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Grateful Morton parishioner Louis Hofer creates a sacred space in his backyard

Louis Hofer of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Morton is pictured near the backyard religious display he is happy to show all visitors to his home. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

MORTON — Louis Hofer woke up one morning and had an idea to do something for Jesus. “He’s been so good to me,” says the 82-year-old member of Blessed Sacrament Parish here. But then Hofer already had much experience in serving his Savior, including through the Knights of Columbus and as a supply driver for […]

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Editorial: Omicron is coming; so is the Alpha and the Omega

On the first Sunday of Advent, the media were filled with stories about waiting and preparing. The Sunday morning talk shows trotted out modern prophets foretelling of an arrival. Smartphones dinged with the latest headlines and updates about what’s coming and how it might change our lives. A common theme? Now is the time to […]

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Father shares gratitude, faith, hope in story of daughter’s cancer journey

Jeff Hoskins and his daughter Ava, members of St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island, are pictured with their newly published book "From Cancer to Kinnick: Love Finds a Wave." The book shares gratitude for the support that Ava, now a freshman at Alleman High School, and the family received through her cancer treatment and recovery. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

ROCK ISLAND — Jeff Hoskins and his daughter Ava didn’t wait until Thanksgiving to give thanks to God and the many others who have accompanied them through Ava’s cancer journey. Their gratitude is voiced throughout a newly published book written by Jeff and featuring an introduction by 14-year-old Ava — a freshman at Alleman High […]

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High school youth draw nearer to Jesus in the Eucharist at ‘Abide in Me’ retreat

The diocesan youth retreat closed Nov. 6 with an evening encounter with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at St. Monica Church in East Peoria led by Father Eric Bolek, parochial vicar of the Heart of Peoria Catholic Community parishes. (Provided photo)

EAST PEORIA — Nearly 70 high school youth from around the Diocese of Peoria took a day out of their weekend on Saturday, Nov. 6, to encounter Jesus, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. The diocese’s annual Abide in Me retreat could not take place last year because of the pandemic, and this year was shortened […]

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‘Perfect ending’ — Saint Thomas More wins 1A state volleyball championship

Team captains and seniors Caroline Kerr and Anna McClure carry the IHSA Class 1A state volleyball championship trophy to teammates after The High School of Saint Thomas More's 3-set win over Augusta Southeastern in the title game Nov. 13 at Redbird Arena in Normal. (For The Catholic Post/Daryl Wilson)

NORMAL — With the volleyball state championship one point away at Redbird Arena on Saturday, Caroline Kerr of The High School of Saint Thomas More knew where her set pass was going. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t purposely set Anna,” Kerr said of fellow Saber senior Anna McClure. McClure’s spike was blocked […]

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St. Dominic Church, Wyoming, celebrates restoration of pipe organ with recital

Father John Cyr, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Wyoming, uses incense to bless the newly restored 1930 Hinners pipe organ prior to a rededication recital on Nov. 7 featuring renowned concert organist Katelyn Emerson. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

WYOMING — St. Dominic Parish here celebrated the return of more than 600 singing “voices” to its church on Nov. 7 with a rededication recital showing off its newly restored pipe organ. Quoting St. Augustine that “singing is praying twice” and noting the number of pipes on the church’s 91-year-old Hinners organ, Father John Cyr […]

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‘Day of the Dead’ altar at St. Mary Church, Bloomington, rich in symbolism, hope

Diego Sanchez-Gomez places a photo of his late grandmother, Rosa Gomez, on the Day of the Dead altar at St. Mary Church in Bloomington. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

BLOOMINGTON — Members of St. Mary Parish here have a striking reminder to pray for the souls of the deceased during November with the construction of a tall, colorful Day of the Dead altar to the left of the sanctuary. “The bright colors and the flowers show us there is a tomorrow of happiness and […]

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Priests urged to live ‘mystery of the cross’ to meet church’s post-COVID challenges

Msgr. Eugene Morris addresses priests of the Diocese of Peoria on the challenges of the post-COVID church during his keynote talk at Priest Assembly Days at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria on Oct. 18. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Priests must live the “mystery of the cross” in order to respond to pastoral challenges including division and indifference that have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re all waiting to see — now that life is, in a sense, returning to normal and more freedoms are able to be exercised — are we going to […]

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Parenting is ‘tougher than ever’ in pandemic era; speakers offer way forward

Matt Regitz, left, and Johnny Philp lead parents in a discussion on the theme "The Post-Coronavirus Church: Parenting Just Got Even Harder" during an evening of fellowship and community hosted by Peoria Notre Dame High School on Oct. 26. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Catholic parents need to support one another and bring Jesus into their home discussions all the more because COVID-19 has made parenting “tougher than it’s ever been.” “As we talk about this pandemic and what has changed, it’s just tougher,” said Matt Regitz, one of two youth and family ministers from Texas who spoke at […]

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OSF HealthCare ‘Street Medicine Shuttle’ blessed for service to area’s homeless

Father Don Roszkowski, assistant chaplain at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, is pictured at the Oct. 21 blessing ceremony for the new OSF Street Medicine Shuttle, seen in the background. The vehicle will help address the needs of the area's growing homeless population. The ceremony took place at the Faith Community Nursing base at 719 N. William Kumpf Blvd. in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

To enhance the care given to a growing number of “unsheltered patients who struggle with homelessness” in the Peoria area, OSF HealthCare on Oct. 21 blessed a shuttle van for use by its newly developed Street Medicine Program. The van will provide space for the OSF Faith Community Nurse team to have confidential encounters and […]

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