila’s autobiography. She read the entire book in one sitting; at dawn, as she finished reading, she closed the book and said, “This is the Truth!” From that moment she was resolved to give her life as a member of St. Teresa of Avila’s Carmelite order, her conviction about the truth was inseparable from a commitment to give her life in love. As a Carmelite, St. Teresa Benedicta studied the writings of St. John of
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES
of columns profiling great people of faith.
the Cross. For the 400th anniversary of his death, she wrote a book titled “The Science of the Cross.” Then she had an opportunity to put that science to the test. In July of 1942, the bishops of Holland issued a letter denouncing the errors of the Nazi Party. In response, the Nazis rounded up every Dutch Christian born of Jewish families — including St. Teresa and her sister Rosa, both Carmelite nuns. They were deported to concentration camps. The last words she was heard to say were to comfort her sister: “Come, Rosa, we go for our people.” Over the course of the next week, she walked like an angel among the condemned, bringing comfort to them and their children. She lived Science of the Cross to the last: in imitation of Jesus, she transformed her death into an act of love. In a world that often separates truth from love, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is a beautiful testimony for us. Jesus is a Word of Truth who breathes forth love — and it’s possible for us to share in His life. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!
Compiled by JOHN SCHWOB
NUMBERS
ON THE MOVE
A LO O K AT H O W C AT H O L I C S W O R S H I P WITHIN — OR OUTSIDE OF — T H E B O U N DA R I E S O F T H E I R PA R I S H E S
IN 1959, A CENSUS OF E VE RY H OU SEHOL D I N TH E ARC H DIOC E SE FOU ND TH AT MOR E TH AN
9 0% OF AL L C AT H O L I C S WOR SH I P P ED AT T H E PARISH I N WH OSE B O UN DA R I ES THEY LI VE D.
TO P 1 0 PA R I S H E S
T O P 1 0 PA R I S H E S W I T H T H E
WITH THE HIGHEST
L O W E S T P E R C E N TA G E O F
P E R C E N TAG E O F
PA R I S H I O N E R S W H O L I V E I N
PA R I S H I O N E R S W H O
T H E PA R I S H B O U N D A R I E S :
L I V E I N T H E PA R I S H BOUNDARIES: 1. St. Francis of Assisi (Portage des Sioux) 93%
100%
2. Holy Rosary (Warrenton) 92% 3. St. Rose of Lima (DeSoto) 91%
B EGIN NI NG I N 2 004 , THE AR C H DI OC E SE A N N UA L LY HAS ST U DI E D ADDR E SS E S A N D PARISH M E M B E R SH I P O F A L L HO U SEH OL DS.
IN 2016 ,
62 % O F ALL C ATH OL I C S WO RSH I P P E D AT TH E PA R I S H IN WHOSE B OU NDAR I ES THEY LI VE D.
4. Our Lady Help of Christians (Weingarten) 91%
2. St. Alphonsus Liguori (St. Louis City) 2% 3. St. Nicholas (St. Louis City) 8% 4. St. Vincent de Paul (St. Louis City) 13%
5. St. Joseph (Farmington) 90%
5. St. John Apostle & Evangelist (St. Louis City) 14%
6. St. James (Potosi) 88%
6. St. Peter (St. Charles) 18%
7. Sacred Heart (Elsberry) 88%
7. Sts. Teresa and Bridget (St. Louis City) 18%
8. St. Clare (St. Clair) 87% 9. Holy Name of Jesus (Bissel Hills) 85% 10. Queen of All Saints (Oakville) 85%
6
1. St. Francis Xavier “College” 100% Church (St. Louis City) 2%
Catholic St. DECEMBER 2016 2016 // JANUARY JANUARY 2017 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM St. Louis Louis | DECEMBER
8. St. Matthew (St. Louis City) 22% 9. St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist (St. Louis City) 31% 10. All Saints (University City) 32%
THEOLOGY
Seek the meaning of the mystery
RANDY ROSENBERG
is an assistant professor of systematic theology in the Department of Theological Studies at St. Louis University. He and his family are members of St. Joan of Arc Parish in south St. Louis. He can be reached at rrosenb3@slu.edu.
P OE T T. S . E L I O T H E L P S O P E N M Y S T E RY O F T H E I NC A R NAT I ON
THE POETRY OF ST. LOUIS NATIVE T.S. ELIOT — difficult though it is — has the power to open us up in profound ways to the mystery of the Incarnation — the very mystery we labor to remember during our hurried, busy lives this Advent season. Let me offer two relevant images from Eliot’s “Dry Salvages” (from his masterpiece, “The Four Quartets”). First, there’s his image of the Mississippi River (“strong brown god”) as indicative of the rhythms of our lives and the tension between human beings and nature, brought on by frontier, commerce, industry:
I do not know much about gods; but I think that the river Is a strong brown god — sullen, untamed and intractable, Patient to some degree, at first recognised as a frontier; Useful, untrustworthy, as a conveyor of commerce; Then only a problem confronting the builder of bridges … Unhonoured, unpropitiated By worshippers of the machine, but waiting, watching and waiting. What keeps us from calling to mind the mystery of God and the mystery of our lives today? What does Eliot’s 1943 indictment of the idolatrous “worshippers of the machine” look like in the second half of the second decade of the 21st
century? Our obsession with the stimulation that modern technology has to offer? The pressure to create the “perfect” children fueled by the subtle envy operative in the arena of social networking? The quest for the ideal Christmas according to the dictates of consumer culture? The answers, of course, will be many. The second image of the poem is Eliot’s response to such forgetfulness and distraction—namely, the mystery of the Incarnation:
For most of us, there is only the unattended Moment, the moment in and out of time, The distraction fit, lost in a shaft of sunlight … Or the waterfall, or music heard so deeply
That it is not heard at all … These are only hints and guesses, Hints followed by guesses; and the rest Is prayer, observance, discipline, thought and action. The hint half guessed, the gift half understood, is Incarnation. In the midst of our daily grind, we only see dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12), consoled by periodic “hints” of divine transcendence. Yet it is precisely by meditating on the humility of the Incarnation, on the “hint half guessed, the gift half understood,” along with the many other incarnational moments of our days, that we might attain the fullest meaning of the mystery of our lives. And, a daily attunement to the “gift” is only nurtured by a commitment to a very different kind of grind — an ongoing pattern of “prayer, observance, discipline, thought and action.”
