BLOOMINGTON – This is the fourth and final installment featuring conversations with Diocese of Peoria school principals on the subject of nurturing the virtue of hope among students, parents, school staff and host communities. Chris McGraw is the principal of Central Catholic High School in Bloomington. As someone who came from a public school environment […]
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ROCK ISLAND – Over Super Bowl weekend it was announced that Alleman High School in Rock Island will be back in Western Big Six Conference with a varsity team in the fall of 2025. Alleman will once again be fielding teams at all three levels of high-school football: freshman, junior varsity, and varsity. The freshman […]
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NORMAL – Stephanie Demboski runs the adult faith formation ministry at Epiphany Parish in Normal. On Jan. 28, she started a new grief group for those who had lost a child. As can be imagined, it’s a particularly wrenching grief. FEELING OF ISOLATION “It’s so hard, oh my gosh . . . but it’s so […]
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Bishop Louis Tylka during his homily at the 150th Anniversary Mass for the Diocese of Peoria on Feb. 12, 2025 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. “There’s nothing wrong with a party, so let’s celebrate well … all in the name of the Lord,” he said.
A “Party on the Plains” 150 years in the making was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Turnout was strong, considering a winter storm converged with the anniversary timing. Even so, four visiting bishops were able to attend: Bishop Michael McGovern (Bellville), Bishop Thomas Paprocki (Springfield), Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus […]
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Eighth grade students (from left) Chase Ullrich and Truman Mouro of St. Thomas the Apostle School in Peoria Heights are “at attention” while speaking with Dan McDonough, major general, Illinois Air National Guard, on Jan. 28. The general and his son Danny, to his left, are St. Thomas alumni. (Supplied photo)
It was a big day for St. Thomas alumni who serve their country on Jan. 28 as St. Thomas the Apostle School in Peoria Heights held Celebrate the Nation Day during Catholic Schools Week activities. FATHER AND SON SERVE Dan McDonough, major general, Illinois Air National Guard, came to speak to students and brought along […]
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A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 10811 Knoxville Ave., Peoria, for Deacon Thomas Ivan Rapach, who served at St. Jude for 40 years. Deacon Rapach passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. He was 95. Visitation will be from 3 […]
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Sixth grade students from St. Malachy School in Geneseo sit down for lunchtime pizza with officers Kelly Sullivan and George Marquez on Jan. 27. (Supplied photo)
When Devon Schaaf, principal of St. Malachy in Geneseo, was looking at themes for Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 26 – Feb. 1), she wanted “to think of a creative way to support and give back to our community.” It didn’t take her long to come up with a good starting point: “Kids love pizza.” And […]
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In the wake of the success of Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 26–Feb.1), it seems appropriate to return to the theme of hope in our Catholic schools that has been the subject of two articles in recent months. These earlier articles featured interviews with diocesan principals Kelly McLaughlin, of Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island (Oct. […]
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Nancy Machens of the Gems of the Prairie (left) looks on as Grace Yontz, Christian Pag-Ong, and Samantha Baker (left-right) press their seams as part of their Winterim quilting class at Peoria Notre Dame High School. (Sister Jude Andrew Link, O.P./PND)
Peoria Notre Dame High School (PND) introduced an answer to the post-holiday doldrums this year. As part of the transition to semesters, PND launched Winterim for the first two weeks of January (Jan. 6 – 17). The new program involved onsite classes and offsite internships. Non-traditional immersive classes were offered in activities such as rock […]
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Bishop Louis Tylka and participants gather for a photo at the close of the Peoria diocesan-parish staff Mission Day at the Spalding Pastoral Center on Jan. 29.
Julianne Stanz’s grandmother was the bell-ringer at her church in the village of Hacketstown, County Carlow, Ireland for over 50 years. As Julianne related “the day the bells did not toll, is the day my grandmother passed away.” Her granddaughter has carried on ringing the bell for the Lord across the United States (now her […]
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