Following are brief biographies of the valedictorians and salutatorians at the seven Catholic high schools and academies in the Diocese of Peoria. We congratulate them and all Class of 2019 graduates. The top students were invited to answer two questions: 1) “How would you describe the advantages of attending a Catholic high school?” and 2) […]
Continue readingWith the clock winding down on its regular session, the Illinois Senate debated and passed what has come to be known as the Reproductive Health Act. The vote on Senate Bill 25 was 34 to 20 in favor of the legislation, with three voting “present” late in the evening of May 31. Gov. J.B. Pritzker […]
Continue reading
Taron Egerton stars in a scene from the movie "Rocketman." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. (CNS/Paramount)
By Catholic News Service Though polished and generally appealing, this musical fantasy recounting the early life of rock star Elton John (Taron Egerton) deals with his homosexuality in a way that puts it at odds with scriptural values. Born to self-centered, perpetually quarreling parents (Bryce Dallas Howard and Steven Mackintosh), young Reginald Dwight (Matthew Illesley, […]
Continue reading
Ken Watanabe and Kyle Chandler star in a scene from the movie "Godzilla: King of the Monsters." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS/Warner Bros.)
By Catholic News Service The messy plot of this grating sequel to 2014’s “Godzilla” centers on a divorced couple (Kyle Chandler and Vera Farmiga) and their teen daughter (Millie Bobby Brown) who get caught up in a worldwide rampage by outsized monsters known as Titans. Human interest gets trampled underfoot as the lumbering creatures screech […]
Continue reading
Father Harold Schmitt
HENRY — As the chaplain to the Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Joseph’s Home in Lacon, Father Schmitt would often walk the short distance from Immaculate Conception Church to the motherhouse, praying the rosary as he went. “Don’t forget me!” people would say as they drove by. Retired now, people still greet him […]
Continue reading
Father Robert Schladen
CUBA — As he prepares to mark six decades of priestly service, Father Schladen puts things in perspective, starting with his first assignment to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria: There were four priests at the cathedral. All diocesan offices were headed by clergy. In the cathedral basement were located the bishop’s office, the bishop’s secretary’s […]
Continue reading
Father Dennis O'Riley
DANVILLE — The idea of priesthood came in about the second grade for Father O’Riley. Born in Chicago and raised in Danville, he remembers being an altar server, helping out around St. Patrick Parish as needed, and having Father Raymond Lassuy, parochial vicar and Scoutmaster, visiting the O’Riley house on a regular basis. He also laughs […]
Continue reading
Talkative, happy and feeling blessed, three senior priests of the Diocese of Peoria are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their ordination in 2019. The jubilarians are Father Dennis O’Riley of Danville, Father Robert Schladen of Cuba, and Father Harold Schmitt of Henry. Father Schmitt, who studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in […]
Continue reading
Octavia Spencer, Diana Silvers and McKaley Miller star in a scene from the movie "Ma." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. (CNS/Universal)
By Catholic News Service There are more laughs than chills to be garnered from this horror tale in which the new girl in a small Ohio town (Diana Silvers) is befriended by a group of her fellow high school students (most prominently McKaley Miller and Corey Fogelmanis) and together they begin partying at the home […]
Continue reading
At a reception following the Ordination Mass, lines were long for blessings from newly ordained Father McShane. Here he bestows a blessing on members of his family, including parents John and Diane, brothers Andy and Michael, sister-in-law Jackie, and nieces Sears (gazing up at him) and Clara. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
When Father Daniel McShane was in fourth grade, he wrote in his class journal that he wanted to be rich so he could give all his money to the poor. “He’s always been very kind, so joyful,” said his mother, Diane, in offering insights about her son to The Catholic Post during the reception following […]
Continue reading
