Archives

Deacon Wille: The Lord has prepared me for this from the very beginning

By: Jennifer Willems - May 25, 2023 - Uncategorized

While visiting his alma mater, St. Philomena School in Peoria, this week, Deacon Patrick Wille got involved in a number of activities at a school assembly. Among them was seeing how fast the students could get ready for Mass, including putting on vestments and setting the altar. Here, second-grader Aidan Williams demonstrates his best prayer posture for Deacon Wille. (Provided photo)

Deacon Patrick Wille said he felt like the Lord was preparing him for the priesthood from the very beginning of life. It just took him some time to realize it. “When my mom was pregnant with me, she brought me to the adoration chapel at St. Philomena,” his home parish in Peoria, he said. “As […]

Local artist goes with flow of Holy Spirit

By: Jennifer Willems - May 25, 2023 - Uncategorized

Taryn Watkins presents her painting of the Holy Spirit to the man who commissioned it, Bishop Louis Tylka. (Provided photo)

There is so much to learn about the Holy Spirit just by gazing at Taryn Watkins’ new painting of the third person of the Holy Trinity. You can’t help but do that since it hangs above the tabernacle in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. “I’m always excited […]

PDCCW recognizes 43 women for their service to 27 parishes around the diocese

By: Jennifer Willems - May 14, 2023 - News Article

The Peoria Diocesan Council of Catholic Women honored 43 women for their volunteer service to their parishes on April 26. The day began with Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria and included a photo with Bishop Louis Tylka. A luncheon followed at the Spalding Pastoral Center. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Wiillems)

In a day filled with thanksgiving, the Peoria Diocesan Council of Catholic Women recognized 43 women for outstanding service to their parishes, bid a fond farewell to Msgr. Dale Wellman, their longtime spiritual adviser, and welcomed his successor, Deacon Ed Mallow Jr. It all started with the ultimate sacrament of thanksgiving, the Eucharist, at a […]

‘Distinguished’ Monmouth principal enjoys serving ‘great little community’

By: Jennifer Willems - May 13, 2023 - Uncategorized

Randy Frakes, principal at Immaculate Conception School in Monmouth, is flanked by daughters Joanna and Lexi as they stand behind the sign erected by the parish to congratulate him on being named the Distinguished Principal of the Year by the Office of Catholic Schools. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

MONMOUTH — There’s something about Immaculate Conception School here that attracts and fosters talent. Principal Randy Frakes has been named the Distinguished Principal of the Year by the Office of Catholic Schools and is the third person associated with the school to be singled out. His predecessor, Katherine Bennett, was honored with the same award […]

‘Distinguished’ Rock Island teacher gives thanks for her mentors, students

By: Jennifer Willems - May 13, 2023 - Uncategorized

Debbie Marlier works with a group of seventh-graders on punctuation and grammar drills at Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island. She said interacting with the students keeps her young at heart, even after 46 years. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

ROCK ISLAND — Debbie Marlier is being recognized as the Distinguished Teacher of the Year by the Office of Catholic Schools, but she knows that what she has been able to accomplish over the last 46 years at Jordan Catholic School and its predecessors is due to the outstanding teachers and mentors in her life. […]

New superintendent brings love of collaboration, learning to schools

By: Jennifer Willems - May 13, 2023 - Featured Article

Dr. Susan Miller(striped shirt far right), the new superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Peoria, stands with students from the Waterbury (Connecticut) Arts Magnet School 530 Club. Sixty-two percent of these students achieved a 530 or higher on the math portion of the SAT with her help. She anticipates moving to central Illinois and starting her work with diocesan schools in mid-July. (Provided photo)

Dr. Susan Miller loves education and the joy that comes with learning. She especially loves to see those “aha” moments when her students grasp a key concept or make new connections. Starting this summer, she will have an opportunity to discover that on nearly 9,400 faces as the new superintendent of the Diocese of Peoria’s […]

New director of development ‘all in’ on bishop’s vision, mission of Peoria Diocese

By: Jennifer Willems - May 13, 2023 - Featured Article

Dan Onderko has been named the director of development for the Diocese of Peoria. He has been married to his wife, Rhapsody, for 15 years and they will bring their family to Peoria this summer. Their children are (from left) Max Kolbe, Dominic, Maria (being held by Dan), John and Michaela. (Provided photo)

Dan Onderko has many reasons for being excited about his new role as director of development for the Diocese of Peoria. But one holds a special claim on his heart. “When I first started researching Peoria, I learned about the Five Foundations — vocations, the Eucharist, evangelization, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, and discipleship — and that […]

Msgr. Jason Gray named executive director of the Sheen Foundation

By: Jennifer Willems - May 13, 2023 - Featured Article

Msgr. Jason Gray visits with Sister Lea Stefancova, FSJB, vice postulator for the cause for beatification and canonization of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. They are in the Fulton J. Sheen Museum, which is housed in the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. Msgr. Gray is the new executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Msgr. Jason Gray has no doubt that Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified at the appropriate time. As the new executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, he is happy to do his part by raising awareness about the El Paso native’s cause for beatification and canonization, as well as promoting devotion […]

Diocese will gain four priests on May 27

By: Jennifer Willems - May 11, 2023 - Featured Article

This composite photo, courtesy of the Diocese of Peoria’s Office of Priestly Vocations, shows the four seminarians who will be ordained May 27: Deacon Ignacio Cárdenas Morán, Deacon Nathan Hopper, Deacon Daniel Dionesotes, and Deacon Patrick Wille.

Bishop Louis Tylka will ordain four men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Peoria on Saturday, May 27, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. The Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. The ordinands are Deacon Ignacio Cárdenas Morán, Deacon Daniel Dionesotes, Deacon Nathan Hopper and Deacon Patrick Wille. They will offer their first blessings […]

Joy as more than 300 people come ‘home’ at Easter Vigil — including 12 at cathedral

By: Jennifer Willems - April 10, 2023 - Featured Article

Bishop Louis Tylka and Phillip Lee, director of the Office of Divine Worship, light their candles from the newly blessed Paschal Candle as the Easter Vigil begins at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria on April 8. Holding the Paschal Candle is Deacon Ignacio Cárdenas Morán, who would sing the Exsultet or Easter Proclamation. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Noele Tatlock of Pekin came “home” Saturday night. So did Hunter Dupuis, a junior studying finance at Illinois State University in Normal. They were among more than 300 brothers and sisters in faith who were received into the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil celebrations across the Diocese of Peoria. What brought them to this point […]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »