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‘Priests Pedaling for Prayers’ set to ride through diocese again April 16-20

By: Jennifer Willems - March 21, 2018 - Featured Article Deacon Matthew Levy, Father Adam Cesarek, Father Michael Pica, Father Tom Otto, Msgr. Gregory Ketcham, Office of Priestly Vocations, Priests pedaling for prayers

A scene from the first leg of "Priests Pedaling for Prayers" last April shows (from left) Father Michael Pica, Father Tom Otto and Father Adam Cesarek tackling one of the major hills they encountered in central Illinois. They are preparing to ride again April 16-20, this time traveling from Nauvoo to Mendota. (The Catholic Post file photo/Jennifer Willems)

Here they go again. Three young priests of the Diocese of Peoria are preparing to climb on their bicycles and cross central Illinois to raise awareness of and prayers for vocations. This year’s route is expected to cover as many as 275 miles as it takes Father Tom Otto, Father Adam Cesarek and Father Michael […]

After nine-month church renovation, “it’s good to be home” in Wenona

By: Tom Dermody - March 16, 2018 - Featured Article

Parishioners returned to the newly remodeled St. Mary Church in Wenona on Feb. 25. The project cost $320,000 and is completely paid for. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

WENONA – “It’s good to be home.” That was a common sentiment expressed by members of St. Mary Parish here upon returning to their beloved church Feb. 25 when it reopened after nine months of renovations. “The first couple of homilies we didn’t have to worry about content,” joked Father Steve McKinley, OFM Conv., former […]

Research into Lincoln church leads to files of renowned architect, mysteries

By: Tom Dermody - March 16, 2018 - Featured Article

Wayne Cox shows an enlarged photo of the interior of Holy Family Church (the former St. Patrick Church) in Lincoln taken shortly after it was built in 1904. Photos and blueprints of the church were among items Cox found in files that the familiy of architect George Stauduhar donated to the archives of the University of Illinois decades ago. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

LINCOLN — Wayne Cox is a former corporate executive chef, but what has kept his interest simmering the past few years has been unlocking some mysteries of Holy Family Parish’s 114-year-old church. “God is trying to say something here,” says Cox, recalling a string of what he believes are Holy Spirit-inspired events and discoveries that […]

Diocese is blessed with 9 new seminarians as vocation awareness seeds take root

By: Jennifer Willems - March 1, 2018 - Featured Article Ben Schoonmaker, Chip Chipman, Daniel Delgado, Daniel Dionesotes, Father Patrick Henehan, Father Tim Hepner, Jack Swoik, Jacob Martini, Justin Lindsey, Nathan Hopper, Ryann Mann, seminarians, vocations

The nine men accepted as seminarians for the Diocese of Peoria last fall all have different stories. The good news of their vocation interest is "obviously the work of prayer and the great support of the people of the Diocese of Peoria," said Father Patrick Henehan, vocation director of recruitment.

Seeds planted at last year’s Hundredfold Workshop to raise awareness of vocations have started to blossom, with nine more men accepted as seminarians for the Diocese of Peoria. Sent to Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, last fall were: Chip Chipman of St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington; Nathan Hopper of Epiphany, Normal; Justin […]

Msgr. Ketcham’s influence on vocations recalled by young priests, seminarians

By: Jennifer Willems - March 1, 2018 - Featured Article Danny McShane, Father Joe Baker, Father Kyle Lucas, Father Lee Brokaw, Msgr. Gregory Ketcham, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, vocations

Msgr. Gregory Ketcham celebrates Mass at St. John's Chapel in Champaign in this file photo from St. John's Catholic Newman Center. Msgr. Ketcham, who died Feb. 8 at the age of 50, was known for promoting vocations in the way he lived the Gospel and celebrated Mass. (Provided photo/Greg Taylor)

In more than two decades of ministry, Msgr. Gregory Ketcham touched countless lives. Among them were the many students at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center in Champaign who discerned their vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life and holy marriages from the way he celebrated Mass and boldly proclaimed the Gospel with his life during his […]

Cardinal Cupich talks Lent and takes students’ questions at U of I Newman

By: Jennifer Willems - March 1, 2018 - Featured Article Cardinal Blase Cupich, Coffee with the Cardinal, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, University of Illinois

