EAST PEORIA — During a day infused with prayer, sisterhood, laughter and a few tears, women of all ages explored the many different ways there are to say “yes” to God at the “Finding Your Fiat” Conference. The first-ever event was planned by a group of Catholic women in central Illinois and filled the parish […]
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Priests from throughout the Diocese of Peoria concelebrate the Jubilarian Mass with Bishop Jenky on June 23 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Applause filled St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria as priests celebrating milestone anniversaries were honored at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. Praising their commitment, he called them “irreplaceable in the life of our community” and said, “Our hearts are filled with love and gratitude for their ministry.” Also honored was the newest […]
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Following a prayer vigil for Msgr. Gregory Ketcham on June 21 at St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington in Bloomington, concerned Catholics line up to pledge prayers for a spiritual bouquet. Msgr. Ketcham is about to begin treatment for a recently diagnosed brain tumor. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
Members of St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington and St. Mary Parish, Downs, are leading a wide prayer effort as their pastor, Msgr. Gregory Ketcham, prepares to undergo treatment for a malignant brain tumor. The tumor was diagnosed after Msgr. Ketcham, 49, suffered a seizure near the close of a Sunday Mass on June […]
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At Father Timothy Hepner's request, the priests, seminarians and women religious present at the Diocesan Summer Institute gathered in front of the Peoria Civic Center stage. "We are blessed," said Father Hepner, but asked all in attendance for prayers to increase vocations. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Jesus took his disciples aside to pray on occasion and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, encouraged nearly 1,000 teachers, religious educators, priests, seminarians, women religious and parishioners to view the rebooted Diocesan Summer Institute the same way. “All of you, who do so much work in the diocese, need this time together with the Lord,” […]
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Dressed in her First Communion attire, 7-year-old Alemie Claire I. Cuizon joined cathedral cantor Rosa Beyer in leading the responsorial psalm during the Mass with First Communicants at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria on June 11. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, the Lord is as near to us as if we were with him in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago and he gave us a hug. That’s one message Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, shared with First Communicants and their families from around the Diocese of Peoria who joined him […]
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Archbishop Fulton Sheen writes on his chalkboard during a broadcast of his Emmy Award-winning television program "Life is Worth Living" in this 1950s file photo.
The family of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has petitioned the Supreme Court of the State of New York to allow the transfer of the sainthood candidate’s remains to Peoria. Joan Sheen Cunningham, 88, Archbishop Sheen’s niece and his oldest living relative, filed a petition on June 13 asking that the trustees of St. […]
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Following are brief biographies of the valedictorians and salutatorians at the Catholic high schools and academies in the Diocese of Peoria. We congratulate them and all graduates. We invited the top students to answer two questions: 1) “How would you describe the advantages of attending a Catholic high school?,” and 2) “Name one […]
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The friars join the parish choirs and all present in singing "You Shall Not Tire" at the close of the Franciscan Farewell celebration at St. Mary Parish in Bloomington. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
BLOOMINGTON — Tears, laughter, and professions of love and gratitude filled St. Mary Church here May 29 as parishioners and friends from around the diocese bid farewell to the Franciscan Friars. As with any good celebration there was also music and even some dancing in the aisle as Father Neri Greskoviak, OFM, prompted by the […]
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Newly ordained Father Michael Pica poses with Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, on the balcony of the cathedral rectory immediately following the May 28 ordination Mass. Also pictured are Abbot Philip Davey, OSB, of St. Bede Abbey and the vicars general of the Diocese of Peoria, Msgr. Paul Showalter, P.A., and Msgr. James Kruse. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
Father Michael P. Pica was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, during solemn, ancient rites in a joy-filled Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Saturday, May 28. “The church in Peoria rejoices today,” said Bishop Jenky in opening remarks after Deacon Pica entered in a processional including priests, deacons […]
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Family has always been a priority for Ed Rapp, seen here with (from left) daughters Ali and Steph, wife Ann, grandson Cole Edward, daughter-in-law Katy, and son Jay. “For me now it’s not a question of going places, it’s a question of being with the people you want to be with,” he said. (Provided photo)
Ed Rapp has ALS. Learning that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis came as a total surprise to Rapp, group president of the Resource Industries Group at Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria. There is no cure for the disease, which affects the nervous system and impairs physical function. While ALS still raises more questions than answers for […]
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