Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Reviews
Offices of the Bishop, 1210 Locust St
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 231-1220
Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
Offices of the Bishop, 1210 Locust St
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 231-1220
The disputes between St. Stanislaus Parish and St. Louis Archdiocese are all about money, property, asset protection, control, and a belief by one man that he had absolute power to do as he wanted in his position as Archbishop. From 1891 to early 2004, the parishioners of St. Stanislaus lived in relative harmony with past Cardinals and Archbishops, who lead the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For example, on October 18, 1969, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later to be Pope John Paul II, visited St. Louis and spent many hours at the rectory of St. Stanislaus and celebrated Mass later that evening, in 1991 Archbishop May celebrated the historic Centennial event of the deeding of the church property by Archbishop Kenrick to St. Stanislaus, in 2003, Cardinal Rigali blessed the newly completed Polish Heritage Center. What then happened thereafter to impact these harmonious relationships between St. Stanislaus and the past leaders of the Archdiocese? In 2004 the then-Archbishop of the Archdiocese, Raymond L. Burke, determined to put into place a plan that would shield the assets of the Archdiocese from claims asserted by victims of what has become known as the priest scandals. Thousands of persons had filed lawsuits and continue to file lawsuits, claiming that they were victims of sexual abuse by priests of various Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the United States, including the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Roman Catholic Church and its insurers have paid millions of dollars in redress to these claimants. The threat to the solvency of these archdioceses was so compelling that some took the extraordinary step of filing for bankruptcy. Archbishop Burke's Plan in his words would be a "…revision of the form of civil law structure of parishes [of the Archdiocese, but not St. Stanislaus, a civil corporation, which unlike these other parishes owned its assets outright] to nonprofit corporations…." Because these parishes were associations, with assets owned by the Archdiocese, the assets were at risk to be used to pay the claims of the victims. By using the civil law structure of nonprofit corporations, only the assets of the particular parish where the accused priest served would be at risk to pay claims. The assets of the other parishes in the Archdiocese would not or so the reasoning went. Prior to the Plan being instituted, Archbishop Burke observed that "The parishes of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with the exception of St. Stanislaus…are presently structured in the form of unincorporated associations." With ominously chilling candor, Archbishop Burke, confident that all of his decisions and actions would never be questioned, promised: Once the final form has been given to the proposed revision of the civil law structure of the [other] parishes, St. Stanislaus…will be asked to accept the same civil structure as every other parish in the Archdiocese. If the board of director [of St. Stanislaus] refuses to revise the present structure of civil incorporation I will be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese [sometimes referred to herein as "suppression"]. In addition, in a letter to the parishioners of St. Stanislaus the Archbishop further defined what he would demand of St. Stanislaus, stating: I must insist that [St. Stanislaus] comply with the norm of Church law, as does every other parish in the Archdiocese, in what pertains to its structure….[St. Stanislaus] will continue to hold all of its [assets], but the administration of the [assets] will be carried out under the direction of the [Pope], [myself] and the priest [whom I appoint]…." What Archbishop Burke did not clearly disclose in his communication with the members of St. Stanislaus is what he meant when he used the word "administration" as defined by the Church. The term "administration" in "Burkespeak" would allow the Archbishop to sell, change, and control parish property, so that while title might technically remain with St. Stanislaus the power to manage and fully control that power would be conveyed to Archbishop Burke. He backed up his demand with the threat that if St. Stanislaus did not obey he would remove it from the Archdiocese. In issuing this ultimatum Archbishop Burke ignored the covenants and provisions of the 1891 documents – documents that the Archdiocese claims govern and define the legal relationship between the Archdiocese and St. Stanislaus. Article III of the Charter expressly contradicts the power that Archbishop Burke claimed he had to compel St. Stanislaus to give him "administrative" control over its assets with these words: "The property, business, and affairs of [St. Stanislaus] shall be managed and fully controlled by a Board of Six directors . . . ." In rightful reliance on secular law and promises guaranteed to it in the 1891 Charter, St. Stanislaus did not "conform" to "the Plan" and true to his word that he would "…be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese" Archbishop Burke decreed that St. Stanislaus was suppressed, a Canon Law term that describes the process by which a local parish is banished from an