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago gives the homily during a Mass at St. John's Catholic Chapel in Champaign on Feb. 24. During his visit to St. John's Catholic Newman Center, the cardinal also took students' questions during a "Coffee with the Cardinal" session in Lewis Lounge. At right, Junior Turner Rives poses a questions about mysticism in the Catholic Church. (Provided photo/Ariel Majewski and The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

CHAMPAIGN — Cardinal Blase Cupich shared messages of hope, inclusion, encouragement and God’s love with Catholic Illini when he visited St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois last Sunday. While he had been to the nation’s largest Newman Center before, this was his first visit since being named the spiritual leader of […]

State champions! Schlarman Academy girls let their light shine, big time

By: Tom Dermody - February 28, 2018 - Featured Article Ayana Peoples, basketball, Danville, Gail Lewis, Janiah Newell, Schlarman Academy, state championship

The state champion Schlarman Hilltoppers, coaches, cheerleaders, and school officials pose on the floor of Redbird Arena in Normal after the team rolled past Stockton 53-31 on Saturday to win the IHSA Class 1A girls basketball title. In the front row, from left, are cheerleaders Sarah Switzer, Sarah Lukas, Winne Zheng, Jayden King, Jessalyn Gonzalez, Regina Hinkle, Tamara Kriening, and Ainslee Johnson; second row, from left, are athletic director Phil Sexton and players Janiah Newell, Destiny Dye, Anaya Peoples, and Sydney Gouard; third row, from left, are players Suzet Sermersheim, Cece Damilano, McKaylee Allen, Emma Bogen, Ana Fitzgerald, Tannah Ceader, Capria Brown, Elizabeth Stimac, and Father Bowan Schmitt, chaplain; back row, from left, assistant coach OJ Harrison, head coach Keith Peoples, assistant coaches Jerry O’Neill, LaTana Lillard, David Gouard Jr., and Mollie DeBord, and Gail Lewis, principal. (Provided photo/David Calkins, Schlarman Academy)

DANVILLE — The girls high school basketball team from Schlarman Academy here prays before every game. Well, more than that. “Before each game, before each practice, after each game, and after each practice we pray,” said junior Anaya Peoples. In the locker room at Redbird Arena in Normal on Feb. 24 prior to the biggest […]

Anticipation of Easter joy evident as hundreds open Lent with Rite of Election

By: Jennifer Willems - February 23, 2018 - Featured Article candidates, catechumens, cathedral, Rite of Election

Sue Calderon reaches out to shake Bishop Jenky's hand after she and Father Paul Carlson of the LaSalle Catholic Community presented Matthew Franklin at the Rite of Election Feb. 18 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria. Franklin will be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on March 31. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Even as Lent was beginning, the anticipation of Easter joy could be seen in the faces of the 177 men, women and children who were presented to Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, at the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion on Feb. 18, the First Sunday of Lent, at St. Mary’s Cathedral. […]

Blogger and author visits area parishes, schools to discuss ‘Sacred Balancing Act’

By: Jennifer Willems - February 16, 2018 - Featured Article Family, Lisa Hendey, saints, St. Mary in Metamora, St. Mary of Lourdes in Germantown Hills, St. Patrick in Washington, technology

Lisa Hendey signs copies of books from her "Chime Travelers" series for Deanna Casey of St. Mary of Lourdes Parish in Germantown Hills. She said she came to Hendey's presentation on balancing busy lives and family spirituality to "kickstart" her Lent in new and different ways. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

GERMANTOWN HILLS — Saints-in-the-making of all ages heard words of encouragement — and a few challenges — when nationally known blogger and author Lisa Hendey recently visited central Illinois. While she was in the area from Feb. 8 to 10, she talked to the students at St. Patrick School in Washington and St. Mary School […]

Hometown bishop returns to Moline to help Boy Scout Troop 109 mark centennial

By: Jennifer Willems - February 15, 2018 - Featured Article Bishop Christopher Glancy, centennial, CSV, Moline, Sacred Heart, Scouting, Troop 109

Past and present members of Troop 109 at Sacred Heart in Moline pose for a group photo after the Mass for Scout Sunday on Feb. 4. Among them is Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV (kneeling, second row), who attained the rank of Eagle Scout with the troop in 1977. Troop 109 is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

MOLINE — Members of Boy Scout Troop 109 at Sacred Heart Church are fond of saying, “Once a member of Troop 109, always a member of Troop 109.” That proved to be true Feb. 4, when Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV, of the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan in Belize, returned to his hometown to celebrate […]

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