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Festival of Nativities unites community around manger as Christmas approaches

By: Jennifer Willems - December 20, 2017 - Featured Article

"Come and Behold Him" was the theme for the 2017 Community Festival of Nativities in Peoria and that's exactly what the children from nearby Holy Family School did. The pre-school students in Chery Craft's class were among the first to visit the festival on Dec. 1, with Henry Anderton and Kate Ho taking an interest in one of the Nativities from Msgr. William Watson's private collection. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

At a time when so much seems to be dividing humanity, celebrating the birth of Christ is one thing that unites people. That thought is the driving force behind the Community Festival of Nativities in Peoria. “Come and Behold Him” was the theme for the second annual event, which was sponsored by St. Vincent de […]

Canton parish ‘home’ for Christmas as damaged St. Mary Church reopens

By: Tom Dermody - December 19, 2017 - Featured Article Canton, explosion, Father Daniel Ebker, reopens, St. Mary Church

St. Mary Church in Canton was packed on Sunday, Dec. 17, for the first Mass it has hosted in 13 months. A major restoration was necessary after the church was damaged in a nearby natural gas explosion that rocked the city's downtown on Nov. 16, 2016. Father Daniel Ebker, pastor, is using the original high altar until a new altar of sacrifice that has been ordered arrives. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

CANTON — Celebrating Mass in their church for the first time in 13 months gave members of St. Mary Parish here an additional reason to rejoice on Dec. 17, known as Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. “We’re not finished by any long shot,” said Father Daniel Ebker, pastor, of the long restoration process required after the church […]

Quick turnaround, but no ‘two-for-one’ Masses as Christmas falls on a Monday

By: The Catholic Post - December 15, 2017 - Featured Article Christmas Mass, holy day of obligation

People exchange a sign of peace during Christmas Eve Mass. (CNS file/Daniel Soñé)

By Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Although Christmas this year is the day after the fourth Sunday of Advent, Catholics looking to count a Sunday evening Mass Dec. 24 for both that Sunday obligation and Monday’s Christmas Mass obligation will have to think again. The U.S. bishops already saw this coming at […]

Benedictine’s ‘eclectic’ Christmas village puts Nativity at the center of it all

By: Jennifer Willems - December 13, 2017 - Featured Article Christmas, Christmas village, Nativity, Rock Island, Sister Mary Core, St. Mary Monastery

Sister Mary Core, OSB, said it delights her to watch children enter into “the wonderland of little houses and people and motion” of her Christmas village at St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island. (Provided photo)

ROCK ISLAND — Benedictine Sister Mary Core didn’t start out to make a Christmas village that enchants children and adults who visit St. Mary Monastery from late Advent through the Christmas season. It just sort of happened. What is more intentional is the focus on why Christmas is such a meaningful — as well as […]

Pastor, teacher win dance competition and their school arts programs benefit

By: Jennifer Willems - December 13, 2017 - Featured Article Catholic schools, dance, Darcy Mollo, Father Jacob Rose, LaSalle, Peru Catholic, St. Michael the Archangel, Streator

The judges at "Dance Dance Dance for Charity" said they were looking for fun and showmanship from the six teams competing Dec. 10, and Darcy Mollo and Father Jacob Rose delivered with their Jive, performed to "Shake a Tail Feather" from "The Blues Brothers" soundtrack. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

LA SALLE — There wasn’t a mirror ball trophy in sight, but Father Jacob Rose and Darcy Mollo came away from “Dance Dance Dance for Charity” Dec. 10 with a much better prize. As the champions of the dance competition sponsored by OmniArts in Starved Rock Country, they will receive $1,500 for the arts programs […]

Father Caster, Father Sauppé celebrating 25 years of priesthood ordination

By: Jennifer Willems - December 13, 2017 - Featured Article Father Gary Caster, Father Timothy Sauppe, jubilarians, Washington, Westville

Father Gary Caster and Father Timothy Sauppé are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood with Masses and social gatherings this weekend. Father Caster, who has served as the Catholic chaplain at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, since 2007, will celebrate the 7, 8:30 and 11 a.m. Masses this Sunday, Dec. 17, […]

Pastor’s 3-year beard gone as St. Ambrose, Milan, celebrates renovation of church

By: Tom Dermody - December 6, 2017 - Featured Article

More than three years after he pledged not to shave until St. Ambrose Church in Milan had a handicapped accessible entrance, Father Charles Klamut allowed his beard to be shaved during a celebration of the church's reopening Dec. 1 after renovations that went well beyond two new entrances. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will rededicate the church at a 1:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, Dec. 10. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

MILAN — “I feel my strength leaving me,” joked Father Charles Klamut as his long beard, more than three years in the growing, was cut in front of a crowd of cheering witnesses at St. Ambrose Parish Center here on Dec. 1. But while Samson of the Old Testament lost his physical power after his […]

From stress to holiness: young adults get seasonal advice at first “Fourth Watch”

By: Tom Dermody - December 5, 2017 - Featured Article Advent, Father Adam Cesarek, Fourth Watch, Karley Bates, young adults

Father Adam Cesarek offers suggestions on how to lessen pre-Christmas stress by keeping the focus on Christ during Advent. He was the featured speaker at the Diocese of Peoria's first "Fourth Watch" gathering on Dec. 4 that drew more than 60 young adults to the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Overwhelmed by the approach of Christmas? Father Adam Cesarek suggests making a different kind of list during Advent to “change your season of stress into a season of holiness.” “It’s hard to keep our eyes on the things that are most important as we prepare for Christmas,” said Father Cesarek, the featured speaker Dec. 4 […]

Peru priest, Streator teacher training to ‘Dance Dance Dance for Charity’ Dec. 10

By: Jennifer Willems - December 1, 2017 - Featured Article

Darcy Mollo, fine arts teacher at St. Michael the Archangel School in Streator, and Father Jacob Rose, pastor of St. Joseph Parish and Peru Catholic School in Peru, work on their routine for "Dance Dance Dance for Charity." The competition to raise funds to keep the arts in Illinois Valley schools, will take place Sunday, Dec. 10, in the ballroom of Senica's Oak Ridge Golf Course in La Salle. (Provided photo)

LA SALLE — Father Jacob Rose and Darcy Mollo may not have a lot of experience when it comes to ballroom dancing, but that has made them all the more determined to “Dance Dance Dance for Charity” in an effort to keep the arts in Illinois Valley schools. Sponsored by OmniArts in Starved Rock Country, […]

Turn to St. Joseph, a ‘model for all men,’ Bishop Jenky urges in new Festival Letter

By: Tom Dermody - November 30, 2017 - Featured Article 2018, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, Festival Letter, men, St. Joseph

A statue of St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus is carried during a recent Diocesan Men's March through downtown Peoria. Pope Francis has proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

The example of St. Joseph “should be an inspiration to men living in our own challenging era,” writes Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, in his 16th Festival Letter. “The Church has always looked to St. Joseph as a model for all men — for workers, for fathers, for husbands, and for priests,” notes Bishop Jenky […]

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