archdiocese. Before Archbishop Burke took this final action, he ordered the priests serving St. Stanislaus to cease serving it, later excommunicated the board of directors, and excommunicated a young Polish priest who courageously answered the call of the parishioners of St. Stanislaus to minister to their religious needs and lead them in worship, the first time on the eve of the day of the birth of Christ, 2005 before over 2000 joyful parishioners. The young Polish priest was named Father Marek Bozek. Before accepting the call to become the priest at St. Stanislaus, Father Bozek met at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II. Speaking together in Polish, Father Bozek asked the Pope to pray for him as he worked to decide whether he should accept the call from St. Stanislaus. The Pope replied that he had already been praying for Father Bozek and would continue to pray that God would bless Father Bozek's decisions and future ministry. When it was a parish of the Archdiocese, St. Stanislaus was legitimately unique, both in terms of its Polish ethnic heritage, as well as its more secular status as a parish that owned the real property, improvements, and personal property that comprised the St. Stanislaus parish – a status that has existed for over 115 years. Archbishop Burke, as did his predecessors, understood this unique status. In an article in the Archdiocese controlled newspaper several months after he was installed as the ordinary of St. Louis, Archbishop Burke made these telling acknowledgements and admissions as to the special and unique status of St. Stanislaus, a status that he subsequently failed to respect and honor, based on his belief, albeit contrary to secular law, that he had the power to undue what Archbishop Kenrick and St. Stanislaus had agreed to more than one hundred years before Archbishop Burke moved into the mansion on Lindell Blvd. Archbishop Burke wrote in the May 14, 2004 edition of the St. Louis Review: I take great pride in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish as a personal parish for Polish speaking Catholics and Catholics of Polish Heritage in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. . . . The present form of civil incorporation of St. Stanislaus . . . places complete authority for the administration of the parish in the hands of the board of directors, which operates according to its own bylaws. In summary the Archbishop recognized and acknowledged the unique status of St. Stanislaus as "a personal parish" and a form of civil incorporation that "places complete authority for the administration of the parish in the hands of the board of directors, which operates according to its own bylaws." These statements, made by a person, who is now on his way to the Vatican to, according to Archdiocese publicity, become someone akin to the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, unequivocally confirm that the Archbishop knew, understood, and recognized what St. Stanislaus has always correctly contended was its status prior to the date Archbishop suppressed St. Stanislaus. He ends his article with a threat – that in spite of St. Stanislaus being a personal parish vested with complete authority for its administration in its board of directors – he would suppress or banish St. Stanislaus from the Archdiocese if it did not agree to his demand that it no longer be a personal parish and no longer have authority for the "administration" of its assets vested in its board of directors, presumably because he believed, as the Archbishop, that he had the power to do so regardless of the legal status confirmed on St. Stanislaus in 1891. In the article the Archbishop did not assert that the Archdiocese and/or he had certain legal rights to control St. Stanislaus. In fact Archbishop Burke wrote to the contrary, acknowledging the unique status of St. Stanislaus. Nor did he accuse St. Stanislaus of any violations of Church Canon Law, question the faith of its members, nor indicate that it was not Roman Catholic. At the time that the Archbishop made the startling admissions and in substance said, "I don't care what the relationship is legally, if St. Stanislaus does not obey me they will be punished," the Archdiocese had placed a young priest and canon lawyer in the parish as Parochial Administrator named Father Philip Bene. Father Bene did not speak Polish and was not an effective administrator, much less a competent pastor for the spiritual and pastoral needs of the members of St. Stanislaus. But for the furtherance of the Archbishop's agenda he was obedient, compliant and loyal to his superior the Archbishop. In his article in the St. Louis Review, Archbishop Burke wrote: Regarding parish funds, no bishop [and presumably no priest either] may confiscate the funds of any parish. Such action is directly forbidden by the Code of Canon Law. The Archdiocese and some ill-intentioned individuals allege that in 2004, an unresolved dispute arose among the directors of St. Stanislaus regarding the operation of the Parish. There was such a dispute, but the Archdiocese in bad faith fails to provide any background on the nature of the dispute. In fact the St. Stanislaus Board of Directors had notified Father Bene that the Parish operating funds and a never before touched emergency fund (approximately $60,000) had been exhausted by him and asked him to account for the missing funds. He refused to do. This was "the unresolved dispute" - a serious dispute that touched upon whether there had