Archives
By: Jennifer Willems - November 16, 2016 -
Featured Article
dog, greeter, Rock Island, Sacred Heart, Sharon Cramer
When she isn't working as a greeter at Sacred Heart Church in Rock Island, Bailey lays quietly next to her handler, Sharon Cramer, until it's time to go back outside to give and receive expressions of love." (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
ROCK ISLAND — Except for the fluffy tail that wags itself out from under the pew from time to time, you would never know that Bailey was at Mass at Sacred Heart Church. Content to lay quietly on the floor next to handler Sharon Cramer, the large white Labradoodle makes her presence known in other […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - November 10, 2016 -
Featured Article
Election, Pekin, sainthood, Sheen, St. Joseph, students
Eighth-grader Andrew Lambe, deputy manager for Dorothy Day's "campaign," casts his vote in the "Sainthood Ballot" at St. Joseph School in Pekin on Election Day. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
PEKIN — Elections end with winners and losers, unless the contest is held at St. Joseph School. Students here used Election Day to cast votes in a “Sainthood Ballot” where all the candidates are winners ultimately. The ballot included six candidates — two Servants of God, two Venerables and two Blesseds — who are being […]
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By: The Catholic Post - November 9, 2016 -
Featured Article
Clinton, Election, President, Trump
President-elect Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan in the early morning hours Nov. 9. (CNS/Shawn Thew, EPA)
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Lay and religious leaders of all stripes reacted to news of Donald J. Trump’s upset win in the Nov. 8 presidential election. Most expressed hope that Trump would pay attention to their agenda, while others were more decidedly downbeat and still others counseled prayer. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president […]
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By: Tom Dermody - November 8, 2016 -
Featured Article
documentary, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Marsha Kampfl, Outcasts, Peoria, St. Jude Parish
Brother Elijah, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and Clifford Azize, producer and director, respond to questions after the screening of the new documentary "Outcasts" at St. Jude Parish on Nov. 5. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
The screening of a new documentary showing the work of a religious community among destitute and homeless people around the world brought repeated appeals for viewers to “hit the streets” in their own communities to find and serve those in need. “You people know Jesus. That’s why you’re here,” said Brother Elijah, a five-year […]
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By: The Catholic Post - November 7, 2016 -
Featured Article
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, N.J., a native of Earlville who served as bishop of Peoria from 1990 to 2001. (CNS file photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, New Jersey, and named Cardinal-designate Joseph W. Tobin of Indianapolis to succeed him. Archbishop Myers, a native of Earlville in LaSalle County who served as bishop of Peoria from 1990 until he was appointed to Newark in 2001, , […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - November 2, 2016 -
Featured Article
Champaign, conclusion, Diocese of Peoria, fruits, holy doors, LaSalle, Nauvoo, Normal, Peoria, Rock Island, Year of Mercy
Father Tom Otto opens the Holy Door at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Nauvoo at the conclusion of a 17-mile Walk to Mercy pilgrimage on Sept. 24. The Year of Mercy ends on Nov. 20. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
As the Jubilee Year of Mercy draws to a close, it is with grateful hearts that pastors, chaplains and pastoral ministers note that people of all ages accepted the invitation to experience God’s mercy for themselves and extend it to others. “I’ve had the grace of being the pastor of two Holy Doors — the […]
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By: Tom Dermody - November 2, 2016 -
Featured Article
Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Diocese of Peoria, New York, remains, sainthood, Sheen
A ruling on the requested transfer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's remains to Peoria is expected in the coming weeks.
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, asked for continued prayers for the sainthood cause of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and diocesan leaders expressed optimism following a Nov. 1 hearing in the Supreme Court of the State of New York regarding the transfer of the famed orator and media pioneer’s remains to Peoria. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - November 2, 2016 -
Featured Article
Assembly Day, Diocese of Peoria, Hepner, Rhonda Gruenewald, vocations
Rhonda Gruenewald, author of "Hundredfold: A Guide to Parish Vocation Ministry," speaks with Father Timothy Hepner, diocesan director of vocations for recruitment, during a break at the Priest Assembly Day on Oct. 25. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Fostering a culture of vocations isn’t a new concept in the Diocese of Peoria, although a fresh approach was unveiled Oct. 25 when clergy gathered at the Spalding Pastoral Center for a Priest Assembly Day. The annual meeting also gave the priests an opportunity to pray together, catch up and hear from Bishop Daniel R. […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - November 2, 2016 -
Featured Article
Cursillo, Diocese of Peoria, retire, Skender
Deacon John and Jackie Skender stand in front of an image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the chapel dedicated to her in the Spalding Renewal Center in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Deacon John Skender had hoped to “ride off into the sunset” after stepping down as diocesan spiritual director of Cursillo next month. That’s not going to happen — he’s scheduled to be the spiritual director for a Cursillo weekend in February. “I’m not going to disappear,” he said with a laugh. That’s a good thing, […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - October 24, 2016 -
Featured Article
Cursillo, prison ministry
More than 50 men at the Danville Correctional Center took the opportunity to participate in the Cursillo weekend in September. Many of them were committed Christians who were well-versed in the Bible, which team members found humbling and inspiring. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
DANVILLE — Driving to the Danville Correctional Center with a Cursillo team recently, Laura Mohrbacher admits to feeling some apprehension. Prisons always seemed like dark, dangerous places and she had no intention of going into one — even for Cursillo. God kept tapping her on the shoulder, however, asking her to think about it. Since […]
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