PERU — A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the St. Bede Abbey Church here on June 15 for Father Gabriel (Gary) Bullock, OSB, a monk and priest of the abbey and a longtime English and religion teacher at St. Bede Academy. Father Gabriel, a Peoria native, died on Friday, June 10, 2016, at […]
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At age 95, Father Richard Crawford was the Diocese of Peoria's oldest priest.
STREATOR — A funeral Mass was offered at St. Michael the Archangel Church here on June 7 for Father Richard Crawford, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria and former pastor of faith communities in Budd and Cornell. Father Crawford, a native of Streator, died on June 3, 2016, at the Flanagan Rehabilitation Center. […]
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WEST PEORIA — Sister Mary Dolores Kirchgessner, OSF, died June 6, 2016, at Mother of Peace Home. She was 103 and was in her 72nd year of religious profession as a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception. Visitation is planned for Friday, June 10, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at […]
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Father Mwongyera will continue to serve as judicial vicar and co-director of the Tribunal.
While he is from the Diocese of Kabale in Uganda, Father Martin Mwongyera has been a familiar face in the parishes, hospitals and Tribunal of the Diocese of Peoria for a decade. Now he gets to call central Illinois his home on a permanent basis. With the permission of Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale and […]
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Father Pica blesses his parents, Jane and Jerry Pica of Champaign, at the reception following the ordination Mass. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
Members of St. Patrick Church of Merna Parish in Bloomington and St. Mary, Downs, should expect a smiling, prayerful priest when newly ordained Father Michael Pica joins their faith communities as parochial vicar on June 8. That’s according to the two people who know Father Pica best – his parents, Jerry and Jane Pica (pronounced […]
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The last 60 years have seen some turbulent times in the nation and major changes in the church, but they have also provided moments of great joy for Father Robert Hoffmann and Father Thomas Kelly. In the days ahead they will gather with family and friends to celebrate all that has been and what is […]
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Seven priests in the Diocese of Peoria are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their ordination in 2016. Father Richard L. Barclift, Father John C. Horton, Msgr. Ernest E. Pizzamiglio and Msgr. Paul E. Showalter, P.A., were ordained by Bishop John B. Franz on May 22, 1966, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Meanwhile, on Dec. […]
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Part of the largest ordination class the Diocese of Peoria had seen in a quarter of a century, the priests who are celebrating their silver jubilee this year did not even fit in the sanctuary of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria when it came time to lay prostrate during the Litany of the Saints. The […]
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Msgr. Mark Merdian, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island, sprinkles holy water throughout the new church addition after the blessing by Bishop Jenky on May 7. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
ROCK ISLAND — Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, blessed and dedicated the new McCarthy Hall for St. Pius X Parish here during brief ceremonies following the 11 a.m. confirmation Mass at the church on Saturday, May 7. In the blessing, which was attended by a crowd including clergy from throughout the region who concelebrated the […]
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Catholic Women's League officers for the next two years are (from left) Joan Manning, Eileen Hahn, Mary Ann Asciutto (seated), Angie Metz, Jeanette Borsberry, Beth Bussan, Joan Cheatham (seated), and Gail Kruse. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Thirteen organizations that serve the elderly, the homeless, at-risk babies and those in need in the Peoria area recently received $16,500 in grants from the Catholic Women’s League to continue their work. During the 2016 Allocation Luncheon, which was held May 10 at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria, the Catholic Women’s League also installed […]
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