been "a confiscation" of St. Stanislaus funds, an act that if true was "directly forbidden by the Code of Cannon Law." Archbishop Burke did nothing to resolve the dispute. He did nothing to investigate whether there was confiscation and misappropriation of parish funds by Father Bene. The Archbishop could not objectively resolve the dispute because Father Bene was his loyalist. Instead, Father Bene who to be an effective pastor had to have the trust and respect of the parishioners of St. Stanislaus breached what little trust and respect he had by arrogantly telling the Board he would not account for the shortfall in parish funds. By failing to hold Father Bene accountable, Archbishop Burke condoned a violation of Canon Law. In the same St. Louis Review article, Archbishop Burke wrote: And I have confirmed publicly my intention to help [St. Stanislaus] in every way possible, pledging that it will enjoy my fullest support. For example, even though the archdiocese anticipates having fewer priests to assign in the coming year, I have promised to St. Stanislaus . . . the service of both a priest of the archdiocese and a native Polish priest. After pledging that St. Stanislaus would "enjoy my fullest support" and promising "the service of both a priest of the archdiocese and a native Polish priest," Archbishop Burke ordered Father Bene to vacate St. Stanislaus overnight without notice in August of 2004, not as a rebuke to Father Bene, but as punishment directed to St. Stanislaus because it had not shown a willingness to implement "the Plan." Thereafter, Archbishop Burke refused to assign a new priest to St. Stanislaus and, as already plead, continued his campaign of coercion and punishment for "disobedience" by excommunication and suppression. He also forbade the holding of baptisms and marriages in the St. Stanislaus owned church. And not surprisingly he never resolved the "dispute." Moreover, Father Bene, when he packed and left St. Stanislaus suddenly without a priest, took property of the parish without permission, including books and records, furniture, sacred objects for worship, and Polish hymnals, which are now being used at another archdiocesan parish and have stamped on the inside cover "Property of St. Stanislaus." The property that disappeared in the night, when Father Bene followed the orders of Archbishop Burke, was as noted the property of St. Stanislaus, paid for by the members of the parish. Because it was a "personal parish" as Archbishop Burke described it, virtually no monies were given to St. Stanislaus by the Archdiocese over the years. Stunned that the actions of Archbishop Burke did not crush and coerce St. Stanislaus to submit to "the Plan," and dismayed that St. Stanislaus, post suppression, is a growing, flourishing, and vibrant Roman Catholic parish, the Archdiocese along with six individuals turned to the secular courts for relief, constructing a disingenuous Verified Petition that attempts to support the actions of the Archbishop based upon equity and the rule of law, when those actions instead were based upon the unilateral edict of the Archbishop, grounded in a scheme to protect the assets of the Archdiocese from civil claimants victimized by its priests, some of whom have gone to jail. Hence, the contentions of the Archdiocese that St. Stanislaus is no longer a Roman Catholic Church are circular and beg the question because it was Archbishop Burke who broke the promises and covenants granted to St. Stanislaus by Archbishop Kenrick and, under secular law, it is elementary that once one party materially breaches an agreement the other party is released from its obligations. Archbishop Burke's massively miscalculated the will of the people of St. Stanislaus, believing they would "crack" and accede to his demands, making an affront to the dignity of the proud parishioners and a material violation of the legally binding transaction by and between St. Stanislaus and Archbishop Kenrick and his successors. Only after filing a civil lawsuit and realizing that St. Stanislaus would not only not collapse and cave in to the Archbishop and adopt the Plan, has the Archdiocese offered in a press release to place a parish priest at St. Stanislaus. That person, a man named Father Marchlewski, is 75 years old, does not speak Polish, and has a full time position as a teacher at St. Louis University High School. With amazing audacity and failing to disclose the background of Father Marchlewski, the Archdiocese disingenuously suggests that its candidate is capable of serving a growing parish with over 500 families, minimum three Masses every weekend (one in Polish, which is vital to the vibrant heritage of St. Stanislaus), and a myriad of other church and mission programs. Priestless as of August, 2004, St. Stanislaus held prayer meetings on Sundays and limped along until members of the board reached out and found Father Marek Bozek. When Father Bozek agreed to serve St. Stanislaus, filling a need for a parish priest that the Archdiocese had caused, Archbishop Burke, contrary to his promise in the St. Louis Review article to provide two priests, including one who could speak Polish, took these actions against Father Bozek: excommunicated him, convinced Father Bozek's Bishop from the diocese where he served before he came to St. Stanislaus to change his mind and not grant him the leave of absence, tried to convince federal immigration officials to deport Father Bozek, brought charges to have Father Bozek laicized (defrocked as a