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption." — Galatians 4:4
7
ASK
IN JESUS WE FIND THE PEACE WE LONG FOR Advent season is a time to prepare for the spiritual renewal by the mystery of the Incarnation
E
ach year shortly after Halloween (and sometimes even before), we see Christmas decorations springing up in shopping centers and other retail locations. The
countdown to Christmas is often linked with the anxiety of tasks to be accomplished, gatherings to be attended and gifts to be purchased. The lament and amazement at how quickly time seems to pass by each year often rob us of interior peace, joy and hope that are the true center of this season. For this reason, the Church, in her wisdom, gives us the Advent season to prepare to be spiritually renewed by the mystery of the Incarnation; that God, the immovable, unfathomable and eternal God, came to be with us and remains with us even now.
FATHER CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
is the director of the archdiocesan Office of Vocations, which is supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal. He can be reached at 314.792.6462. Follow him on Twitter: @stlvocations 8
In the past 12 months, much has happened in each of our lives, and so the Advent of Jesus into our world means something different to each of us this year than it did last. Some have welcomed new people into the world, and some have had to say goodbye to loved ones. For some, this has been a year of tumult and trial, testing their hearts as a people of faith. For others, abundant blessings have been poured out and their hearts are filled with joy and gratitude. Regardless of your
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
individual experiences over the past year, whether you can’t wait for a new beginning or are afraid to see a year of blessing end, an interior restlessness seeks to be satisfied. The Church reminds us of this simple truth: in Jesus we find the peace for which we long. The psalmist writes, “‘Come’, says my heart, ‘seek God’s face’; your face Lord, do I seek!” (Ps 27:8). In his book “Jesus of Nazareth,” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote that Jesus is the one who sees the Father face to face; and now that we are able to see Him, we can see God. In short, Jesus has come to give God a face for us to look at and to draw us into deep relationship with Him. Pope Francis takes this one step further and says that Jesus is the face of mercy, and in gazing at Him, we find consolation and hope. Jesus Himself says: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:17).
IN LIGHT OF THIS, here are three ways to examine our hearts during this Advent season so that we will fully enter into the joy of Christmas.
1
Have I prepared a place for Him? In the hustle and bustle of this season, reflect on the part of your life that needs Jesus the most. Invite Jesus into the manger of your heart.
2
Have I opened my eyes to see His face? Spend a few minutes at the end of each day and look back on the places where you have seen God active in your life and give Him thanks. Pray that you may become more aware of the way that He comes into your daily routine.
3
Have I opened my ears to hear His voice? Read Scripture and spend a few minutes in silence (even if it just means turning the radio off in the car) so that you hear the good news that Jesus wants to speak to you.
RELATE
Save to give
M A K I N G A P L A N W I L L A L LOW YO U TO B E M O R E G E N E R O U S W I T H YO U R T R E A S U R E
When it comes to giving, how can we better save our money to make a greater impact with our generosity? Here are some ideas for making a plan:
Make a budget.
Outline expenses and include donations in the plan, and place charitable giving at the top of the list. Set a realistic amount that will allow you to give consistently. To help with budgeting, consider attending a financial planning workshop. Use online giving opportunities, which will save time and anxiety.
Pick a charity from the heart.
Save in unlikely places.
Take advantage of credit card cash back programs, look at public transportation or carpooling to save on gas or make your own coffee rather than going to the coffee shop. Other ideas include sacrificing lunches out, waiting longer between hairstylings or visiting deal sites such as Fatwallet.com or Ebates.com for saving money on purchases.
Saving for a cause you are passionate about will motivate you to stay on budget. In addition to your church, include other charitable efforts such as the Annual Catholic Appeal, Beyond Sunday, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary or St. Vincent de Paul Society.
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DECEMBER 2016 2016 // JANUARY JANUARY 2017 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM Catholic St. St. Louis Louis | DECEMBER
Try cash only.
Avoid using auto-pay apps and credit cards. Something about having to physically hand away your money will make you think twice about each purchase. Collect the coins from your change and save them in a jar for donations. You’ll be surprised how fast money adds up.
Consider in-kind services.
Consider providing in-kind services based on your skills. Sharing talents such as financial consulting services, landscaping, construction and cooking are examples that could benefit your church community, and save it money. Do not consider this a replacement for financial giving. Remember that we are called to be generous with all our gifts.
ANNUAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Offertory
ST EWARDS H I P B U I L D
Whether giving weekly, monthly or yearly, the offertory supports the parish’s mission and ministries.
