Articles:

Gratitude, recognition as Mass concludes school year in diocese

Gathered in the Diocesan Museum for a final photo are the school leaders who are retiring or departing: (from left) Mark Csanda, St. Mary School, Bloomington; Ryan Bustle, The High School of Saint Thomas More, Champaign; Scott Turnipseed, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy, East Moline; Steve Eisemann, Costa Catholic Academy, Galesburg; Barb Shrode, St. Paul School, Macomb; Joan Leonard, Jordan Catholic School, Rock Island; Melissa Reder, St. Thomas School, Philo; and Mary Pat Shepherd, Schlarman Academy, Danville. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Before they closed the books on another year, principals and pastors from Catholic schools around the Diocese of Peoria came together in Peoria on June 2 to pray and celebrate all that has been accomplished. “I see a lot of tired people,” Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, quipped at the beginning of Mass in the […]

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Sheen attributed everything to his consecration to Mary: Institute speaker

A ruling on the requested transfer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's remains to Peoria is expected in the coming weeks.

The Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was the focal point of Dr. Peter Howard’s keynote talk and a breakout session on Mary June 4 at the Diocesan Summer Institute at the Peoria Civic Center. The scholar called the El Paso native his hero and spiritual mentor. “He attributed all of his success to his consecration […]

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Institute speaker offers seven ‘secrets’ of saints, others for success in prayer

Before the Diocesan Summer Institute closed in Peoria June 4, keynote speaker Dan Burke offered seven “secrets” of saints and others who have success in prayer. Establishing a sacred space, dedicated to God and used solely for this purpose, is one of them. Another is setting aside sacred time. “If we don’t do this, we […]

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Rebooted Diocesan Summer Institute draws nearly 1,000 into ‘depths of mercy’

At Father Timothy Hepner's request, the priests, seminarians and women religious present at the Diocesan Summer Institute gathered in front of the Peoria Civic Center stage. "We are blessed," said Father Hepner, but asked all in attendance for prayers to increase vocations. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Jesus took his disciples aside to pray on occasion and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, encouraged nearly 1,000 teachers, religious educators, priests, seminarians, women religious and parishioners to view the rebooted Diocesan Summer Institute the same way. “All of you, who do so much work in the diocese, need this time together with the Lord,” […]

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First Communicants told sacrament brings Jesus even nearer than a hug

Dressed in her First Communion attire, 7-year-old Alemie Claire I. Cuizon joined cathedral cantor Rosa Beyer in leading the responsorial psalm during the Mass with First Communicants at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria on June 11. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, the Lord is as near to us as if we were with him in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago and he gave us a hug. That’s one message Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, shared with First Communicants and their families from around the Diocese of Peoria who joined him […]

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Who do we say Jesus is?

By Father Tom Kelly Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time/June 19 Zechariah 12:10-11;13:1; Psalm 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 9:18-24 The Gospel writer Luke frequently pictures Jesus as praying, particularly at important times when decisions have to be made. In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus appears to be praying about his future ministry. He first asks his […]

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Family petitions N.Y. court to move Archbishop Sheen’s body to Peoria

Archbishop Fulton Sheen writes on his chalkboard during a broadcast of his Emmy Award-winning television program "Life is Worth Living" in this 1950s file photo.

The family of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has petitioned the Supreme Court of the State of New York to allow the transfer of the sainthood candidate’s remains to Peoria. Joan Sheen Cunningham, 88, Archbishop Sheen’s niece and his oldest living relative, filed a petition on June 13 asking that the trustees of St. […]

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Father Gabriel Bullock, OSB, dies at 82; taught at St. Bede Academy, Peru

PERU — A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the St. Bede Abbey Church here on June 15 for Father Gabriel (Gary) Bullock, OSB, a monk and priest of the abbey and a longtime English and religion teacher at St. Bede Academy. Father Gabriel, a Peoria native, died on Friday, June 10, 2016, at […]

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Funeral Mass celebrated in Streator for Fr. Crawford, 95, diocese’s oldest priest

At age 95, Father Richard Crawford was the Diocese of Peoria's oldest priest.

STREATOR — A funeral Mass was offered at St. Michael the Archangel Church here on June 7 for Father Richard Crawford, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria and former pastor of faith communities in Budd and Cornell. Father Crawford, a native of Streator, died on June 3, 2016, at the Flanagan Rehabilitation Center. […]

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Funeral homily for Fr. Richard Crawford

At age 95, Father Richard Crawford was the Diocese of Peoria's oldest priest.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the homily from the June 7 funeral Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Streator for Father Richard Crawford. The homilist was Msgr. Philip Halfacre, vicar of the Ottawa Vicariate. Father Crawford died June 3, 2016, at the age of 95. His obituary is found here. Your Excellency, Monsignors and […]

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