RARITAN — Surrounded by tall stalks of corn and signs of faith in all directions, a new sculpture of St. Isidore and his wife, St. Maria, looks right at home on the grounds of St. Patrick’s Church here. The patron saints of agriculture, Isidore and Maria are reminders of what prayer and hard work can […]
Continue readingThe State of Illinois budget crisis has forced Catholic Charities to make painful program and staffing reductions that are expected to adversely affect thousands of children, youths and adults across central Illinois. “It is with a heavy heart and extreme concern that today at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria we announce the beginning […]
Continue readingThe Diocese of Peoria this week announced changes affecting the leadership of the St. Robert Bellarmine Newman Center serving Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan universities as well as Heartland Community College in Bloomington-Normal. Father Antonio Dittmer, chaplain and director of the Newman Center since 2005, will become head spiritual director at Immaculate Heart of Mary […]
Continue readingDeacon Bob Sondag of Manito has been named victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Peoria. He succeeds Ann Slaughter, who has held the position since it was established in 2003. The appointment, which was announced last week by Patricia Gibson, chancellor and director of the curia, was effective July 1. “It’s with humility that […]
Continue readingFARMER CITY — When Don Olson drove Mary Brown home on the rainy night they met as teenagers 77 years ago, his car got stuck in mud on the long lane leading to her parents’ farm house in rural Weldon. “We walked the rest of the way,” recalls Don. “Mom was still up,” said Mary, […]
Continue readingCouples celebrating their golden anniversaries this year will have some company at the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass, which is planned for Sunday, Sept. 13, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. This year the festivities have been expanded to include couples who have been married 25 years, according to Tim Roder, director of the diocesan Office […]
Continue readingNORMAL — Pilgrims will flock to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain next Saturday, the Feast of St. James, to celebrate the life of the apostle who was martyred for his faith. Joining them in spirit will be two pilgrims from central Illinois who recently walked 72 miles to visit the saint’s […]
Continue readingFor anyone wanting to learn more about Catholic history in central Illinois, this summer is the perfect time to “take a trip down memory lane” at the new Peoria Diocese and Archbishop Sheen Museum. During the months of July and August, the diocesan museum — located on the first floor of the Spalding Pastoral Center […]
Continue readingBLOOMINGTON — Eliseo Valdes wishes you weren’t looking at his face for this story. He’d rather you see the faces of the poor people he has come to love so much in El Salvador. It is a relationship that was forged a year ago when he traveled to San Luis Talpa with a group from […]
Continue readingWhile Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria makes painful cuts to programs in response to the continuing state budget crisis in Springfield, Catholic health care institutions in the diocese also have been coping with the impact of late payments from the state. The Illinois General Assembly is not set to return to work on […]
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