Father Timothy Hepner
By Father Timothy Hepner Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time/Feb. 16 Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119:1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37 The summer after my sophomore year of college seminary I went to Mexico for an intensive language program. One weekend all of the students in my cohort went to Acapulco, while I visited an orphanage. I learned […]
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CHAMPAIGN — “Abby’s Journey,” a video featuring former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson and her journey into pro-life ministry, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Holy Cross Parish Center, 405 W. Clark St. The showing of the video will help kickoff the spring campaign of 40 Days for Life […]
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Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, and Djebril Zonga star in a scene from the movie "Les Miserables." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS/Amazon Studios)
By Catholic News Service Set in a rundown Paris suburb with a large community of Muslim immigrants, this drama traces the slow breakdown of its public order. Director Ladj Ly, who co-wrote the screenplay with Giordano Gederlini and Alexis Manenti, uses the outline of a police procedural — the film mostly takes place over a […]
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Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus star in a scene from the movie "Downhill." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (CNS/Fox)
By Catholic News Service Awkward moments abound in this comedy about a husband and father (Will Ferrell) whose momentary act of cowardice suddenly alters how his spouse (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and two sons (Julian Grey and Ammon Ford) view him. In adapting Ruben Ostlund’s 2014 film “Force Majeure,” directors and co-writers (with Jesse Armstrong) Nat Faxon […]
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Both natives of central Illinois and sons of permanent deacons of the Diocese of Peoria, Dieterich Gray (left) and Sean Patrick Fahey (right) didn't really get to know each other until they moved to Los Angeles for work in television and film. Now they're a creative team hoping to bring Venerable Fulton Sheen to a new generation. (Provided photo)
Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be introduced to a whole new generation if Sean Patrick Fahey and Dieterich Gray have anything to say about it. The central Illinois natives have spent the last six years getting to know Fulton Sheen and developing “Wolves & Sheep,” which they envision as a 12-part series that will explore […]
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“Working from Why” is the theme of a stewardship and evangelization conference to be offered by the Diocese of Peoria on Thursday, March 5, at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. The conference, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., replaces the diocese’s biennial development and stewardship conferences and expands the invitation to a […]
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Father Ronald Margherio, OSB, chaplain of St. Bede Academy in Peru, leaps with students into the chilly Illinois River during a polar plunge last year. Father Ronald, who just turned 70, will take the plunge again -- joined by 40 St. Bede students -- on Feb. 29 in Mendota to raise money for Special Olympics. (Provided photo)
PERU — What better way for a priest to celebrate turning 70 than by running fully clothed into a lake of frigid water on the last day of February? “It should be fun,” said Father Ronald Margherio, OSB, chaplain of St. Bede Academy in Peru, in anticipating a Leap Day plunge into Lake Mendota on […]
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Bridget Brennan and Jerry Shen of The Cana Institute.
MOLINE — Sacred Heart Church will offer a marriage enrichment seminar designed to give couples “Tools for the Marriage Tool Box” on Saturday, Feb. 22. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Culemans Fellowship Hall, 1400 16th Ave., and feature Bridget Brennan and Jerry Shen of The Cana Institute. Brennan and […]
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Dressed in a simple habit, James Twyman sings about peace and love as he channels St. Francis of Assisi during "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" at Holy Familiy Church in Peoria on Feb. 1. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
On his way to New York City, James Twyman eagerly returned to Holy Family Church in Peoria, where his lifelong love of St. Francis of Assisi began — although he doesn’t use such gentle terms to describe it. Pointing to the chair in the sanctuary where he sat as an altar boy, he told those […]
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Father Paul Carlson and Bob Lipka hold jars of Dalla Campanella, a newly marketed three-meat spaghetti sauce made from a traditional recipe from northern Italy perfected by the late Msgr. Simon Bernardi. Profits from its sales help maintain the Queen of the Holy Rosary diocesan shrine to war veterans in LaSalle, seen in the background. Lipka, his wife Pam, and Father Carlson -- pastor of the LaSalle Catholic parishes and rector of the shrine -- collaborated to bring the sauce to market. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
LASALLE — Before Lent begins, here’s a story with some meat to it. Tomato sauce, assorted vegetables, and spices, too. The LaSalle Catholic parishes have brought to market a three-meat spaghetti sauce, the sales of which help financially support the Queen of the Holy Rosary diocesan shrine to war veterans. More than 1,500 jars of […]
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