Following in the footsteps of Pope Francis and the Synod of Bishops set for October, the Diocesan Summer Institute will also focus on youth and vocational discernment when Catholic school teachers and administrators, catechists and parishioners gather at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday, Aug. 11. The theme for the day is “Before You Were […]
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Beth Fleshman, a volunteer at the Logan County Catholic Community Food Pantry in Lincoln, assists a guest with her selections at the pantry’s new location on June 27. The outreach serves more than 1,600 people annually and is supported by the county’s four Catholic parishes. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
LINCOLN — “Wow, this place is huge,” said the first guest to walk through the door of the newly built and blessed Logan County Catholic Community Food Pantry on June 27. She would find, as do the dozens of others who are assisted with their families’ food needs here every Wednesday, that the new facility’s […]
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Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, Pa., talks to an immigrant woman, recently released from U.S. custody, July 1, at a Catholic Charities-run respite center in McAllen, Texas. A delegation of U.S. bishops has traveled to the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, to learn more about the detention of Central American immigrants at the U.S.-Mexican border. (CNS photo/Chaz Muth)
By Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service SAN JUAN, Texas (CNS) — In less than 48 hours, a group of Catholic bishops saw the faces of triumph and relief from migrants who had been recently released by immigration authorities, but ended their two-day journey to the border with a more “somber” experience, visiting detained migrant children […]
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New Cardinal Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina, Madagascar, is seen with other cardinals during a consistory in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 28. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Defending the weak or hopeless and becoming a servant to those most in need is the best promotion one can ever receive, Pope Francis told new and old cardinals. “None of us must feel ‘superior’ to anyone. None of us should look down at others […]
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Shari Paris of St. Mary Parish, Pontiac, and Patricia Grove of St. Mary of the Woods Parish, Princeville, measure fabric that will be used to make receiving blankets for the layettes prepared by the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Bringing a baby home from the hospital is a joyful occasion for most families. For others, that joy can be overshadowed by stress if they are in need that places their precious newborn at risk. For the last 10 years, two chapters of the Christ Child Society in the Diocese of Peoria have worked hard […]
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An architect's drawing of the shrine to be built this summer at the site of the former St. Mary Church in Naplate.
NAPLATE — A shrine in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be built this summer on land that until a tornado hit in early 2017 was the site of a Catholic church under her patronage. The open-air shrine will include many items salvaged from St. Mary Church after it was structurally damaged by a […]
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The steeple of St. Joseph Church in Peoria rises behind the new crucifix, made by Heritage Restoration and Design Studio and recently installed in front of Sophia's Kitchen. (Provided photo)
People who are homeless, unemployed and underemployed have found a kindred spirit waiting for them at Sophia’s Kitchen in Peoria. He’s the one on the crucifix in the parking lot at 103 S. Richard Pryor Place. Fully divine and fully human, Jesus knew what it was like to be in pain, said Father Jim Pankiewicz, […]
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Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is pictured preaching in an undated photo. (CNS file photo)
The niece of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has again been granted the legal right to transfer her uncle’s mortal remains from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. The Diocese of Peoria reacted with “great joy” to the ruling in favor of Joan Sheen Cunningham’s petition issued June 8 […]
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Hundred of Catholics walk down Tonti Street in LaSalle in a Corpus Christi procession June 3 that included prayerful stops at all three Catholic churches in the city. In addition to uniting the parishes, the public demonstration of faith in praise of the Blessed Sacrament also brought together both English and Spanish-speaking Catholics. The LaSalle celebration was one of several processions on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. (Provided photo/LaSalle Catholic parishes)
ROCK ISLAND — Jesus desires to bring together people and that happened in parishes around the Diocese of Peoria as processions were held to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, on June 3. In Rock Island, members of Sacred Heart Parish left church after […]
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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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