priest). Ironically, since Father Bozek was called to St. Stanislaus, the membership rolls have increased substantially, along with attendance at Mass, baptisms, marriages, and participation in church activities. Father Bozek is a great and charismatic pastor. His skills as a leader of worship are incredible; his homilies inspiring. Consequently, many people have joined St. Stanislaus and worship there because of his presence as the parish pastor. On March 15, 2012 St. Louis Circuit Judge Bryan Hettenbach, affirmed St. Stanislaus' ownership of its property and its right to craft bylaws that limit the authority of the Roman Catholic Church over our congregation. The case came to trial after 18 months of legal wrangling, and it took Hettenbach more than a year from the end of the trial last February to rule. found for that board in 10 of the case's 12 counts. In the 50-page decision, the judge ruled that "the Archbishop may own the souls of wayward St. Stanislaus parishioners, but the St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation owns its own property." In reading the ruling, one phrase repeatedly jumps out, in count after count: "Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish." On February 13, 2013 St. Stanislaus Parish and the Archdiocese of St. Louis issued the following joint statement: "The Archdiocese of St. Louis and St. Stanislaus have resolved their legal dispute. The Archdiocese will dismiss its appeal and the judgment of the trial court is now final. St. Stanislaus has agreed that it will not hold itself out as affiliated in any way with the Archdiocese of St. Louis or the Roman Catholic Church. By bringing this legal dispute to an end, we pray that this will help to initiate a process of healing.” After 120 years of independence, the people of St. Stanislaus now have a court decision acknowledging their freedom to chart their own course. Now that this long dispute has finally come to end, it is time to move on. ST. STANISLAUS LIVES!!!
NORMAN E. OWENS is FOUNDER/LEAD SERVANT & CSO at The Rhema Church in Saint Louis, Missouri and is on the cutting edge of gospel ministry throughout this country. This powerful man of God delivers a timeless, spirit-filled message of healing and hope that will bring about hollistic restoration to God's elect. His prayer is that your would position yourself for completeness and allow the Spirit of God to penetrate the most inner-part of your human frailty with the double-edged sword of renewal.
The Shrine of St. Joseph is a Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri in Columbus Square. The church began in 1843 when the Jesuits founded the parish to serve the residential community consisting mostly of German immigrants. The church is the site of the only authenticated miracle in the Midwestern United States.History1846–1866After founding the parish in 1843, the Jesuits immediately instituted to build a church. Mrs. Ann Biddle a wealthy widow, known for her many philanthropic deeds, donated the land for the new church. The cornerstone for the new church was blessed by Bishop Kenrick on April 14, 1844. The completed building was a modest building faced west toward 11th Street was dedicated on the first Sunday in August, 1846 with Father James Van de Velde, later Bishop of Chicago, officiating.Soon St. Joseph parish was a very active community. In 1862 a large parish school was built nearby, to care for the many children of the area. The School Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school.1866–1880Just at this time a Jesuit missionary, Father Francis Xavier Weninger, came to St. Joseph's to preach.Over the years the parish grew, it became obvious that the original church was no longer large enough to serve the congregation. It was decided to build a large addition to the old building and to revise the structure so that the entrance faced on Biddle Street. Bishop Kenrick laid the cornerstone for this second St. Joseph in 1865.
District Elder Ron E. Stephens, Pastor Bishop Austin A. Layne, Sr., Founder
The Shrine of St. Joseph is a Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri in Columbus Square. The church began in 1843 when the Jesuits founded the parish to serve the residential community consisting mostly of German immigrants. The church is the site of the only authenticated miracle in the Midwestern United States.History1846–1866After founding the parish in 1843, the Jesuits immediately instituted to build a church. Mrs. Ann Biddle a wealthy widow, known for her many philanthropic deeds, donated the land for the new church. The cornerstone for the new church was blessed by Bishop Kenrick on April 14, 1844. The completed building was a modest building faced west toward 11th Street was dedicated on the first Sunday in August, 1846 with Father James Van de Velde, later Bishop of Chicago, officiating.Soon St. Joseph parish was a very active community. In 1862 a large parish school was built nearby, to care for the many children of the area. The School Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school.1866–1880Just at this time a Jesuit missionary, Father Francis Xavier Weninger, came to St. Joseph's to preach.Over the years the parish grew, it became obvious that the original church was no longer large enough to serve the congregation. It was decided to build a large addition to the old building and to revise the structure so that the entrance faced on Biddle Street. Bishop Kenrick laid the cornerstone for this second St. Joseph in 1865.
