Try to imagine the Advent or Christmas seasons without artwork of any kind. No Nativity sets. No Advent wreaths. No ornaments or other decorations, inside or out, at home or at church. No music. No Christmas plays on stage, and no inspirational specials or movies on screens. No paintings of Madonna and Child, angels or […]
Continue readingA little bit of everything played a role in the 3.4 percent decrease in enrollment reported this fall by Catholic schools around the Diocese of Peoria, according to Brother William Dygert, CSC, superintendent. The total official enrollment for the 2009-10 school year is 12,324, which include 9,607 in the 42 Catholic elementary schools in central […]
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Photo Caption: Students at St. Matthew’s School, Champaign, repair a statue of Mary. By: Jennifer Willems CHAMPAIGN — Done in the right spirit, recycling can apply to more than newspapers, glass containers and aluminum cans. Placing old rosaries, crucifixes and statues in new hands is something Msgr. Mark Merdian, pastor of St. Matthew’s Parish, has […]
Continue readingBy: By Sr. Rachel Bergschneider, OSB First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29 Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5,8-9,10,14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 — 4:2; Luke 21:25-28,34-36 WHO AMONG us has not been overwhelmed with the fragility of a child? When we hold one, we are so careful to do all the right things to insure the safety of […]
Continue readingMORTON — Welcome home, Blessed Sacrament Parish. After nearly a year of celebrating Masses in their parish hall, members here are ready to return — and invite others — to their beautifully remodeled and expanded church. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will be principal celebrant of an 11:30 a.m. Mass of Rededication on Sunday, Dec. […]
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Photo Caption: The 10 Fandel siblings and their extended families pray the rosary on a recent Sunday afternoon in the garage of Donald “Doc” Fandel’s Germantown Hills home. By: By Jennifer Willems By Jennifer Willemsof The Catholic Post GERMANTOWN HILLS — Little did they know it, but when Leo and Lydia Fandel called their 12 […]
Continue readingMaralyn Guthrie of Sacred Heart Parish in Annawan found more than new techniques for keyboard and voice when she attended the Diocesan Liturgical Workshop in Peoria on Nov. 7. “The people here inspire me to keep going. You need that every once in awhile,” said Guthrie, who is an organist at Sacred Heart. Msgr. Stanley […]
Continue readingWITH THE 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America rapidly approaching, Scouting officials are encouraging young people across central Illinois to get involved in one of the religious emblem programs designed to deepen their faith. The awards are traditionally given on Scout Sunday, which will be observed with a Mass at […]
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Photo Caption: Pere Marquette Awards for service went to the Serra Club of the Champaign-Urbana Vicariate (pictured with Bishop Jenky) as well as the Peoria Area Religious Vocations Support Group. By: By Tom Dermody As Thanksgiving Day nears and the late harvest continues, the Diocese of Peoria paused last Sunday to specially thank two groups […]
Continue readingBy: Sharon Priester Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov. 15 Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16:5,8,9-10,11; Hebrews 10:11-14,18; Mark 13:24-32 AS I LOOK out the window, I see that many of the trees have already lost their leaves and the flowers that were in full bloom just a few weeks ago are drooping because frost has dusted […]
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