M Y CHU RC H
My Catholic Giving Guide
Annual Catholic Appeal Supports the immediate and urgent mission of the local Church, including ministries, parishes and schools.
A G U I D E T O G I V I N G I N S T E WA R D S H I P God calls us to be generous with all of our gifts, including our treasure. Our faith teaches us this through the Scriptures: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with first fruits …” (Proverbs 3:9) “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12) In gratitude, we are called to give to God from our first fruits. That means creating a plan for giving to His Church. Throwing a last-minute donation into the collection basket time and again only leaves us frustrated. Having a plan, we can better do our part to share the gifts that God has given us.
BE ST PRACTICES • Create and maintain a household budget
Beyond Sunday Fulfills the long-term needs of Catholic schools and parishes in the archdiocese, with an emphasis on Catholic school scholarships for middle-income families.
Second Collections Supports the priorities of the pope and bishops through specific national and worldwide ministries.
• Plan your giving annually (see worksheet on page 12) • Use your parish’s electronic offering (if applicable) • Understand that tithing literally means to give 10 percent of your income. Suggested amounts: 5 percent to the local parish and 5 percent to other Church needs and charities that serve the greater community.
Parish Capital Campaign Provides the means for parishes to carry out specific projects.
“Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2
Corinthians 9:6-7
Community Charities Opportunities to support the mission of nonprofit organizations and other needs.
USE THE WORKSHEET ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE TO PLAN YOUR GIVING
Contact David Baranowski, Stewardship Education Director | (314) 792-7215 | davidbaranowski@archstl.org | www.archstl.org/stewardship
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M Y C AT HOL IC G I V I NG G U I DE WOR K S H E E T T E A R
O U T
A N D
1. C A L C U L AT E ANNU AL GRO SS FAM ILY INCO ME :
K E E P
W O R K S H E E T
2. DE T E RMI N E A N N UA L PE RC E N TA GE TO G I V E :
My income $ My spouse’s income $ Other income $ Total $
Tithing (10%) (or) Other
% %
3. C A L C U L AT E AN NU AL D O LLAR GIV ING AM O UN T :
Total Annual Gross Family Income X Annual Giving Percentage = Annual Dollar Giving Amount $ X % = $ 4. DET ER M I N E D OL L A R AM O U NT FO R EACH GIVI N G OPPORT UN I T Y:
OFFERTORY Weekly $
(or) Monthly $
Annual $
ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL Annual $ B E YON D S U N DAY o r PA R I S H C A P I TA L C A M PA IG N Annual $ SECOND COLLECTIONS/MINISTRY SUPPORT Annual Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal $ Annual Seminary Collection $ Black & Indian Missions $ Campaign for Human Development $ Catholic Communications Campaign $ Catholic Home Missions Appeal $ Catholic Relief Services $ Catholic University of America $ Church in Central & Eastern Europe $ Formation of Permanent Deacons $ Glennon Sunday $ Holy Land $ Latin America Apostolate $ Peter’s Pence (for the Pope) $ Regina Cleri $ Respect Life Apostolate $ Retirement Fund for Religious $ St. Louis Review Subscription $ St. Vincent de Paul Society $ World Mission Sunday $ COMMUNITY CHARITIES & UNEXPECTED NEEDS $ $ $ $ TOTAL ANNUAL GIVING AMOUNT: $ 12
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
GIVING EXAMPLE 1. Calculate annual gross income: My income $45,000 Spouse’s income $10,000 Other income $5,000 Total $60,000 2. Determine annual percentage to give: 3% OR 10% 3. Calculate annual giving amount:
$60,000 x 3% $1,800
$60,000 x 10% $6,000
4. Determine dollar amount for each giving opportunity:
$1,800 x 50% $900 $900 ÷ 52 $17.3
Parish offertory
$6,000 x 50% $3,000
Weekly offertory
$3,000 ÷ 52 $57.7
OR
$900 ÷ 12 $75
Monthly offertory
$3,000 ÷ 12 $250
$20 x 20 $400
Annual second collections (20)
$50 x 20 $1,000
$200 Annual Catholic Appeal
OTHER CHARITIES Grade school fundraiser
$75
$75 $50 $40 $60 $300
$600 $300
High school fundraiser Charity 1 Charity 2 Beyond Sunday Capital Campaign
$300
O T H E R T O TA L S
$1,400
$250 $200 $350
PRAY
GOD IS ON THE LINE P R AY E R I N V O LV E S F O S T E R I N G A N I N T I M AT E C O M M U N I C AT I O N W I T H G O D .
By JENNIFER
CO M M U N I C AT I ON I S KEY TO MA I N TA I N I N G R E L ATI O N S H I P S .
BRINKER
Without communication, relationships with our spouse, our children and our friends fall apart. But what about communication with God? The answer to that is prayer. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states: “Prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with His Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 2565) As God gradually reveals Himself and reveals man to Himself, prayer appears as a reciprocal call, a covenant drama. Through words and actions, this drama engages the heart.” (CCC 2567) If we understand that prayer is communication with God, we better understand the elements of that communication.
Photo by LISA JOHNSTON
TIP S TO KEEP IN MIN D:
• People long to have God speak to them. When we hear the words “meditation” or “contemplation,” we tend to glaze over and our thoughts wander, said Sister Marysia Weber, RSM, director of the archdiocesan Office of Consecrated Life. “There is a misconception that you have to be a doctor of the Church or live in a monastery before you can meditate or contemplate.”
