The Catholic Post Month: November 2017

Taxpayer lawsuit filed in Springfield to stop Illinois’ abortion public funding bill

By: Tom Dermody - November 30, 2017 - News Article abortion, Gov. Rauner, House Bill 40, Illinois, taxpayer, Thomas More Society

Catechist Joanne Dorn (right) and members of the confirmation class from St. Luke Parish in Eureka take part in a Life Chain in this 2016 file photo. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

SPRINGFIELD — A taxpayer lawsuit against State of Illinois officials was filed in Sangamon County Court on Nov. 30 in an effort to stop the implementation of House Bill 40, which expands taxpayer-subsidized abortions in the state. “The people of Illinois totally reject taxpayer-funded abortions,” said Peter Breen, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, […]

Bishop’s Festival Letter is timely teaching

By: Tom Dermody - November 30, 2017 - Editorial

Before reading another paragraph of this editorial, make sure you have pulled out Bishop Jenky’s Festival Letter on St. Joseph included with this issue of The Catholic Post and — if you haven’t already read it — place it somewhere safe for future reading and reflection. If you are a man, our level of encouragement […]

Turn to St. Joseph, a ‘model for all men,’ Bishop Jenky urges in new Festival Letter

By: Tom Dermody - November 30, 2017 - Featured Article 2018, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, Festival Letter, men, St. Joseph

A statue of St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus is carried during a recent Diocesan Men's March through downtown Peoria. Pope Francis has proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

The example of St. Joseph “should be an inspiration to men living in our own challenging era,” writes Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, in his 16th Festival Letter. “The Church has always looked to St. Joseph as a model for all men — for workers, for fathers, for husbands, and for priests,” notes Bishop Jenky […]

Parishes hosting film to help parents start conversations about tech impact

By: The Catholic Post - November 30, 2017 - News Article digital, movie, Screenagers, technology

“Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age,” a documentary aimed at helping parents get the conversation started with their children about the impact of technology on their day-to-day lives, is being made available for viewing at Catholic schools and parishes in central Illinois. “Some of it is very sobering,” cautioned Michelle Marcinak, a parent at […]

Mission trip to Chicago a timely one for Augustana College Catholic students

By: The Catholic Post - November 30, 2017 - News Article Augustana College, Father Jeremy Freehill, mission trip, Rock Island, World Day of the Poor

Catholic students from Augustana College in Rock Island are pictured outside a soup kitchen operated by the Missionaries of Charity on the south side of Chicago during their Nov. 18-19 mission trip. They include, front row from left, William Fabyan, Laura Heuermann, Christine Vincent, Ruth Iradukunda, Madison Baxter, Julianna Furlano, and Brian Gueerero; middle, Emily Stelnicki; back row, Father Jeremy Freehill, Catholic ministries coordinator of Augustana College, and Isabelle Bartscher. (Provided photo)

ROCK ISLAND — Laura Heuermann and nine other Catholic students from Augustana College here picked the perfect way to observe the first World Day of the Poor established by Pope Francis — direct service to the poor during an overnight mission trip to Chicago Nov. 18-19. A freshman from Washington, Heuermann told The Catholic Post […]

Ground blessed, construction begins on OSF ‘Almost Home Kids’ facility in Peoria

By: Tom Dermody - November 29, 2017 - News Article Almost Home Kids, groundbreaking, OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, Peoria, Wee Tee

Taking part in groundbreaking ceremonies in Peoria on Nov. 15 for the Almost Home Kids facility to be owned and operated by OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois were, from left: Dr. Suzanne White; Dr. Jeffrey Ruskusky; Debbie Grisko, president and executive director of Almost Home Kids; Robert Sehring, chief executive officer of OSF HealthCare; Dr. Michael Cruz, president of OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center; Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, chairperson of the board for OSF HealthCare System; Kelly Nierstedt, president of OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois; Dr. Divya Joshi, chief executive officer of OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois; Theresa Murphy, strategic philanthropy officer of OSF HealthCare; and Jay Harms, a member of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Community Advisory Board. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Proclaiming it “holy ground in the service of human life,” OSF HealthCare officials hosted blessing ceremonies Nov. 15 as construction began on an $8.5 million transitional home for children with complicated health needs to be located at 5200 N. Hamilton Road in Peoria. The 21,000-square-foot home will be the third “Almost Home Kids” facility in […]

Blanche Hewitt of Sheffield, perhaps oldest Catholic in diocese, dies at 109

By: The Catholic Post - November 29, 2017 - News Article

Blanche E. Hewitt

SHEFFIELD — Blanche E. Hewitt, who recently was featured in The Catholic Post as possibly the oldest Catholic in the Diocese of Peoria, died Nov. 25, 2017, at her home, surrounded by family and friends. She was 109. A rosary will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, at Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services of […]

Invitation to ‘Spiritual Motherhood’ as a way to care for souls, especially priests

By: Jennifer Willems - November 29, 2017 - News Article Commission on Women, Father Joseph Aytona, Morton, Spiritual motherhood

Shelly Zwadlo of Historic St. Patrick Parish in Bloomington visits with Father Joseph Aytona, CPM, during a break in the Spiritual Motherhood Conference sponsored by the Bishop's Commission on Women in the Church and in Society. It was held Nov. 18 at Blessed Sacrament in Morton. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

MORTON — Mary’s willingness to do God’s will made it possible for Jesus to begin his priesthood through her motherhood, and the priests who follow him now need the same kind of prayer and sacrifice in the form of spiritual motherhood, according to Father Joseph Aytona. A member of the Fathers of Mercy and founder […]

Schools educating donors, families, on tax credit scholarship opportunities

By: Tom Dermody - November 29, 2017 - Featured Article Catholic schools, donors, Dr. Sharon Weiss, tax credit scholarship program

One of the most intense educational efforts taking place in Catholic school communities of the Diocese of Peoria this year is happening outside of the classroom as diocesan and parish officials strive to inform donors and parents about the opportunities presented by Illinois’ new tax credit scholarship program. Four regional meetings took place in mid-November […]

Gwenn Roche to leave principal post at Corpus Christi School, Bloomington

By: Jennifer Willems - November 29, 2017 - News Article Bloomington, Corpus Christi School, Gwenn Roche, principal

Gwenn Roche

BLOOMINGTON — Gwenn Roche, principal of Corpus Christi School since 2013, has announced that she will be leaving at the end of the year so her husband, Patrick, can accept a job in the Columbia, Missouri, area. The move will take them closer to their daughters, grandchildren and extended family in Kansas City, Missouri, but […]

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