Reviewed by Nancy Piccione Nearly three years ago, 85-year-old priest Father Jacques Hamel was martyred by two Islamic state terrorists while he was celebrating daily Mass at the parish in Normandy, France, where he lived as a retired priest. I vividly recall how moved I was by the accounts of him, and his witness to […]
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Georgette Ghantous Williams of St. Philomena Parish in Peoria is author of the new children's book "The Adventures of Stacy and Tracy: How to Turn Gossip into Kindness."
Stacy and Tracy are fictional young sisters who are taking children and adults alike on adventures in virtue. For decades found only in the imagination of Georgette Ghantous Williams — as well as her seven children and 19 grandchildren who delight in her lesson-teaching storytelling — Stacy and Tracy are fast making friends around […]
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Reviewed by Nancy Piccione There’s a well-known, if not necessarily true, story about St. Teresa of Avila, the 16th-century mystic Carmelite. The account goes that when experiencing a physical setback (I heard it once as when she fell off her horse into the mud), she complained to God, and he told her, “Fear not! This […]
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Father Augustin Kassa, SMA, is parochial vicar of St. Mary in Grand Ridge, St. Patrick in Seneca, St. Theresa in Earlville, St. Joseph in Marseilles, and St. Patrick in Ransom.
EARLVILLE — Father Augustin Kassa, SMA, dedicates his new book “to the suffering members of the body of Christ.” That’s a wide target audience, since everyone — from victims of terrorism and poverty to those confronting their own illness or that of a loved one — experiences pain and suffering in their lifetimes. And the […]
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The cover for "The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical Living for Real Life" by Kendra Tierney.
By Bonnie Engstrom Easter is just around the corner and most of us have a good idea of what we’ll be doing to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Mass, family, ham, rolls, an egg hunt, lots of chocolate. But what about the next day, and week? And how will you celebrate Easter for the […]
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Sister Diane VandeVoorde, OSF
How we know you: I am a Heading Avenue Franciscan and I live in West Peoria. Since I am a member of a diocesan community I’ve been in these parts doing ministry for many years. I currently serve as the liturgist and organist for my community as well as teach in the deacon/safe formation program. […]
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By Katie Bogner Lent: It’s a time to give up and take up. Alongside your Lenten sacrifices, we suggest you take up one of these powerful books as a guide to draw you closer to the Cross of our Savior. The Cries of Jesus from the Cross: An Anthology, by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, from […]
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By Matthew Vander Vennet One request that St. Paul asks of us is to “Pray without ceasing.” (1Thes 5:17) In “Called to Pray: Daily Prayers for Catholic Schools,” recently published by Ave Maria Press, Justin McClain takes up St. Paul’s call and gives us the resources to do just that. One of the great benefits […]
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RyAnne Carr
How we know you: I am a lifelong member of St. Philomena Parish in Peoria. I served as a FOCUS missionary for two years after college where I met my husband. Currently I am a homemaker with three children ages 6 and under. Why I love reading: I love reading because it allows me to […]
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Reviewed by Father Luke Spannagel If you are like me, the headlines the last couple months about scandals and failures in leadership within our Church have been challenging on many levels. As I continue to pray for everyone who has been hurt, I have also been asking God for wisdom and strength in daily ministry. […]
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