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Blessings abound as golden and silver anniversary couples renew vows at Mass

By: Tom Dermody - September 30, 2019 - Featured Article anniversary mass, Bishop Jenky, Borowski, golden, Marriage, Parkins, silver

Dennis and Beth Doolan of St. Patrick Parish in Washington were among 115 couples observing their 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries in 2019 to renew their marriage vows at St. Mary's Cathedral during the diocesan Anniversary Mass on Sept. 29. Behind them are Bill and Carolyn Kraft of St. Jude Parish, Peoria. Both are golden anniversary couples. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

It rained on John and Maureen Borowy’s wedding day 50 years ago. “My mom always said it was a blessing from heaven and my grandma said that, too,” said Maureen, as she and her husband stood on a wet sidewalk outside St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria moments after taking part in the Diocese of Peoria’s […]

Newman Hall resident director, athlete, and new Catholic is on the right tracks

By: Tom Dermody - September 25, 2019 - Featured Article Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, Jenna Fesemyer, Newman Hall, Paralympic Games, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, Tristan Pisarczyk, wheelchair racing

Jenna Fesemyer, resident director at Newman Hall of St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign, wears medals she earned while competing for Team USA at the Parapan American Games last month in Lima, Peru. (Provided photo)

CHAMPAIGN — Jenna Fesemyer is a world class wheelchair athlete with hopes of representing the United States at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. But those who know the 22-year-old resident director at Newman Hall here would award “our Jenna” gold medals for joyful attitude, academics, leadership, and witness of her newfound Catholic faith. “She’s […]

Bishop Jenky releases 2020 Festival Letter early to teach on ‘The Real Presence’

By: Tom Dermody - September 16, 2019 - Featured Article Bishop Jenky, Eucharist, Festival Letter, Real Presence

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, elevates the Host during Mass at the 2018 Peoria Irish Fest. The Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the topic of his 19th Festival Letter to the Diocese of Peoria, released on Sept. 16. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Acknowledging that “for several generations” the Catholic Church has sometimes failed to effectively pass on even its core truths, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has called for all ministries of the Diocese of Peoria to be “intentionally centered” around the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. The bishop’s 2,100-word teaching document, titled “The […]

Vigils, extra events as 40 Days for Life set Sept. 25-Nov. 3 at three sites in diocese

By: Tom Dermody - September 13, 2019 - News Article 40 Days for Life, Bloomington, Champaign, Mary Kate Knorr, Mitch McVicker, Peoria, Unplanned

Concerned individuals and parish groups are invited to take part in coordinated campaigns of prayer, fasting, and peaceful public vigils to end abortion during 40 Days for Life outreaches planned in the Diocese of Peoria and around the nation from Sept. 25 to Nov. 3. Daily vigils, at which participants also pray for help and […]

Charity on wheels: St. Nicholas Mobile Pantry is blessed and ministry launched

By: Tom Dermody - September 12, 2019 - Featured Article blessing, Catholic Charities, SCTJM, Sister Michelle Fernandez, St. Nicholas Mobile Pantry, Suzie Meismer

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, blesses a van that will serve as the St. Nicholas Mobile Pantry, a new outreach of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Peoria. Looking on at left during the ceremony at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria are Sister Michelle Fernandez, SCTJM, director of Catholic Charities, and Suzie Meismer, who will provide case management at the van’s various stops throughout the diocese. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

There is now a St. Nicholas Day every week in the Diocese of Peoria. On Tuesday morning, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, blessed a white Ford Transit cargo van as the “St. Nicholas Mobile Pantry,” a new outreach of Catholic Charities to serve needs throughout the 26-county diocese. Each week, usually on a Tuesday, the […]

Archbishop Sheen museum seeing an increase in visitors, adds to displays

By: Tom Dermody - September 3, 2019 - News Article Archbishop Fulton Sheen, museum, Sister Ann Gill, Sister Lea Stefancova

Father Joseph Lappe, MIC, associate pastor of St. Peter and Holy Rosary parishes in Kenosha, Wisconsin, views one of eight new photo slide shows at the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum in the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria during his visit there Aug. 26. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Before it was announced in early summer that the remains of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be transferred from New York to Peoria — and before the miracle attributed to his intercession was approved, paving the way for beatification — the museum that bears his name at the Spalding Pastoral Center was already undergoing […]

Volunteers offer welcome, information to all visiting cathedral, Sheen’s tomb

By: Tom Dermody - September 3, 2019 - Featured Article Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Kelly Ramirez, Loreto Xavier, Lori Wilson, Ray Ramirez, tomb, volunteers

David and Linda Whitaker of Tinley Park, pilgrims to the tomb of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Aug. 27, are greeted by volunteers (from left) Kate Socha of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Peoria Heights; Regina Hutt of St. Philomena Parish, Peoria; and Patricia Ostaszewski of Epiphany Parish, Normal. More than 50 volunteers have staffed the welcoming table during the two months since the cathedral extended visiting hours following the transfer of the sainthood candidate’s remains from New York to Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Before they visit the new tomb of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, pilgrims to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria first encounter a smiling face and warm greeting from one of more than 50 volunteers who take turns at a table just inside the side chapel entrance door. “I hope to be a listening ear to […]

Hispanic Ministry offers a professional listening ear to area’s Spanish-speaking

By: Tom Dermody - August 28, 2019 - Featured Article Bloomington, Hispanic ministry, LaSalle, Olga Figueroa, psychotherapist, Sister Isabel Romero

Sister Isabel Romero, SCTJM, director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Peoria, is pictured with Olga Figueroa, her longtime friend from Mexico. Figueroa is a psychotherapist who offered workshops and private counseling in August to Spanish-speaking Catholics in LaSalle, Peoria, and Bloomington. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

As a priest from Mexico was hearing confessions for 14 hours during a retreat day for Spanish-speaking Catholics of the Diocese of Peoria last summer, Sister Isabel Romero, SCTJM, offered to help move things along. “Do you want me to tell them to be a little more quick — to just say their sins?” asked […]

Catholic-run senior facility in Normal to add nursing and memory care units

By: Tom Dermody - August 22, 2019 - Featured Article Chris Beymer, Franciscan Ministries, Msgr. Eric Powell, Normal, The Village at Mercy Creek

Msgr. Eric Powell sprinkles holy water during blessing ceremonies Aug. 21 at The Village at Mercy Creek in Normal. Among those looking on are two members of the leadership of Franciscan Ministries, which acquired the senior living facility a year ago -- John Glover, chief operating officer, and Dan Noonan, chief financial officer. (The Catholic Post, Tom Dermody)

NORMAL — The Village at Mercy Creek on Aug. 21 marked one year as a Franciscan Ministries senior living community by announcing plans to expand in 2020. “We think there is a real need in this marketplace to extend our mission through skilled nursing and memory care units we want to construct here,” said Dan […]

Tutors are sought to help girls from low-income families grow in academics, virtue

By: Tom Dermody - August 19, 2019 - News Article academic, Kate Smart, low income, Opus Dei, PAVE, virtue

Girls taking part in the two-week PAVE Summer Camp at the rural home of Dr. Steve and Kate Smart pose on a tractor. The camp blended outdoor fun with lessons on citizenship, art, math, literature, and cooking as well as faith and virtues. PAVE stands for Pursuing Academic and Virtue Excellence. (Provided photo)

With no budget but a love for children from low income families, Kate Smart and a few friends are trying to PAVE the way for a miracle. They seek to duplicate in Peoria the success of a Catholic tutoring program in the heart of Chicago’s inner city that since 2000 boasts 100 percent high school […]

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