In My Father’s House / Paul Moore My wife and I recently went through the process to receive a plenary indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday in April. We did the prescribed things: confession, Communion, and in a spirit (we pray) that was “completely detached from sin,” recited the Our Father, the Creed, and the invocation, […]
Continue reading
Msgr. William Watson
ODELL — A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Paul Church here on May 3 for Msgr. William Watson, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria who served as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Peoria Heights for 34 years. Msgr. Watson died on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Pontiac. He was […]
Continue reading
Father Thomas Taylor gives the homily at the May 3 funeral Mass for Msgr. William Watson at St. Paul Church in Odell. (Screenshot from Watson-Thomas Funeral Home livestream)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the full text of the homily at the May 3 funeral Mass at St. Paul Church in Odell for Msgr. William Watson. (See obituary here.) The homilist was Father Thomas Taylor, who served with Msgr. Watson at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Peoria Heights for 12 years. An archived video […]
Continue reading
Local and state fire inspectors examine the damage from an early morning fire May 3 at the Women's Care Center, 7319 N. University in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
“Our doors are open. We just don’t have any doors.” That’s how Connie McClure, director of client care at the Women’s Care Center in Peoria, assured a shocked pro-life community that the pregnancy center’s mission continues despite an early morning fire on May 3 that gutted its facility at 7319 N. University St. Fire investigators […]
Continue reading
Deacon Frank G. Randazzo
ROCK ISLAND — A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Ambrose Church here on April 30 for Deacon Frank G. Randazzo, a Rock Island resident and member of the first class of permanent deacons ordained for the Diocese of Peoria. Deacon Randazzo, who served St. Ambrose Parish for many years as well as […]
Continue reading
St. Mary in El Paso is one of several parishes under the Blessed Mother's patronage that are on Bishop Tylka's prayer list for May. He will specially remember the El Paso faith community on May 12.
Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka has been praying for each parish in the Diocese of Peoria by name, thanks to a calendar he developed with the assistance of Sister Linda Burkitt of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception (Heading Avenue Franciscans). The prayer calendar also includes days special to the religious communities active […]
Continue reading
Msgr. William Watson
ODELL — A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Church here at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 3, for Msgr. William Watson, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria who served as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Peoria Heights for 34 years. Msgr. Watson died on Tuesday, April 27, […]
Continue reading
Charred pews, smoked-stained walls and holes in the flooring are seen following the April 28 fire at St. Mary Church in Lexington. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
LEXINGTON — An early morning fire on April 28 caused extensive smoke and flooring damage to St. Mary Church here and will likely close the church for several months of restoration. “There’s a lot of disbelief — total shock” said Father David Sabel, pastor, in describing initial parishioner reaction to the apparently deliberately set fire […]
Continue reading
A health care worker wearing personal protective equipment pulls a patient suffering from COVID-19 on a stretcher outside Guru Teg Bahadur hospital in New Delhi on April 24. COVID-19 is claiming thousands of lives daily in India. (CNS/Reuters)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has called for a global prayer marathon for the entire month of May, praying for the end to the pandemic. “The initiative will involve in a special way all shrines in the world” in promoting the initiative so that individuals, families and communities all take part in reciting the […]
Continue reading
Christopher Awards are seen in this illustration photo. (CNS/Paul Schneck, courtesy The Christophers)
By Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — The feature film “The Way Back,” a documentary on Father Patrick Peyton, and a Christmas special featuring Dolly Parton were among this year’s Christopher Award winners. ABC News also claimed two awards among the 22 overall winners announced in New York by the Christophers, whose motto is […]
Continue reading