• Our Lord longs for us to have an intimate relationship with Him. That’s offered in many ways through the great gift of prayer. Our faith offers a rich spiritual heritage in the classic forms of prayer. • Prayer involves reflection. Whether thinking about our needs or thoughts of praise, we need to think about what it is we are saying to God.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF A SIX-PART SERIES ON PRAYER AS COMMUNICATION.
Prayer as communication • Sacred silence • Listening to God • Being deliberate in prayer • Making prayer a habit • Emphasizing communication
“Regardless of our state in life, we are all called to grow in holiness, and to grow in a deeper, intimate relationship with our Lord who loves us so much,” Sister Marysia said. • Prayer also involves listening. We live in a world in which we experience constant chatter. To foster communication with God, we also need to spend time listening to what He is saying. 13
FAMILY
Do an Advent calendar with acts of service for each day.
Make items that relate to Christ,
such as ornaments with names for Christ on them (Son of God, I Am, Jesus, Savior, Emmanuel).
Brainstorm with the kids about a gift the family wants to give Jesus and then choose one.
Make or purchase Christ-centered tags, wrapping paper, etc.
Make homemade gifts or donations
in the names of recipients. Visit Pinterest for ideas for making gifts.
What do you want for Christmas? Jesus, maybe?
Have a birthday cake for Baby Jesus and sing “Happy Birthday.”
Instead of exchanging gifts with extended family, have everyone purchase a gift for a crisis pregnancy center, a homeless shelter or someone in particular need that year.
Hang a Jesus stocking so everyone can put notes to Him in it.
Catholics know the importance of keeping Christ in Christmas, but putting that into Read the Christmas story from the Bible before opening gifts.
action isn’t as simple. Between planning get-togethers, gift exchanges and the general hustle and bustle, everyone could use help in this. Here are simple suggestions on how to have a Christ-centered Christmas:
Bring a cake or cookies
to a homeless shelter or similar facility.
Suggestions compliments of JULIE A. BOSTICK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN OFFICE OF LAITY AND FAMILY LIFE.
Visit one of the Catholic gift and book stores in the St. Louis area and look for gift options such as rosaries, children’s books, religious-themed movies and more. Give children a Nativity set for play.
14
Make a gift of personal acts of service or spending time with someone who receives few visitors.
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
Limit the number of gifts
that you give to the kids and remind them that it isn’t their birthday. It’s Jesus’ birthday.
Hide the Baby Jesus from the Nativity set and let kids try to find Him, either before opening presents or on Christmas Eve.
THE
M O B I L E CHURCH W I T H A N AG E S PA N O F T WO D E C A D E S A N D A M O B I L E M I N D S E T, YO U N G A D U LT S S E E M E L U S I V E F O R T H E C H U R C H . H E R E ’ S H OW T WO PA R I S H E S A R E R E A C H I N G O U T.
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Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in south St. Louis County hosts a “Food Truck Friday” several times a year for the whole parish. The event draws hundreds of people from the parish and beyond, including many young adults.
According to the U.S. bishops, young adults are ages 18-39 — that’s a span of 21 years. They’re college students, workers and professionals or in the military. They’re single, married, divorced or widowed. Some have children. Some don’t. And now our culture is always on the go —
T H E Y ’ R E AT C H U R C H O N S U N D AY A N D AT PA R I S H E V E N T S . B U T
thanks to mobile devices, social media and moving around the country for career and education. Young adults are delaying marriage and having children, too. These and other challenges are making it more difficult for parishes to connect with these adults, who are still developing roots.
DO WE KNOW THE YO U N G A D U LT S I N O U R PA R I S H CO M M U N I T I E S ?
Young adults are sometimes less inclined to register at a parish, but when they do, it doesn’t mean they’re entirely committed to a single church community. When Amanda Broussard moved to St. Louis after discerning a religious
F O R T H AT M AT T E R , DO WE KNOW THE DEFINITION OF A YO U N G A D U LT ?
vocation, she found a home at the Cathedral Parish, where she sings with the choir. But on Sunday mornings, she also spends time at St. Luke the Evangelist in Richmond Heights, where a Scripture study group for young adults meets after the 10:30 a.m. Mass every week. “I feel like it’s very easy to forget us, because I’m not married and don’t have children in PSR or Catholic school,” the 32-year-old Broussard
By JENNIFER BRINKER
said. “I’m in that in-between stage — not in school and I don’t have kids yet.” She was welcomed at St. Luke by the pastor, Father John-
Photography by LISA JOHNSTON AND SID HASTINGS
Paul Hopping, who stressed the importance of rooting herself in parish life.
