NEW YORK (CNS) — The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees both have agreed to be guest speakers at the Al Smith dinner Oct. 16 in New York, the Archdiocese of New York announced Sept. 17. The archdiocese said Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain would “share nonpartisan good humor before an audience of civic, […]
Continue readingVATICAN CITY (CNS) — God’s love poured out on humanity through the cross of Jesus offers healing and salvation to all people, Pope Benedict XVI said. At his Sept. 17 weekly general audience, the pope reflected on his Sept. 12-15 trip to France, which he said had brought him many blessings. “By a happy coincidence,” […]
Continue readingWASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has extended invitations to Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama to meet before the Nov. 4 election and discuss their views on a variety of election issues. Invitations to the major presidential candidates were sent in August, The Wall Street Journal reported Sept. […]
Continue readingBy: By Barbara Roedel Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sept. 14 Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 78:1bc-2,34-35,36-37,38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 It’s painful to contemplate the cross. There is no denying the horrific suffering of the cross — the degradation, pain and humiliation are beyond imaging. It was a terrible way to die and […]
Continue readingEver wonder why the hubs of Catholic campus ministry at colleges and universities are called “Newman” centers or “Newman” foundations?” In this diocese, widely recognized for its excellence in Newman ministry, we’re very familiar with the name. It not only graces the historic and beautifully expanded facility at the University of Illinois, but also Catholic […]
Continue readingThe following guest commentary was written by Nancy Piccione, a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Metamora. An avid reader, she has a B.A. in English literature and an M.S. in journalism. She is married to Joseph Piccione and they have three children — none of whom, she reports, are teenagers. Yet. When Claire, the […]
Continue readingWelcoming students, teachers and administrators from Catholic schools around the diocese to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Wednesday, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, quipped that he was probably the last person to say, “Welcome back to school.” And yet every time they come to church for Mass, he said, they are entering “the school […]
Continue readingBLOOMINGTON — The church’s moral teachings are not just to help Catholics decide for whom to vote, but should also inspire and guide Catholics in how they lead their lives between elections. That was the theme of a workshop presented by Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, at St. Mary’s Parish […]
Continue readingHENRY — The phone rang in the office of Gail Kruse at King’s House, the Diocese of Peoria’s well-known retreat center. Well, maybe not known well by everyone. “Can I talk to Mr. King?” the caller asked. “You sure can,” answered Gail, not missing a beat and referring to Christ the King, for whom the […]
Continue readingWOODHULL — Woven into the cotton threads of Jane Streeter’s 100-year-old baptismal gown is a story of five generations of faith and tradition. The story begins in late 1908, when Sarah Walsh Cole made a baptismal gown while she was expecting the birth of her son, Richard Cole, Streeter’s father. He wore that gown at […]
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