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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 […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - September 12, 2019 -
Featured Article
Benedictines, Chris Mandle, Rock Island, Sister Stefanie MacDonald, virtual monastery
The Virtual Monastery Experience gives visitors an opportunity to see what St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island offers so they will feel more comfortable coming in person and perhaps considering religious life. (Provided photo/Mandle Design Inc.)
ROCK ISLAND — It’s a question Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB, is asked often when people find out she lives in a monastery: “Can I go there?” “They think they can’t go in,” said Sister Stefanie, director of vocations for the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island and a preschool teacher at Our […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - September 11, 2019 -
Featured Article
Ann and John Collet give veteran usher Bob Hollenbeck a reason to stop while taking the collection at St. Patrick Church in Seneca on Sept. 8. Hollenbeck, who will celebrate his 100th birthday on Oct. 1, has been an usher there for 63 years. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
SENECA — Over the course of a century, Bob Hollenbeck has done just about everything he’s wanted to do. So what will he wish for when he celebrates his 100th birthday on Oct. 1? “Two more years,” he replies with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve had such a good life,” Mr. […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - September 5, 2019 -
Featured Article
abortion, Father Edward Ohm, respect life, State Capitol
Father Edward Ohm of Lincoln organized the Rally Against Abortion at the State Capitol as a private citizen in an effort to pray for government officials and offer reparation for sins against God. During the prayerful, peaceful event on Sept. 4, he blessed the building with holy water and consecrated it to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
SPRINGFIELD — Tears fill Shirley Buckner’s eyes when she talks about abortion, and her heart breaks at the thought of what happens to the unborn during the procedure that will stop theirs. “It’s so horrible. It’s horrible,” said Buckner, a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Mount Pulaski. “Such a beautiful life that’s snuffed […]
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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 […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - August 28, 2019 -
Featured Article
Father Dondanville, Josette Baumann, Kickapoo, outdoor garden, St. Mary School
Kindergartner Owen Schaub gives a good drink of water to the newly planted flowers in the outdoor classroom at St. Mary School in Kickapoo. The students were guided by Owen's grandmother, master gardener Anne Schaub. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
KICKAPOO — Over the summer, a new classroom was added to St. Mary School here. Don’t look for it inside the building, however. The spacious new learning center is located behind the school on a large lot that had plenty of grass but wasn’t used for anything — until kindergarten teacher Josette Baumann received a […]
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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 […]
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By: The Catholic Post - August 27, 2019 -
Featured Article
Msgr. Albert Hallin stands in front of the small altar in his apartment at Inman Place in Champaign in this 2013 file photo. The former educator, pastor and holder of diocesan leadership positions died Aug. 26 at the age of 90. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
CHAMPAIGN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, at Holy Cross Church here for Msgr. Albert W. Hallin, P.A., whose 58 years in the priesthood was marked by leadership in education, parishes and diocesan positions. Msgr. Hallin, who in 2007 was named by Pope Benedict XVI […]
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By: Jennifer Willems - August 24, 2019 -
Featured Article
Bonnie Engstrom, Diocesan Catechetical Institute, Msgr. Stanley Deptula
Msgr. Stanley Deptula smiles as Bonnie Engstrom shares a favorite story about Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen during the keynote at the Diocesan Catechetical Institute on Aug. 13. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen made more than 800 new friends as Catholic school teachers, religious educators and interested parishioners came together for the annual Diocesan Catechetical Institute on Aug. 13. The back-to-school gathering was hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Church and School in Peoria. As he did during his long priesthood, the El […]
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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 […]
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