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“I FEEL LIKE IT’S VERY EASY TO FORGET US, BECAUSE I’M NOT MARRIED AND DON’T HAVE CHILDREN IN PSR OR CATHOLIC SCHOOL,” 32-YEAR-OLD AMANDA BROUSSARD SAID. “I’M IN THAT IN-BETWEEN STAGE — NOT IN SCHOOL AND I DON’T HAVE KIDS YET.” SHE WAS WELCOMED AT ST. LUKE BY THE PASTOR, FATHER JOHNPAUL HOPPING, WHO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF ROOTING HERSELF IN PARISH LIFE. 18
St. Louis Louis | DECEMBER Catholic St. DECEMBER 2016 2016 // JANUARY JANUARY 2017 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
TOP NEEDS OF YO U N G A D U LT S CO M M U N IC AT ION
“He wants us there,” Broussard said. “He wants us to form an intentional community and tells us all the time, ‘You need each other. You need to be able to build relationships.’” Parishes have long recognized the need to reach out to young adults, but part of the challenge is identifying them and their needs. Last fall, when parishes in the archdiocese participated in parish viability studies to determine strengths and weaknesses, many cited a lack of outreach to young adults. Of the top 10 parishes that cited a deficit in adult faith formation, seven specifically referred to a lack of engagement with young adults. Nick Lee, director of the archdiocesan Office of Young Adult Ministry, works with parishes to develop individualized plans for outreach to young adults. “I tell parishes not to be rigid in their outreach, and to see that within that (age) range, you will have married and not married, those with children or no children,” he said. “You need to consider the programming. If you plan an event on a Saturday morning, people with kids might feel excluded.” Lee said the underlying priority should be to provide solid faith-formation opportunities for young adults. Well-catechized young adults will become strongly rooted within the parish community, he added. “It’s a pretty uncatechized generation,” Lee said. “Parishes need to rethink their catechesis. They should be asking, ‘How are we providing young adult faith formation?’”
Amanda Broussard is a member of St. Luke Parish in Richmond Heights. Broussard feels welcomed by the pastor, Father JohnPaul Hopping, even though she is in that “in-between” stage: she’s out of school but doesn’t have kids yet.
Consider communication methods beyond parish bulletins and snail mail. Communications via text (Flocknote), app (My Parish App—an app that is free to all parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis) and social media are just as important. Consistent use of those methods of communication is equally critical. Infrequent attempts at communication (tweeting once or twice a month, for example) won’t register on the radar of young adults, who are saturated in various methods of social communication.
T EC H N O LO GY The parish website should have a fresh, inviting look that is easy to navigate. Consider designing a mobile-first website — meaning content is easily navigable on mobile devices. Content should be current. Consider including an online registration form for new parishioners. Access to information on parish ministries should be prominent.
IN VE ST M E N T Having designated volunteers lead a parish young adult ministry is beneficial, but consider hiring someone, even if only for a few hours a week, to coordinate the ministry. Having someone on staff would help boost the ministry.
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YA C H T C L U B The cafeteria at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was transformed into a smorgasbord, with containers of beef, chicken, pasta and vegetables placed on the tables. More than 30 people came to the Oakville parish on a Thursday evening for a make-ahead meal prep event with personal chef Katie Wilson of Katie Cooks. The gathering was just one of several events sponsored by the YACHT Club, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s young adult group, which formed in the fall of 2015. Parishioners Carolyn and Todd Guidry were involved in Church youth ministry and college campus ministry, so they were familiar with the transition teens make from high school youth ministry to being considered young adults. Carolyn Guidry approached pastor Msgr. Norb Ernst about starting the YACHT Club. While the name has a fancy flair about it, Guidry joked that the moniker really just serves as an acronym for something more straightforward — Young Adult Catholics Hanging Together. As a 30-something mother of three, Guidry explained the difficulty of meeting other people at her parish. There was a period in which her children were too young for school, and she worked full-time outside of the home. “It was challenging to meet people,” she said. “Everybody seemed to leave right after church.” She floated the idea to a few other young moms. “Do you think anyone will even come to that?” “That’s like youth ministry stuff, isn’t it?” they asked. But Guidry had a bigger picture in mind. Some will come to activities, some won’t and some might only participate in parts of it — and all of that was OK. The underlying purpose was to give young adults a place to connect with the parish, but also design events that would be welcoming to the larger parish community. “We wanted it to be multifaceted, so we set out with the intention of having spiritual, social and service events,” she said. For the make-ahead meal prep, several young adults brought parents, co-workers and friends with no connection to the parish. Food Truck Friday is another popular gathering held several times a year, and draws hundreds of people from the parish, as well as from neighboring parishes and the community.
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Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
Kathy Door, left, talked with Carolyn Guidry and her husband, Todd Guidry, and their two-year-old daughter, Clare. They are all members of the YACHT Club at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Oakville. Door organizes the “Food Truck Friday” events held several time throughout the year at the church.
T H E YA C H T C L U B FITS RIGHT IN W I T H T H E PA R I S H ’ S M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T, WHICH IS “TO BE WELCOMING AND PA S S A LO N G T H E FA I T H TO T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N , S O T H AT T H E Y ’ R E PROUD TO LIVE T H E I R FA I T H .” — MSGR. NORB ERNST
ADVICE FOR YO U N G A D U LT S
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ST EP I T U P
M A K E A CO M M IT M E N T
Don’t wait for the parish to come to you. Get involved in a parish ministry (or several), even if the group is not geared toward young adults.
There are many convenient options for where to attend Mass in the archdiocese. However, making a specific commitment to a parish — whether through registering, supporting through offertory or getting involved in ministries — helps build up the church community.
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
S E E K FA IT H FO R M AT ION Consider joining an adult faith formation group, or starting one at your parish.
Monica Scheipeter, Karen Schneider, Heidi Haarmann and Kathy Door made bean enchilada stacks at a YACHT Club (Young Adult Catholics Hanging Together) gathering at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church. The event featured Katie Wilson of Katie Cooks who guided the young adults in meal preparation. Carolyn Guidry, who founded the YACHT Club at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, at a gathering in September, said she wanted YACHT Club to be multifaceted, with spiritual, social and service events.
