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Commissioned song, quilt among parish’s surprises for Msgr. Merdian on jubilee

Msgr. Merdian thanks Rita Kirk, Karen Boyle and Kate Elliott for their work on the quilt made to mark the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

ROCK ISLAND — With St. Pius X Church filled with family, friends and current and former parishioners from as far away as Louisiana and Chicago, Msgr. Mark Merdian thanked God for his 25 years of priestly ministry on June 3. “I love being a priest, if you can’t tell,” he told them with a smile. […]

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Logan County priest, deacon take part in Warriors to Lourdes healing pilgrimage

Father Jeffrey Laible of Lincoln, second from left, spiritual director for the Warriors to Lourdes program, and Father Tom Foster of Duluth, Minnesota, deputy director, visit with two of the pilgrims to Lourdes, France, on May 17. (CNS/Tamino Petelinsek courtesy Knights of Columbus)

LINCOLN — Healing comes in many ways when soldiers who have been wounded go to Lourdes. “People may come back to the United States or wherever home is and have a physical healing. However, they might also come back with a spiritual, maybe an emotional, maybe a moral healing, where there’s been some kind of […]

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Class of 2018 top high school graduates share their memories, plans, gratitude

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following are photos and brief biographies of the valedictorians and salutatorians at the seven Catholic high schools and academies in the Diocese of Peoria. We congratulate them and all graduates. The top students were invited to answer two questions: 1) “How would you describe the advantages of attending a Catholic high school?” and […]

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Joy fills cathedral at ordination Mass for Father Mattingly and Father O’Brien

Newly ordained Father Ryan Mattingly and Father Andru O'Brien join Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, on the balcony of the Bishop's Residence for the traditional photo after the Mass of Ordination at St. Mary's Cathedral on May 26. Also pictured are, from left, Msgr. James Kruse, vicar general; Father Timothy Hepner and Father Patrick Henehan, diocesan vocation directors of recruitment and formation; Msgr. Paul Showalter, vicar general; and Abbot Philip Davey of St. Bede Abbey. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Father Ryan M. Mattingly and Father Andru E. O’Brien were ordained priests of the Diocese of Peoria on May 26 in ancient rites celebrated before family, friends, nearly 100 priests, dozens of consecrated women, and hundreds of other well-wishers that filled St. Mary’s Cathedral. “On this beautiful day there are a lot of happy people […]

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Six priests recall the blessings, lessons of 25 years since their ordination day

The celebrations have already begun for six priests of the Diocese of Peoria who are marking the 25th anniversary of their ordination in 2018. Father Thomas Gibson, Father Michael Menner, Msgr. Mark Merdian, Father Jeffery Small and Father Stephen Willard were ordained on May 29, 1993, by Bishop (now Archbishop) John J. Myers at St. […]

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Burial service honors the dignity of 13 whose cremated remains are unclaimed

"May our farewell honor the dignity of their lives," prayed Deacon Joe Knapp, pastoral care manager at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Deacon Knapp is shown addressing about 50 people who gathered at St. Mary's Cemetery in West Peoria on May 24 for a burial service honoring the unclaimed, cremated remains of 13 individuals. Among those looking on is Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

In death, the 13 individuals had no one to claim their bodies. In burial on May 24, more than 50 people gathered to prayerfully remember and honor their lives in a service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in West Peoria that the Peoria County Coroner would later call “the pinnacle” of his public service. “May our […]

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Twenty-three priests receive new assignments; full appointment list here

Twenty-three priests are receiving new assignments in appointments announced this month by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. The changes will result in a dozen parishes receiving new pastors and two high schools — Alleman in Rock Island and The High School of Saint Thomas More in Champaign — getting new chaplains. For the full list […]

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Three Catholic school principals are retiring as school year comes to an end

Joe McDaniel, Jodi Peine, and Jerry Carls are retiring, although not for the first time, as principals as the academic year comes to an end. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Three principals serving in Catholic schools of the Diocese of Peoria are retiring as the academic year comes to an end. Jerry Carls, principal of Trinity Catholic Academy in LaSalle for two years, and Joe McDaniel, principal of Holy Cross in Champaign, each stepped in on an interim basis until permanent principals could be found. […]

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Sr. Marianne Burkhard to retire after 1,000 marriage cases, 25 Tribunal years

Sister Marianne Burkhard, OSB, former director of the Diocesan Tribunal and a longtime judge in marriage cases, is pictured in her office at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. She will retire to St. Monastery in Rock Island on May 31. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

After nearly 25 years of service and involvement in more than 1,000 marriage cases, Sister Marianne Burkhard, OSB, will retire from the Diocesan Tribunal on May 31. “My life has been totally unpredictable but wonderfully meaningful,” said Sister Marianne, a canon lawyer who guided the Tribunal as its first non-clergy director for a dozen years […]

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‘Special day’ as Daniel McShane is ordained to transitional diaconate

A joyful McShane family gathers around Bishop Jenky after the May 20 Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria. Pictured from left are John and Diane McShane, parents of newly ordained transitional Deacon Daniel McShane; brother Michael McShane; and brother Andrew McShane with wife, Jackie, and daughter Sears. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

As the church celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost last Sunday, that same Spirit was being called upon as Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, ordained Daniel McShane to be a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Peoria. “Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, he will help the bishop and his […]

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