Welcome to Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Louis! We are a small, but proud Orthodox parish, and we welcome you to explore our pages to learn more about our parish and its members, but more importantly, our Orthodox Faith. We would love you to join us at 10AM for our Holy Liturgy every Sunday, as well as on our special church holidays. See our website for our calendar, current list of events, services, and Lenten dates. Visit our Announcement pages for special church announcements and event descriptions.
The Church of St. Mary of Victories is a historic Roman Catholic church in downtown St. Louis, Missouri in the Chouteau's Landing Historic District south of the Gateway Arch. It was established in 1843, and was the second Catholic Church to be built in the city. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.HistoryThe church was built to serve the needs of about 500 families who had emigrated from Germany. It is located in the hub of the pioneer "Chouteau's Landing" District, one of the early commercial and residential neighborhoods where the German immigrants settled in pre-Civil War era St. Louis. It took its name from a noted feast day proclaimed by Pope St. Pius V to celebrate the victory of the Christian Navy over Islamic forces in the Battle of Lepanto, off the coast of Italy in the Adriatic Sea in 1571. The church is also a consecrated church (1866) at the direction of Pope Pius IX. It also has an indulgenced High Altar (where hundreds of relics of saints are entombed) bestowed by Pope Leo XIII in the late 19th century.St. Mary's served as the first ethnic parish and spiritual home to the German Roman Catholic population of the city for the next century. It also provided a temporary home to a small community of Lebanese immigrants in the 20th-century, who went on to found a church in their own—present-day St. Raymond Maronite Cathedral in LaSalle Park neighborhood. St. Raymond's is now the Cathedral for the Maronite Eparchy west of the Mississippi River in the USA. Its former Archbishop, Most. Rev. Robert J. Shaheen, built the present St. Raymond's Cathedral under his pastoral administration.The 1950s saw the departure from the city of a large number of the families whose German ancestors had worshiped there. They were replaced by a large community of refugees from Hungary after World War II and the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. They gave new life to the parish, which became unofficially called the "Hungarian Church" (Magyar Templom).
Our purpose is to fulfil the Great Commission by teaching the doctrine of the Apostles though through unconventional methods. Through a genuine love for people and the operation of God’s Spirit we will see a generation of individuals reconciled to Christ Jesus their savior.
Full Gospel United Spiritual Churches of Christ Incorporated is a non denominational fellowship with an edge. This fellowship provides a covering, educational enrichment, leadership training and a nurturing environment for Churches, Ministries and Workers in the Body of Christ. Young or seasoned we welcome you to come grow with us.
Find out more about recent events with ArchCity at http://archcitydefenders.tumblr.com/
Our goal is to reach as many young people as possible, and give them the tools and recourses they would need to become successful entrepreneurs, while building character and teaching them valuable, transferable life skills, and ultimately provide them with alternatives to unemployment, low paying jobs and destructive life choices.
In 2003 Anthony and Kim Thompson started the Kwame Foundation. The Kwame Foundation is a non –profit organization that provide young people an opportunity to learn, grow, and become professionals in their chosen careers. To accomplish our mission the Kwame Foundation provides financial assistance, educational mentorships, internship opportunities, and training in careers consistent with those needed to compete in a changing environment. Although we serve students of all races, our target is minority students pursuing post-secondary and graduate degrees who are bright, talented, high-achieving individuals that would not otherwise have an opportunity for higher education. One of the principles upon which Kwame Foundation was founded was to provide opportunities for growth, development and leadership to young professionals. As an extension of that principle – and in alignment with our holistic approach to sustainability – KWAME supports various education and mentorship focused organizations. In addition, through the Kwame Foundation, we endow scholarships at various institutions of higher learning across the country in order to assist in removing the financial barrier that exists for many minority and first generation college students.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDxStLouis brings together the brightest minds in the St. Louis area to spark deep discussion and connection. About TED TED - Technology, Entertainment, Design - is a non-profit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California nearly 30 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani,Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The Studio houses all media at St. Louis Public Library’s central branch. With over 20,000 CDs and over 4,000 DVDs in The Studio, we have something for everyone, from fiction to non-fiction, feature films and movies for the kids. We even have great TV shows to get you through the week, and educational films for use in the classroom. Our classical and opera music selections are vast, but don’t leave the room without hitting up some jazz or popular music CDs. We have a small collection of local artists from folk to rap, and our indie rock collection is always growing. Not interested in CDs or DVDs? Check out our video games, audiobooks, and playaways. Playaways are digital audiobooks that are great for listening to while you exercise and audiobooks, or books on CD, are perfect for long road trips. Our video game collection has grown to include both Playstation 4 and Xbox One as well! If you can’t find something or have questions about films and filmmakers, flip through one of our reference books on cinema or ask one of The Studio employees for help. If you’re interested in the latest news on music or entertainment, flip through a Billboard magazine, Rolling Stone or Variety, while you listen to some music on your headphones. The Studio hosts a wide range of programs at Central Library throughout the year; we invite you to stop by and check them out or give us a call for more information.