But Guidry knew that getting the word out about the events could not happen just within the pages of a bulletin or in an announcement after church. She also expanded the messaging to a Facebook group and email list. “Facebook is the primary mode of communication for young adults right now,” she said. “I feel like Twitter is for younger people, in college.” With 2,500 households, it’s easy to get lost in the machine of parish life. The YACHT Club fits right in with the parish’s mission statement, which is “to be welcoming and pass along the faith to the next generation, so that they’re proud to live their faith,” Msgr. Ernst said. Part of that work has been strengthening its outreach to youths and young adults. “We’ve had a youth minister for a long time, so (young adult ministry) was on our minds,” he said. About 10 years ago, the parish organized a ministry geared toward young adults, but it only lasted a couple of years. The difference this time, it was organized by someone in the trenches — in this case, the Guidrys — rather than someone on the parish staff. Hopefully having parishioners from the targeted audience take hold of the ministry will give it staying power, Msgr. Ernst said. But when you’re dealing with a transitory group in which the makeup of its members is constantly changing, it’s
“ T H E G O A L I S T O H AV E T H E M C O N N E C T A N D B E PA R T O F T H E PA R I S H , W H E R E T H E I R G I F T S A N D TA L E N T S A R E A P P R E C I AT E D .” — MSGR. NORB ERNST
important to have a plan in place so the ministry can sustain itself long-term, he added. Beyond YACHT Club activities, young adults have become immersed in the overall life of the parish. For instance, they have helped with landscaping on the parish grounds, participated in designated adoration times, led the Children’s Liturgy of the Word at Mass and built a new cubby space for the preschool classroom. “The goal is to have them connect and be part of the parish, where their gifts and talents are appreciated,” Msgr. Ernst said.
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S T. L U K E ’ S YO U N G A D U LT S When Rich and Sally Kurz moved to St. Louis last summer, they went online to find a parish close to home. They landed upon St. Luke the Evangelist in Richmond Heights. “The parish, for whatever reason, had a really dated website,” Rich Kurz said. “I don’t think it had changed for a decade.” He approached the parish and asked if he could use his skills as an IT worker to revamp the site. The refresh included adding a parish registration form and a link for online giving.
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Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
The Kurzes met Father John-Paul Hopping, who had just been appointed pastor at St. Luke in 2015. Eager to address a declining enrollment at the parish (about 190 people attend three weekend Masses), the priest began going door to door around the neighborhood that summer, inviting people to visit. His interactions revealed something intriguing: “American society is adrift,” he said. “People seem to be not sure why we’re here or where we’re going. Hopefully, I left the impression that the church up the street cared enough to find them.” Soon after, the Kurzes suggested forming a Sunday morning Scripture study group after Mass. While organized by young adults, the group is open to all adults. A movie night and discussion, held every other Friday, was added later. A recent viewing of “For Greater Glory” led to
“ H E S A I D I T ’ S S O I M P O R TA N T T O B E PA R T O F O N E PA R I S H , S O YO U C A N B E PA R T O F T H E CO M M U N I TY A N D B R I N G YO U R G I F TS T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y. I T J U S T B U I L D S T H E C O M M U N I T Y, A N D T H E C H U R C H N E E D S Y O U T O H E L P D O T H I S .” — C H R I S S C H WA R T Z
YO U N G A D U LT MINISTRY The archdiocesan Office of Young Adult Ministry revamped its website this fall to serve as a portal for information on events, resources for parishes and links to young adult groups in the archdiocese. The ministry, which is part of the archdiocesan Catholic Youth Apostolate, formed in 2011 and has provided support to existing young adult groups and offered events, including a monthly Theology on Tap in Kirkwood, retreats, pilgrimages and social events. Much of the office’s activity in the first few years has focused on events, said director Nick Lee. Now with the revamping of the website, the office is refocusing its mission to better serve parishes as they minister to young adults.
a discussion on modern issues related to religious liberty. “We don’t want to only be servicing young adults,” Rich Kurz said. “We considered changing our name, and it shows we’re addressing a need, but it’s bigger. Every person in the parish counts.” Becca and Chris Schwartz were among the first to join. The newly married couple lives in University City, but they started coming to St. Luke when Becca Schwartz, a nanny for a family in Richmond Heights, met Father Hopping as he was going door to door. Before coming to St. Luke, Chris Schwartz parish-hopped quite a bit. “There are many different Mass times all over the place, so if I wake up too late, or whatever the reason, I can find a Mass just about anywhere,” he explained. When he started coming to St. Luke’s, Father Hopping gave him some sage advice:
Mike Bradshaw held his 9-monthold son Bodhi at the 10:30 a.m. Mass in August at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Richmond Heights. The parish hosts a Young Adult Ministry that meets weekly after the 10:30 Mass for single and married adults older than 19.
Lee said he’d like to see parishes offer mentoring opportunities, in which more experienced parishioners connect with young adults and develop them into roles with more responsibility.
ST. LO U IS YO U N G A D U LTS Website: stlyoungadults.com /stlyoungadults STLYoungAdults nicklee@archstl.org stlyoungadults
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“He said it’s so important to be part of one parish, so you can be part of the community and bring your gifts to the community,” Schwartz recalled. “It just builds the community, and the Church needs you to help do this.” Father Hopping hopes the young adult group will lead to an investment in other ministries to help build the parish community. Most of all, providing a solid faith formation will help them to see the importance of that investment. “They’re getting little bits of truth, but we also need to be hitting the contemporary issues,” Father Hopping said.
