Deacon James Gore
NORMAL — A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Epiphany Church here for Deacon James J. Gore, a permanent deacon who formerly served Holy Trinity Parish in Bloomington until being granted senior status in 2013. Deacon Gore died on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Bloomington. He was 87. […]
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Praying over Mark Buettner at the July 22 Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference in Peoria were Deacon Kevin Zeeb of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Morton as well as Laura Rebenzer and Miriam Johll of Shadow on the Water. Mark died Nov. 20 after a long, faith-filled fight with cancer. (The Catholic Post/Paul Thomas Moore)
In My Father’s House / Paul Thomas Moore I am reminded of Mark Buettner with every move I make. Mark was a physical therapist at OSF HealthCare on North Glen Park Place in Peoria and a member with his wife Pamela and five children of St. Mark Parish in Peoria. He died on Nov. 20, […]
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Lindsey Weishar
My Vocation is Love / Lindsey Weishar As we move through our Advent journey toward Christmas, it seems that what makes this time of year joyous or grievous is memory. For some of us, the holidays remind us of departed loved ones who can no longer physically share in our celebrations. For others, holidays underscore […]
Continue readingGuest Column / Jack Desatnick Christmas season is the birth of Jesus Christ, the gathering of family and friends, the giving of gifts, and the prayer of thanks for what we have. When I was blessed to meet and marry my wife, Terri, we celebrated two Christmas dinners. On Christmas Eve we traveled to Whiting, […]
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Deacon Greg Kandra
Living the Word / Deacon Greg Kandra Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 10 Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalms 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 If nothing else, Advent should remind us of this inconvenient truth: We are people in a hurry. The other day, I was leaving Walmart and noticed a tent set up in the […]
Continue readingReviewed by Katie Bogner One of my favorite places to read this time of year is near the Christmas tree. The sparkling lights create a cozy and cheery atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a good book. This is especially true when reading together with your children, grandchildren, or godchildren. As you gather around the Christmas tree […]
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Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conv., pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Island, poses with therapy dog Bailey and her owner and trainer, parishioner Sharon Cramer. (Provided photo)
By Paul Thomas Moore ROCK ISLAND — When The Catholic Post first visited Labradoodle Bailey and her owner/trainer Sharon Cramer at Sacred Heart Church here in 2016, the therapy dog was only months into her role as greeter at the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. Now, Bailey’s got it down to an art. Upon arrival, she […]
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Justin Ramza
STREATOR — Bishop Louis Tylka will ordain seminarian Justin Ramza to the transitional diaconate during a 10:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday, Dec. 16, at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, 407 S. Park St. in Streator. The public is invited to the ordination, but seating is limited and tickets are required. Tickets may be obtained online […]
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Catholics hold up "parols," or Christmas lanterns, for blessing during a “Simbang Gabi” Mass in Seattle. The novena of pre-Christmas Masses, popular among Filipinos, will be hosted by nine Peoria-area churches Dec. 14-22. (CNS file photo)
One of the oldest and most revered pre-Christmas traditions in the Philippines, “Simbang Gabi,” will be observed in nine parishes of the Diocese of Peoria from Dec. 14-22. “Simbang Gabi” is Filipino for “Night Mass,” and the 2023 observance — coordinated by the Filipino-American Catholic Community — will include a novena of nine evening Masses […]
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Father Don Roszkowski, chaplain, checks on Buckeye the donkey as Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem is recreated on the motherhouse grounds of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in East Peoria on Dec. 3. Helping to guide Buckeye are Sister Theresa Ann Brazeau, OSF, and “shepherd”-owner Renee Humphrey. Joseph and Mary are portrayed by Phillip Rupert and Faustina Hoerdeman. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
EAST PEORIA — The 150 voices sweetly singing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as they recreated Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem were joined by a shrill shout as the procession neared a stable erected on the Franciscan motherhouse grounds. “Hee-haw, hee-haw,” chimed in Buckeye the donkey, making his voice heard for the first time […]
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