The public is invited to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Thursday evening, April 23, to prayerfully celebrate the papal honors recently bestowed on seven priests of the Diocese of Peoria.

During a 6:30 p.m. vespers service, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will place a ceremonial vestment known as a rochet on each of the diocese’s six new monsignors. Msgr. Paul Showalter, vicar general, whom Pope Benedict XVI has elevated to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic — the top level of monsignor — will also to be recognized during the service and at a 7:30 reception to follow at the new Spalding Pastoral Center.

The priests learned of the papal honors on Feb. 20. The new monsignors who have been appointed “Chaplains to His Holiness” include:

? Msgr. Stanley L. Deptula, director of the diocesan Office of Divine Worship and executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation

? Msgr. Jason A. Gray, administrator of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Peoria and judicial vicar of the diocesan tribunal

? Msgr. Gregory K. Ketcham, chaplain and director of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois

? Msgr. Mark J. Merdian, pastor of St. Matthew’s Parish, Champaign, and vicar of junior clergy for the Diocese of Peoria

? Msgr. Ernest E. Pizzamiglio, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Galesburg, and St. Aloysius, Wataga, and vicar of the Galesburg vicariate, and

? Msgr. Gerald T. Ward, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish of Merna in Bloomington and St. Mary’s Parish, Downs, and vicar of the Bloomington-Lincoln vicariate.

In addition to his service as vicar general, Msgr. Showalter is rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral and pastor of St. Bernard’s and St. Peter’s parishes in Peoria.

Members of the new monsignors’ current and former parishes are especially invited to attend the April 23 celebration.