“THE UNIQUENESS OF C AT H O L I C C H R I S T I A N I T Y I S T H AT W E S H A R E W H Y G O D WA N T S U S H E R E . W H AT G I V E S M E E N C O U R AG E M E N T I S T H AT EVERY HUMAN NEEDS I N T I M A C Y. T H E Y N E E D T O KNOW THEY’RE LOVED AND WELCOMED.” — FAT H E R J O H N - PA U L H O P P I N G
Becca Bowers Schwartz, right, and her husband Chris Schwartz led a discussion as part of the Young Adults Ministry in August at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Richmond Heights. The Schwartzes are part of a Scripture study group after Sunday Mass which is open to everyone in the parish.
Father John-Paul Hopping, left, pastor at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Richmond Heights, visited with parishioner Rich Kurz before a young adults movie night in September. Kurz was one of the organizers of the young adult group at St. Luke. 26
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
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Doctors and nurses trained in the Reach Out and Read program perform routine health checkups from infancy through five years — with medical tools and children’s books. The child takes a new book to read with the family. Dr. Mary Kate Lockhard, left, gave 18-month-old Jorian Shaw a book to take home and read with his father, Darren Shaw.
REACH OUT AND HELP KIDS READ Donors help SSM Cardinal Glennon distribute 65,000 books annually
D
r. Mary Kate Lockhart extended her hand as she introduced herself to Darren Shaw and his 18-month-old son, Jorian. The
toddler, having missed his afternoon nap, was initially fussy at the well-child visit at the Danis Pediatrics Clinic at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. But Lockhart soon made a connection with him.
A nice surprise awaited the young family — one to enhance parent-child interaction and support the toddler’s healthy brain development, which forms the foundation for success later at school and in life. Lockhart, a confident, friendly first-year resident in pediatrics, handed the little guy “Hello Fire Truck,” a book by Marjorie Blain Parker, and explained to his young father the benefits of reading to children. The book donation was made through Reach Out and Read, a national program coordinated at 34 pediatric sites by the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation and made possible by donations from the community. About 50,000 families are served by the program through SSM Cardinal Glennon, with 65,000 books distributed annually. A third of children entering kindergarten lack the language skills necessary to learn to read. Their families generally live at or below the federal poverty level, and they aren’t exposed to books or read to at home. 28
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
By JOSEPH KENNY
Reach Out and Read’s research also shows that parents who are served by the program are two-anda-half times more likely to read to their children, with most reading to their children more than three times a week. Children’s language development is improved by 3-6 months. Laura Ruhland, a nurse, is a team leader at Danis Center, a primary care office at which about 80 percent of the children are from Medicaid-eligible families and generally have few books at home. “Starting young, at least 6 months of age with parents showing the pictures, reading to them and talking about the books, is a huge part of learning,” Ruhland said. The nurse cited instances in which 3- and 4-year-olds start asking for their books as soon as they come in the door. “They’re so excited, it’s hard for the nurses to wait for the physician to give them the book,” Ruhland said. “Even the older kids, they’ll read a book in a week and want another book. How can you say no to a kiddo who’s so excited to get a new book?”
REACH OUT AND READ • A national program, it was founded on the local level in 2005 at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Thanks to the donors, the staff grants the requests. The age-appropriate books are purchased new at a steep discount, with more costly, thick board books acquired for the youngest children. Important developmental milestones include a 1-year-old pointing to objects and colors in a book, and a 3-year-old retelling stories, said Dr. Kenneth Haller, a primary care pediatrician at SSM Cardinal Glennon and associate professor of pediatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Citing the studies compiled by Reach Out and Read, he said that “a kid who comes from a poor household, by the time they’re 3 years of age, will hear about 10 million words; a kid from a working-class environment will hear about 20 million words; and a kid from a high-income environment will hear 40 million words. Now, that has a huge impact on their ability to do well in school.” Parents pay attention when pediatricians and nurses tell them the importance of reading books to children, having them repeat the story back, pointing out colors, shapes and objects and naming those items. “We have that credibility, we’re trusted advisers for the family, so when the doctor or nurse says, ‘This is really important for your child’s health,’ they’re liable to take it more seriously than if it comes from someone else,” Haller said. Haller had a grandmother show him photos of her 2-year-old granddaughter with a treasured Reach Out and Read book that she’d received when she was a year old. The toddler’s mother had been deployed with the military to Afghanistan, and the book was the child’s connection to her mom. Another time, a dad who was alone caring for two children, ages 4 and 6 months, was struggling with his
• Improves developmental outcomes for children growing up in poverty, putting them on the same level as their peers. The children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, scoring higher on vocabulary tests and school readiness assessments, according to studies published in the journals “Pediatrics,” “Clinical Pediatrics,” “the Journal of the National Medical Association,” “the Journal of Community Medicine” and “Health Education” and elsewhere. • Focuses on the formative years, 6 months age 5. Funds are sought for the purchase of books. After the elimination of federal support in 2013, Reach Out and Read St. Louis was in a bind until the SSM Cardinal Glennon Foundation stepped in to assist in raising funds. To contribute, visit www.glennon.org/reachoutandread or mail a check to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, 3800 Park Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110. For information, contact Gary Shipper at (314) 678-6617, (314)420-6383 or Gary_Shipper@ssmhc.com.
confidence. They talked about the older child, and the dad said he didn’t think his boy did anything well. Haller gave him the Reach Out and Read book. The 4-year-old pointed out a cow, cat, ball, colors and more. “His father had this look of wonder,” Haller recalled. “I said to him, ‘You are the most important person in his life.’ At first, the father said, ‘No I’m not.’ He scoffed at it. But I said to him, ‘Really, you feed him, you clothe him, you love him. What you say to him now is going to make him the man he is going to become.’” A few weeks later, the man was at the clinic for the baby’s checkup and asked for the doctor. Haller almost didn’t recognize him because he was smiling. The man said he was doing great — with the help of a social worker Haller had arranged, he was able to keep his job and get day care. “He said, ‘Hey, there’s one other thing I want to tell you. That book you gave us. I’ve been reading that to my son every night. He’s a really smart kid,’” Haller said. “That’s the power of this program. It really helped this man see what a gift his son was to him. It just made a huge difference in that relationship.”
