St. Louisian Shane Kapler to be guest speaker for luncheon program

GRANITE CITY — Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will celebrate the annual diocesan Respect Life Mass at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at Holy Family Church in Granite City. After Mass he will lead a rosary walk to Hope Clinic for Women, to hold a prayer vigil outside the place where medical and surgical abortions are performed.

After the vigil, a light luncheon will be held at Holy Family Parish Hall. Speaker for the luncheon program will be Shane Kapler from St. Louis.

For the past 20 years Kapler has been involved in evangelism and catechesis in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He has served on the core teams of both a Catholic charismatic youth group and LifeTeen program as well as coordinating programs for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and ongoing faith formation. He was a long-time member of the Archdiocese's Retreat, Evangelization, and Prayer (REAP) Team and writes for Catholic Exchange and Catholic Lane. Kapler holds a master's degree in speech-language pathology and is engaged in clinical practice. He vehemently maintains, however, that his "best gig" is being the father of two.

For more information about the annual Respect Life Mass or the rosary walk and prayer vigil to the abortion clinic, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns and Respect Life at (217) 698-8500, ext. 167 or email .