Seeing flashing lights in the rearview mirror is something that makes most people’s hearts stop, but for Peg Shipley a recent traffic stop turned out to be a heartwarming experience. Returning to Bloomington from a meeting in Peoria one stormy night, she was stopped for driving over the center line. When the officer asked her […]
Continue readingHENRY — The Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary have invited Catholics to join in their community’s observance of the 2009-2010 Year for Priests by “adopting” priests and praying for them by name. “As a community, and then particularly here in the Diocese of Peoria, the sisters and the lay apostles of […]
Continue readingCHAMPAIGN — A funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at St. Matthew’s Church here for Deacon Richard Thomas Scanlan, a permanent deacon of the diocese who is also remembered as “a legendary teacher” at the University of Illinois. Deacon Scanlan died Sunday, June 21, 2009, at the Carle Foundation […]
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Photo Caption: Kristy Hemmele, a foster parent, shares her personal testimony with the audience. By: By Jared Olar Catholics Charities of the Diocese of Peoria and its 30,000 clients are keenly feeling the effects of the State of Illinois’ budget crisis. Unless the Illinois General Assembly votes to restore funding during emergency budget sessions, which […]
Continue readingBy: By Sister Rachel Bergschneider, OSB Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 28 Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; Psalm 30:2,4,5-6,11,12,13; 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15; Mark 5:21-43 The Irish love to tell the story of Paddy McGarrity who spent his life bemoaning all the circumstances of life. Nothing would satisfy him. One particularly lovely sunny day the sun burst […]
Continue readingWhat began as a month of celebration for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria is ending with days of trepidation as Illinois politicians consider drastic cuts in social service spending as one way out of an historic budget crisis. There are a lot of numbers to digest to even begin to understand the situation, […]
Continue readingThe 2009 Diocesan Summer Institute was launched last Friday with a burst of energy from the head of the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization. “He is the Eveready Bunny working on nuclear power — he just never stops,” said Father Douglas Grandon, associate director of the diocesan Office of Catechetics, as he introduced Bill […]
Continue readingCatholic religious educators should remember that Catholic doctrine is for spiritual “formation,” not just “information.” That was a message of John Cavadini’s keynote address at the 2009 Diocesan Summer Institute, delivered Friday morning at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Titled “The Relationship Between the Teaching of Christian Doctrine and the Formation of Persons as Christians,” […]
Continue readingA cell phone rang last Friday evening just as Christian musician John Michael Talbot was lyrically inviting about 500 concert-goers at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Peoria to “come to the quiet.” “That had better be God calling,” dead-panned Talbot, continuing the soothing melody on his six-string guitar. Many of those attending the concert […]
Continue readingLINCOLN — With a formal ribbon cutting and a blessing last Thursday, a new era began for the Lincoln branch office of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria at newer and more spacious office facilities at 2110 W. Fifth St. In past years, Catholic Charities operated out of a former residence located at 310 […]
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