READ, READ, READ • Reach Out and Read staffers have compiled a list of favorite books and tips to help parents read to their children. Visit www.stlouisreview.com/b8e. • Books build better brains. For tips on reading to children, visit www.stlouisreview.com/b8t. A study published in the journal “Pediatrics” in June 2015 showed that reading aloud to young children promotes development of a part of the brain associated with learning to read.
“Don’t ever underestimate the importance of sitting down and reading to a kid — get a book, read it to them when you have a few minutes and then ask them to tell the story back. Let them know how much you enjoy that.” — Dr. Kenneth Haller, primary care pediatrician, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
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PROFILE The Magazine of the Archdiocese of St. Louis PUBLISHER
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PRINT MANAGEMENT CATHOLIC ST. LOUIS, a membership publication of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, is published six times per year in February, April, June, August, October and December, by the Archdiocese of St. Louis at 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63119. Periodicals postage paid at St. Louis, Missouri and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic St. Louis, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63119. Postal service permit #06-242. © Catholic St. Louis. Send all subscription information address changes to Catholic St. Louis, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63119; 314.792.7500 or email publications@archstl.org. ISSN 21682879
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JOEY VA L ENZA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Sales Oratory, south St. Louis
FA M ILY: Wife Amanda and children Gianna (3), Francesca (2), Carmelo (2 months)
FAVOR I T E PI ZZ A: Tomato, mozzarella and basil
FAVOR I T E SAI N TS : St. Pio of Pietrelcina (a.k.a. Padre Pio) and St. Joseph
M E LO’S PI ZZ E R I A is on Facebook and at www.melospizzeria.com
Catholic St. Louis | DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY ANUARY 2017 | CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM CATHOLICSTLOUIS.COM
As told to JENNIFER BRINKER
Photo by LISA
JOEY VALENZA S FAITH INFLUENCES HIS WORK IN THE FAMILY PIZZA BUSINESS
JOHNSTON
The 6,000-pound wood-fired oven is the pièce de résistance at Melo’s Pizzeria. The glossy mosaic tribute to St. Louis King of France is partly a nod to the Valenza family’s Catholic roots, but also a reflection of pride in our fair city. Blues City Deli owner Vince Valenza opened the pizzeria in a small brick garage on the back end of the deli’s property in Benton Park in December 2015. His sons Joey, Johnny and Vinnie assist at both eateries, but it’s been Joey Valenza who has taken the reins with his knack for making Neapolitan-style pies. Joey shares a bit about the family business and how his Catholic faith guides his work.
H OW D ID M E LO’S P IZZ ERIA STA RT?
WHAT MAKE S A GO O D PIZZA?
HOW DO E S FA IT H G UI D E YO UR WO R K?
It’s named after my grandfather, Carmelo, who was born in St. Louis and is of Sicilian descent. There was a Sicilian neighborhood near the Shrine of St. Joseph, and he went to Patrick Henry School until the seventh grade. He then started working in the produce business; he was a delivery driver on Produce Row. My grandmother’s family owned a produce stand in Union Market, and they met there. My dad started Blues City Deli 12 years ago. The deli was very small at first and kept expanding. In 2007, it started growing and getting popular. My dad bought the building in 2013, and that came with the garage, which was ready to fall apart. They did a pretty good renovation. This is in a national historical neighborhood, so we had to follow the rules for preservation. Right around the time Dad bought the building, I was getting into baking bread. I really wanted to start a bakery in the garage and bake the bread for the deli.
The base of it is having a good crust. In order to do that, you need to have a really hot oven. (The oven heats up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit; a pizza takes about 1.5 minutes to bake.) The artistry of it all is attractive to me.
For any business owner, to keep a level head, you’ve got to have a strong prayer life. Praying the Rosary, especially as a family, is very important. Even when you’re super busy and you don’t think you have enough time to pray, which can happen sometimes, by making yourself do it every day, it helps a great deal with handling all the obstacles that you’re faced with.
HOW DID YO U LE ARN T HE ART O F MAKING BRE AD? A lot of YouTube videos. You can find anything there, you just have to have knowledge of what’s good and what’s bad and go from there. The food— I think it’s in our genes. We all sort of have a knack for it. It’s all about knowing what tastes good together. I was baking a lot of bread at home and making pizzas in the oven and then it wasn’t enough for me. I took it a step further and started making them on the grill. It’s always been about the dough. Plus, bread is sort of a spiritual food.
DO YO U HAV E A NY S PECIF IC DE VOT I O NS? I have a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. Every morning, I’m really busy, so I pray three Hail Marys in the morning. It gets me off on the right foot. It’s important when people come in that they see faith is important to us. We have religious pictures on the wall (Immaculate Heart of Jesus and Mary, St. Joseph and San Damiano cross) to keep God part of daily life, which I feel is missing in society. 31
DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017
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