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By: Tom Dermody - December 22, 2020 -
News Article
Each guest in Catholic Charities' Christmas Program received a bag of gift cards designed for their household and made possible with support from 33 parishes in the Diocese of Peoria. Distributing at the West Peoria campus Dec. 14 were Sid Ruckriegel, Stefanie Tarr, and Julie Enzenberger. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
There was a circle of charity flowing Dec. 14 at the Heading Avenue campus of Catholic Charities in West Peoria. The campus was just one distribution point for Catholic Charities’ annual Christmas Project, which this year assisted about 360 families throughout the diocese and more than 1,125 individuals. Pandemic safety precautions made this year’s pick-up […]
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By: Tom Dermody - December 17, 2020 -
Featured Article
The theme of the 2020 Annual Diocesan Appeal is "Know, Love, Serve." It was conducted primarily through direct mail this year because of the pandemic.
In this most challenging year, Catholics of the Diocese of Peoria are responding generously to a modified Annual Diocesan Appeal that opened in September — six months later than usual and in the middle of a pandemic. With a goal set at $6 million, pledges have already crossed $5.2 million and more than $4.3 million […]
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By: Tom Dermody - December 17, 2020 -
News Article
Schlarman Academy Class of 2020 member Wade Huddleston tells how students at the Danville school give back to the community in this screen grab from a student-produced video that won a diocesan contest to promote “Stewardship in Action.” It was later part of a diocesan video that received first place honors from the International Catholic Stewardship Council.
DANVILLE — Video editing is a “fun hobby” for Jack Girouard. But the senior at Schlarman Academy now has an international award on his film resume. The success began when an entry that Girouard and a few Schlarman friends submitted last school year was named the winner in the Diocese of Peoria’s first video contest […]
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By: Tom Dermody - December 11, 2020 -
News Article
The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Saturday, Dec. 12.
The Dec. 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a major gathering day for Hispanic Catholics, but across the Diocese of Peoria plans are being modified to reflect the health concerns of 2020. “We will still celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe but with the (pandemic) restrictions,” said Rosie Romero, diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry. […]
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By: Tom Dermody - December 9, 2020 -
Featured Article
Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka celebrates a Mass at the tomb of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria on Dec. 9, the 41st anniversary of the media pioneer's death. Assisting are seminarians Deacon Nicolas Wilson, left, and Deacon Austin Bosse. The Mass followed a nine-day novena praying for Archbishop Sheen's canonization cause. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
A Mass at the tomb of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on the 41st anniversary of his death on Dec. 9 also was a first opportunity for the Diocese of Peoria to mourn the death from COVID-19 two hours earlier of the vice postulator of the famed media pioneer and author’s cause for canonization. “We gather […]
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By: Tom Dermody - December 4, 2020 -
Featured Article
Newly appointed volunteer coordinator Stefanie Tarr is pictured in the St. Gianna Baby Pantry, located within the Bessette Center at 1825 N.E. Adams St. in Peoria. It is one of two baby pantries under the umbrella of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
Stefanie Tarr can get emotional listening to the stories of parents she assists at the St. Gianna Baby Pantry in Peoria, one of two baby pantry outreaches in the Diocese of Peoria operated through Catholic Charities. “I was a single parent of four kids,” said Tarr, formerly of Champaign and now living in Peoria. “They […]
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By: Tom Dermody - December 3, 2020 -
Editorial
The word "COVID-19" is reflected in a vaccine drop that dangles from a syringe needle in this illustration photo. (CNS/Dado Ruvic, Reuters)
We are grateful for the scientists developing vaccines for COVID-19 and pray their resulting products are safe and effective. We are also grateful for Catholic bioethicists and other church officials who are monitoring the processes to determine if they are morally produced and distributed in an equitable manner. A memo sent to the U.S. Catholic […]
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By: Tom Dermody - November 23, 2020 -
Featured Article
Volunteers at the food and clothing pantry operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Holy Trinity Conference in Bloomington load supplies into a client's car on Nov. 14. Volunteer Ron Yoder is pictured emptying the cart, Teresa Dubravec brings a watermelon and potatos, and Tom Fenger assists at left. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
When is giving away a large turkey for Thanksgiving not the kindest thing to do for a family in need? “A lot of people who come to us aren’t able to cook a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Nancy Elson, who assists with the food pantry at St. Mary Church in Canton. Perhaps they don’t have a […]
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By: Tom Dermody - November 19, 2020 -
News Article
The new transportation center is located adjacent to the OSF Center for Health-Streator. It will house four ambulances and the OSF King Care-A0Van, seen parked outside. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
STREATOR — With gratitude to the generous donors who supported its construction and to OSF HealthCare for its commitment to this community and region, a new transportation center was blessed Nov. 13 adjacent to the OSF Center for Health-Streator. The 6,600-square-foot transportation center is part of a new approach to rural health care delivery being […]
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By: Tom Dermody - November 18, 2020 -
Editorial
This Peoria home has combined Christmas lights with a heart outline to spread love and kindness among neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
Have you noticed Christmas decorations going up in your neighborhood early this year? Perhaps you are among those who took advantage of the warm weather just after Halloween to string some colorful outdoor lights on your property. Maybe you’ve even put up your Christmas tree. My social media feed has been filled with posts from […]
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