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Parish respect life representatives gather as ‘people of hope’ to pray, plan next steps

By: Jennifer Willems - July 18, 2019 - News Article

Cecilia Soñé, director of Respect Life Ministry and natural family planning coordinator for the Diocese of Peoria, holds up the poster for this year's observance of NFP Awareness Week, July 21-27, at the annual meeting of parish respect life representatives July 13. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

The church teaches that those who have hope live differently and Cecilia Soñé, director of Respect Life Ministry for the Diocese of Peoria, thanked parish respect life representatives for being that sign to the world. “You all live differently. You were called to this from the beginning of time,” Soñé told the 25 men and […]

Western Catholic high school does not advance, but door not closed completely

By: Jennifer Willems - July 18, 2019 - Featured Article

Findings of the Western Diocesan High School Feasibility Study, conducted over four months this spring by Meitler Consultants, were reported at the end of June and published earlier this month.

While there is a desire for a Catholic high school in the western part of the Diocese of Peoria, a feasibility study found that enrollment and funding were major areas of concern, and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has accepted a recommendation not to proceed at this time. The door was not closed completely, however. […]

Miraculous healing of Washington boy ‘given to the church, for the church’

By: Jennifer Willems - July 6, 2019 - Featured Article

James Fulton Engstrom is held by his parents, Travis and Bonnie Engstrom, as the tribunal to investigate his miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen began on Sept. 7, 2011. With them are Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, postulator of Archbishop Sheen's cause for sainthood, and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. (The Catholic Post file photo/Jennifer Willems)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated on July 16, 2019. WASHINGTON — At long last, Bonnie Engstrom doesn’t have to use the word “alleged” when talking about the miraculous healing of her son, James Fulton, through the intercession of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. On Friday, July 5, Pope Francis accepted the findings of his […]

Parishes in Havana, Lewistown, and Manito end special ‘Year of the Eucharist’

By: Jennifer Willems - July 5, 2019 - Featured Article

Father David Whiteside offers a blessing at a Holy Hour at St. Patrick Church in Havana on June 23 as the Year of the Eucharist came to an end for the faith communities of Havana, Lewistown and Manito. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

HAVANA — Human beings are creatures of habit and many things tend to become routine, including Mass. That isn’t the case at St. Patrick in Havana, St. Mary in Lewistown, and Immaculate Conception in Manito, however, after parishioners spent a year focusing on the Eucharist. Led by Father David Whiteside, pastor, they engaged in a […]

Msgr. Deptula: ‘Fulton Sheen is my friend, brother priest, hero, mentor, challenger’

By: Jennifer Willems - July 3, 2019 - Uncategorized

Msgr. Stanley Deptula, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, holds a volume of the "positio," the official position paper for the sainthood cause of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, in Rome on May 24, 2011. The "positio" was presented by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, to Pope Benedict XVI during the pontiff's general audience at the Vatican. (CNS/Paul Haring)

CHAMPAIGN — Not only has Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen come home to Peoria, but he now rests in the place that formed him spiritually and sent him out to evangelize the world, said Msgr. Stanley Deptula, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation. “I don’t think we can underestimate what that church, […]

Two ‘friends of Sheen’ share reactions to his tomb now at St. Mary’s Cathedral

By: Jennifer Willems - July 3, 2019 - Featured Article

Bonnie Engstrom of St. Patrick Parish in Washington and five of her eight children kneel at the new tomb of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria on June 28. The Engstroms' son, James Fulton, now 8, was allegedly miraculously healed by God through the intercession of Archbishop Sheen during a time of crisis at his birth in 2010. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jennifer Willems of The Catholic Post interviewed two key figures in the sainthood cause of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen — Bonnie Engstrom and Msgr. Stanley Deptula — about their reactions to the transfer of his mortal remains to a new tomb at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Bonnie Engstrom’s story follows. To read […]

Priests marking milestone anniversaries are thanked, thankful at Jubilarian Mass

By: Jennifer Willems - June 21, 2019 - Featured Article jubilarian, Mass, Msgr. Dale Wellman

In his homily, Msgr. Dale Wellman, a senior priest of the diocese, said his 55 years of ministry have made for a "happy, long life" and that he has "lived and loved being in the service of God's people." (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

When Jesus talked to the disciples about offering his flesh and blood for the life of the world, they found it hard to accept and some walked away. But Simon Peter remained and said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Msgr. Dale Wellman has found truth in those […]

Meet Therese Peck, new president of the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois

By: Jennifer Willems - June 20, 2019 - News Article Christ Child Society, President, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Therese Peck

The newly installed officers of the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois are (from left) Kathy Stomberg, immediate past president; Therese Peck, president; Judy Weber, circle liaison; Carol Romanowski, first vice president; Martha Groeper, treasurer; Elaine Mills, second vice president; Beth Miller, recording secretary; and Father John Verrier, spiritual moderator. Not shown: Becky Fay, corresponding secretary.

As the oldest of 10 children, Therese Peck learned early on to care for little ones in need around her. That continues in retirement, as she begins her two-year term as president of the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois. “I just thought it was such a nice gift for moms who chose life, especially […]

Mother pens book about her son’s healing by God using Archbishop Fulton Sheen

By: Jennifer Willems - June 20, 2019 - Featured Article 61 Minutes to a Miracle, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Bonnie Engstrom, Book, James Fulton Engstrom

"61 Minutes to a Mriacle: The True Story of a Family's Devotion" by Bonnie Engstrom (pictured) will be published by Our Sunday Visitor in September to mark the 100th anniversary of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's ordination at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria.

WASHINGTON — Somewhere amid the orange peels and Oreos, hot dogs and runny noses of everyday existence, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has made himself at home with Bonnie and Travis Engstrom and their children, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, they credit Archbishop Sheen with interceding before God on behalf […]

‘Barbarous’ Reproductive Health Act signed into Illinois law by Gov. Pritzker

By: Jennifer Willems - June 12, 2019 - Featured Article abortion, Pritzker, Reproductive Health Act, Thomas More Society

The image of an unborn child is seen via ultrasound. On June 12, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Act into law. The act, which was strongly opposed by the Catholic Conference of Illinois, "gives our state some of the most extremely permissive abortion laws of any state in the nation," according to Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Surrounded by proponents of the Reproductive Health Act, including State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and State Sen. Melinda Bush, chief sponsors of the legislation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill 25 on June 12 in Chicago. “Let the word go forth today, from this place, that if you believe in standing up for women’s […]

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