We serve people in Missouri, Illinois and around the world. The New Life Evangelistic Center provides over 150,000 meals and sandwiches, and more than 65,000 nights of emergency overnight shelter every year. We provide 80,000 social service contacts — helping individuals and families throughout mid-America with clothing and food through our free stores, fans, blankets, utility assistance, transportation, medical assistance and housing assistance. The millions of people we serve in the Midwest and around the world include homeless men, women and children, the poor, elderly and families in our communities overwhelmed by the need to provide the basic necessities, and earthquake and hurricane survivors. New Life Evangelistic Center has branches in India and Africa and has long-standing partnerships with organizations in more than 10 countries, including Haiti.
Trailnet provides bicycling and livability programs and events to diverse groups of people. Hallmark programs include Safe Routes to School, Earn 2 Bikes, TravelGreen, Bicycle Fun Club, and Cultural Tours. -Trailnet’s outreach and engagement activities reach individuals from all demographics, backgrounds, and socioeconomic categories, confirming that active transportation is for anyone and everyone. -We help make non-motorized commuting a feasible choice for anyone. -All of our programs focus on educating and encouraging people of all ages to travel throughout their community on bike and on foot. Active, vibrant communities are healthier and safer. -Trailnet’s Bicycle Fun Club is one of the most active bike event programs in the nation and serves up to 10,000 recreational bicyclists annually. -Our TravelGreen program engages and educates those ready to make the switch to active transportation by using their bikes for more than recreation. We build and nurture commuter networks that move people closer to their goals – whether it’s to become healthier, save money, protect the environment, or just to have fun. -All Trailnet programs respond to the shocking statistics that 2/3 of all American adults are either obese or overweight. This holds significant economic value since this “weigh-in” increases the cost of health care for everyone, impacts attendance at work and school due to related illness, and increases fuel usage because vehicles are carrying more weight. Trailnet assists municipalities in designing streets, sidewalks, and trails that allow and encourage people to walk and bike safely through their community. -Trailnet’s community planning team works closely with community leaders, residents, and stakeholders to create safer, healthier, and more active communities. -Between 2001 and 2011, more than 688,000 pedestrians in the U.S. were injured – a number equivalent to a pedestrian being struck by a motorized vehicle every 7 minutes. In Missouri, bicycle related injuries represent more than 10% of all roadway injuries. These numbers present an imperative need for communities to address the safety of all their citizens. -To date we have partnered with 26 municipalities, creating plans that attract and retain residents, stimulate economic development, and improve community health. Trailnet’s Healthy, Active and Vibrant Communities (HAVC) initiative was created in partnership with the Missouri Foundation for Health. It provides opportunities and access to healthy, active living for residents of urban, rural, and suburban communities. -Trailnet’s HAVC initiative focuses at the policy level to produce the farthest-reaching and longest-term solutions to obesity, especially in low-income communities. It includes proven strategies of policy change affecting the built environment and building social networks around healthy lifestyles. -The HAVC initiative has received national recognition as an “emerging intervention” that holds promise for replication. It’s been developed in 11 diverse communities in St. Louis and across the state. -Trailnet staff participates in federal, state, and local policy advocacy, working with partners to draft and file policy, educate policymakers, and promote health- and safety-related initiatives to the public. -Trailnet participated in the passage of two recent St. Louis City ordinances: the Form Based Code ordinance that creates more walkable, bikeable communities, and the Safe Streets ordinance that protects people who walk and bike from endangerment and assault.
The initiative to construct a memorial plaza and memorial building to honor the gallant sons and daughters of Missouri, and of our city, who "made the supreme sacrifice in the World War", began in 1923. Over the course of several years, the City of St. Louis and its citizens raised money for the project. Under the leadership of Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann, and with some funds coming from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (Project No. 5098), the construction of the building, development of the memorial plaza, and improvements to the parks began on October 21, 1935 and the memorial and museum officially opened on Memorial Day, May 30, 1938. "This magnificent edifice, erected as a perpetual reminder of the valor and sacrifice that has enabled America to live, will spur us on as a people to make America greater. We, who live, because others have died, should make of this shrine a place of love and a monument of peace." - Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann, May 30, 1938 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, came to St. Louis to dedicate the site for the Soldiers Memorial building on October 14, 1936. “…Here will rise a fitting structure—a symbol of devoted patriotism and unselfish service. We in America do not build monuments to war: we do not build monuments to conquests; we build monuments to commemorate the spirit of sacrifice in war—reminders of our desire for peace. The memory of those, whom the war called to the Beyond, urges us to consecrate the best that is in us to the service of country in times of peace. We best honor the memory of those dead by striving for Peace, that the terror of the days of war will be with us no more. May the beauty of this monument, which will rise on this site, cast a beneficent light on the memories of our comrades, may a substantial structure typify the strength of their purpose, and may it inspire future generations with a desire to be of service to their fellows and their country.” Seemingly, the poignancy of the President’s words were not lost on his audience: The quality and pride of craftsmanship, the careful attention to detail and design, confirm the depth of commitment and steadfast appreciation of Great Depression-era St. Louisans for those who served in the armed forces—veterans—and for those who served to the last measure of their lives—who made “The Supreme Sacrifice.” Further, these St. Louisans did not forget the families, understanding that war reaches beyond the battlefield, to the American home, with lasting effect long after peace treaties are signed. Here are a few architectural features to notice the next time you visit Soldiers Memorial. The quoted material is as described in a very early guide book, published by Mason Printing Company, St. Louis: * Exterior walls of the building itself: Of Bedford limestone, from Bedford Indiana. * Outside, looking up, trimming the building just below the second floor balcony: “On the facing of the parapet, surrounding the upper promenade, are carved medallions representing infantrymen, marines, tank operators, sailors and the other divisions of service.” (p. 14) * Outside, large sculptured, limestone figures flanking the stairs: “Four magnificent sculptured stone figures, two on the south side [Chestnut street side], representing Courage [male figure] and Vision [female figure]; two on the north side [Pine street side], representing Loyalty [male figure] and Sacrifice [female figure]. These massive, beautiful figures are the work of Walker Hancock, a native St. Louisan.” (p. 14) * Going up the stairs to the entrance and under the covered atrium area, the Cenotaph: “Of black granite resting upon a base of Bedford stone. Carved upon [the cenotaph] are 1075 names of soldiers and nurses from our city, who made the supreme sacrifice [referring to WWI].” (p.11) * In the covered atrium area, looking up: Gold Star Mother mosaic ceiling: Probably designed and installed by the Ravenna Mosaic Company, St. Louis—the same company that did the mosaics at the Cathedral Basilica on Lindell. Note that lights embedded inside the cenotaph shine upwards onto the ceiling at night—to highlight the detail and color of the tiles. As stated in the Mason Printing guide book: “Large flood lights in the hollowed center of the Cenotaph illuminate the ceiling which is of glass mosaic in red, gold and silver. Centered in the ceiling is a large gold star, dedicated to the mothers of St. Louisans who died in the war.” (p. 11) * Elevator and stairway, located in the west museum lobby, north end and south end, respectively: “Access to the upper part [second floor] of the Memorial is by automatic elevator, which is completely paneled in American Walnut [probably from Missouri]. There is also a magnificent modernistic stairway, the walls of which are napoleon gray marble from Phoenix, MO. The treads and risers are of terrazzo. Modernistic aluminum rails and lighting fixtures create a pleasing and entrancing atmosphere.” (p.17) * Entrance doors and museums: “There are two museums, east and west sides, at the entrance to which are modernistic aluminum light standards. The doors to the museums are made of heavy plate glass, encased in frames of aluminum and alloys that produce a soft, satin silver finish. The floors of the museum[s] are of terrazzo, while the nine-foot wainscoating [in the museums] is of St. Genevieve [Missouri] rose marble, with Belgian blue marble as a trim. The grill work over the doors and the 28-foot windows in the museums is of aluminum.” (p. 15) * Basement area where CEMA offices are currently located: “On the ground floor is the assembly room used by the Gold Star Mothers and other war organizations of women. The assembly room accommodates 300 persons.” (p. 18) Note also that the U.S.O. held events in the basement area before CEMA and before the U.S.O. moved to Lambert Airport. The Soldiers' Memorial was designed by St. Louis architectural firm Mauran, Russell & Crowell, in the Classical style, but with limited ornamentation. Its entrances are flanked by four monumental sculptural groups carved in Bedford stone, representing figures of Loyalty, Vision, Courage and Sacrifice. Created by sculptor Walker Hancock they stand, with their horses, on the North and South sides of the building. Ornamental pylons on the terrace level name major World War I battles in which St. Louisans participated. Inside the building, a 38-foot high ceiling of mosaic tile tops the loggia area. The tiles form a large gold star dedicated to the mothers of St. Louisans who died in wars. A black granite cenotaph in the center of the loggia is inscribed with the names of 1,075 St. Louisans who lost their lives in World War I.
