Six of the eight Catholic high schools and academies in the Diocese of Peoria will have their graduation exercises this weekend. The valedictorians and salutatorians will be featured in the June 11 issue of The Catholic Post.

Graduation ceremonies have been scheduled for the eight Catholic high schools and academies in the Diocese of Peoria from May 19 to 28, with diplomas being awarded to 449 seniors.

The busiest weekend for graduation events this year is May 19-21.

In Champaign, the 59 seniors of The High School of Saint Thomas More will gather for a graduation Mass at Holy Cross Church on Friday, May 19, at 5 p.m. Graduation ceremonies are planned for Saturday, May 20, at 10 a.m. at the school.

In Danville, a graduation Mass for the 13 seniors of Schlarman Academy will be celebrated on Saturday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Paul Church. Diplomas will be handed out on Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. at Paul Shebby Gymnasium. Jackie Vinson, executive director of Vermillion Housing Authority, will offer remarks.

In Peru, St. Bede Academy will host a Mass for its 56 seniors on Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m. in the Abbey Church. Graduation ceremonies will be at the Abbey on Sunday, May 21, at 1 p.m. Kathy (Sale) Seegebrecht, Class of 1982, will be the speaker.

In Peoria, the eight graduates of Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart will have their graduation Mass and ceremonies on Sunday, May 21, at 1 p.m. at St. Philomena Church.

Epiphany Church in Normal will host the 73 seniors of Bloomington Central Catholic High School for Mass and graduation ceremonies on Sunday, May 21, starting at 2 p.m.

In Ottawa, the 38 seniors of Marquette Academy will give thanks during the baccalaureate Mass at St. Patrick Church on Sunday, May 21, at 5 p.m. Graduation ceremonies will take place Sunday, May 28, at 3 p.m. at Gould Stadium. The speakers will be Marquette’s Hall of Fame inductees: Heinz Suppan, who retired after 30 years as a teacher at Marquette, and Nick Donahue, accepting for his late father, Eugene Donahue, Class of 1950.

Alleman High School of Rock Island will hold its Baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, May 25, at 6 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Moline. On Sunday, May 28, at 1 p.m., 66 seniors will receive diplomas and hear a message from Alleman graduate Betsy Mack Rinke, vice president of corporate responsibility and executive director of the Charlotte Hornets (NBA) Foundation.

Peoria Notre Dame High School will convene the largest diocesan graduating class — 136 strong — on Sunday, May 28, at 2 p.m. for a Baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremonies at the Peoria Civic Center.

Valedictorians and salutatorians from the Class of 2023 will be profiled in a June issue of The Catholic Post.