By: By Jennifer Willems Seventy percent of practicing Catholics under the age of 35 are Hispanic, and Latinos represent the fast growing school-age population in the country. Why is it, then, that only 3 percent of those children attend Catholic schools? Principals, pastors, teachers and education commission members from Catholic schools around the Diocese of […]
Continue readingEditor’s note: The following statement was released Nov. 23 by the Catholic Conference of Illinois, the public policy arm of the bishops of the state. The Catholic Bishops of Illinois call upon the Illinois General Assembly to reject Senate Bill 1716, the civil union legislation. Senate Bill 1716 seeks to afford all the “legal obligations, […]
Continue readingBy: By Jennifer Willems Making history is nothing new for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria. For 130 years, the agency and its forerunners have looked for new ways to serve those in need while remaining true to the mission of treating all with compassion, dignity and respect. That long history is being traced […]
Continue readingBy: By Tom Dermody NORMAL — Catholics must better unite in a “spirituality of communion” or risk being “steamrolled” by 21st century challenges such as the biotech revolution, journalist John L Allen Jr. told about 200 people at a fundraising dinner for Epiphany Parish here last Sunday. Allen, senior correspondent for National Catholic Reporter, discussed […]
Continue readingBy: By Jennifer Willems DANVILLE — Giving thanks is something that comes naturally to the members of St. Paul’s Parish here. Not only have they been marking the 100th anniversary of their founding this year, but they have a beautifully redecorated church in which to do it. That will stand them in good stead as […]
Continue readingWhen members of the National Catholic Society of Foresters met in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last month, they elected a new slate of officers and national directors. One of those national directors is Linda Ortiz of Moline, who will serve for the next four years. Involved in NCSF for 38 years, Ortiz is currently the president […]
Continue readingBy: By Jennifer Willems When the Holy Cross “family” gathered in Rome to celebrate the canonization of one of their own, St. Andre Bessette, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, was there and it was a special moment for him not just as a Holy Cross priest but as spiritual leader of the Diocese of Peoria. […]
Continue readingBy: By Tom Dermody (Editor’s note: For photos from Monday’s celebratory events, click on “Post Photos” camera icon in the left margin.) Forty-eight hours after reaching their lofty goals on the same day, the state champion boys soccer and girls cross country teams from Peoria Notre Dame High School climbed high aboard a fire truck […]
Continue readingBy: By Jennifer Willems LEWISTOWN — For 50 years, Msgr. Robert W. O’Connor has made his home among the people of St. Mary’s in Lewistown and St. Michael’s in St. David and being named a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria isn’t going to change that very much. He is in the process of […]
Continue readingWith “great sadness and disappointment” and after nine years of effort and sacrifice, the Diocese of Peoria is suspending its efforts on behalf of the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. But the diocese remains committed to promoting the message of the “holy priest” and native of El Paso, who was ordained a priest of […]
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