The Artica festival is unlike any other festival in St. Louis. From the unique post-industrial setting to the interactive nature of the event, Artica lives and breathes creativity and innovation. We have taken a very unconventional space that is decaying and ignored and turned it into a playground for artists and participants of all ages. Every person who attends must interact in some way... simply getting to the event requires interaction with the landscape and its history. There is no vending, nothing to be bought or sold. We are not selling you funnel cakes and beer; we are providing you a canvas for self expression. People come out and camp for days to further immerse themselves in the event taking food and other parts of everyday life and making it part of the creative experience, by cooking as performance for example. There are no limitations on what a person can experience or express, barring illegal or unsafe activity. The event has been created with the simple hope of engaging our community to create using whatever is at their disposal. Many people who attend Artica are not artists, they are not unconventional people or radical thinkers, yet they come to the event and find a place filled with all manors of people and projects from marching bands to yogis to fire performers to engineers. From this there is a sense of real unity and a challenge to think of each person as a part of ones community. No matter a person’s artistic ability they are encouraged to create something, anything, even if it is a boat made from a cantaloupe with a straw mooring and a hanky sail to carry in the Boat of Dreams parade and release onto the river. Seasoned artists are challenged to do something interactive when they may only usually do oil on canvas or clay sculptures. Through the artistic expression and inclusion that takes place at Artica each participant, volunteer, artist and community member is challenged and inspired by the small parts of the whole. The mission of Artica is to inspire the people of the St. Louis metropolitan area to celebrate their unity and diversity, build community and develop a sense of respect for themselves and their surroundings by providing opportunities for creative self-expression and communication. Artica accomplishes this by creating an annual arts festival focused on interactivity and participation that is free to all and open to the public. There is no vending or selling at the event. Therefore there are no economic limitations on who can attend. Artica creates a space that fosters the sharing of ideas and of the free exchange of each contributor's chosen art form. Every individual is encouraged and enabled to create art or to interact in artistic projects. This creates a sense of community, expands individual boundaries, and allows those who wouldn't consider themselves artists or creators to experience artistic expression via unconventional outlets. The festival certainly brings together people from different backgrounds, whether it be religious, ethnic or socio-economic, and allows them to find a common ground and interest among their differences. Every person who attends the event must interact with the landscape and the area's physical elements. That is how Artica lives its mission each year. Our long range goals are to continue providing this space and event with greater collaboration from our community. We are on our way.
St. Louis Community College has provided so many people with a transformational experience. We want to hear your story. Visit the Foundation website for information on how to help a current student achieve the same amazing experience: www.stlcc.edu/foundation
Full Gospel United Spiritual Churches of Christ Incorporated is a non denominational fellowship with an edge. This fellowship provides a covering, educational enrichment, leadership training and a nurturing environment for Churches, Ministries and Workers in the Body of Christ. Young or seasoned we welcome you to come grow with us.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity & The Upsilon Omega Foundation, Inc. The Upsilon Omega Foundation, Inc., a corporation created by the Upsilon Omega Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., exists as an independent not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Missouri and granted an exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The foundation was created on July 22, 1996 to exclusively accommodate the Fraternity's commitment to provide charitable, educational and civic programs and services to those in need in the St. Louis community. In keeping with that stated mission, the foundation will devote its time, effort and resources to the creation, planning and implementation of activities and operations specifically designed to uplift the community; and thus, improve the quality of life for its residents and provide scholarships to college bound students. The men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity are committed to being part of the solution of the problems faced by the youth of our community. It begins with our members: over 100,000 strong world wide. Our more than 200 active local members are comprised of a past St. Louis Mayor, Government Officials, Civic and Business Leaders, Clergymen, Law Enforcement Officers, Network and Media Personalities, Attorneys and Educators, but most importantly, we are Family Men, dedicated to Four Cardinal Principals: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. We invite you to assist us in our efforts by contributing funds to our fundraising programs.