OK, it’s taking place on a Wednesday — not the easiest day to free ourselves from work responsibilities to head out of town. But we join the Catholic Conference of Illinois in hoping that representatives from many, many parishes in the Diocese of Peoria will be in Springfield on March 4 for the first-ever “Catholics at the Capitol” gathering.

The day has a two-fold purpose: 1) For Catholics to become more aware of legislative issues of special concern to the church in our state, and 2) for our state representatives and new governor to see a sizeable representation of “the church in action.”

Our own Bishop Jenky will be there, as will Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago and the heads of the four other Catholic dioceses in our state. Nearly 30 Catholic schools of our diocese are sending students to take part. The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is mobilizing a contingent.

How big could this be? Let’s take the Galesburg Catholic community as an example. Costa Catholic Academy there is sending 29 students as well as six adults. They will be joined by 20 additional adult parishioners from Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Patrick’s, and Corpus Christi parishes.

Imagine if the other Catholic communities around the diocese, and the state, were similarly represented. Think decision-makers in Springfield would take notice?

We do.

On March 4, instead of sending a letter to your representative, send yourself. For more information on “Catholics at the Capitol,” contact your parish or make an online visit to www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org. — Thomas J. Dermody, editor-in-chief, The Catholic Post