The Diocese of Peoria this week announced changes affecting the leadership of the St. Robert Bellarmine Newman Center serving Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan universities as well as Heartland Community College in Bloomington-Normal. Father Antonio Dittmer, chaplain and director of the Newman Center since 2005, will become head spiritual director at Immaculate Heart of Mary […]
Continue readingThe State of Illinois budget crisis has forced Catholic Charities to make painful program and staffing reductions that are expected to adversely affect thousands of children, youths and adults across central Illinois. “It is with a heavy heart and extreme concern that today at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria we announce the beginning […]
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Photo Caption: 22 freshman and sophomore boys took part in Emmaus Days Session III at St. Bede. By: By Jared Olar God has an individual plan for everyone, and we are called to cooperate with that plan whatever it may be. That important message was delivered to about 100 boys and young men who took […]
Continue readingBy: By Msgr. Stuart Swetland Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 19 Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23:1-3,3-4,5,6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34 “Come away by yourself to a deserted place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). “For he (Christ) is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives […]
Continue readingMary Olson knows a thing or two about marriage. The 93-year-old Farmer City resident has been in the same one for 75 years. (See story, page 1.) While she advises couples considering marriage to “make sure you’re ready to be married for life,” she’s troubled by the number of marriages that are ending in divorce. […]
Continue readingANAHEIM, Calif. (CNS) — Episcopal bishops, priests and lay delegates at their church’s triennial convention in Anaheim voted July 14 to lift a moratorium on the ordination of gay and lesbian bishops that had been in place for three years. As reported by Ecumenical News International/Religion News Service, more than 70 percent of lay and […]
Continue readingCAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Catholic officials in Zimbabwe said they are working to involve ordinary Zimbabweans in a constitutional consultation, although many people fear retribution. “People are apprehensive about taking part in discussions about the constitution but, while there is fear, this process has to happen,” said Father Frederick Chiromba, secretary-general of the […]
Continue readingKINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — The Catholic bishops of Congo have called on each citizen to become personally involved in the fight against deeply rooted corruption in the African country. The bishops describe corruption as “one of the bases for the unequal distribution of national resources between the wealthy classes, made up of public authorities, and […]
Continue readingRating: A-II (PG-13) NEW YORK (CNS) — The following is a capsule review of a movie recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Cotton-ball-soft romantic comedy about a travel guide in Greece (Nia Vardalos) who learns to absorb the spirit of the Greek islands in order […]
Continue readingDANVILLE — Provena United Samaritans Medical Center has commenced construction on a new Women’s Health Center within the existing hospital. The new center is just one component of a plan for a $2.7 million project announced last September. The project, which is set for completion by the year’s end, includes the renovation of existing space […]
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