Two diocesan offices tasked with fostering the culture of life are now operating as one. Effective July 1, the Office of Family Life assumed the responsibilities previously handled by the Office of Respect Life and Human Dignity. The change was announced by Patricia Gibson, chancellor of the Diocese of Peoria, on July 14. In her […]
Continue readingA piece of Catholic history became a memory this week with the razing of the former Sheen Pastoral Center in Peoria, built as a convent in 1958 and adapted for use as headquarters for many central offices of the Diocese of Peoria from 1985 to late 2008. The space will be utilized for guest parking […]
Continue readingRARITAN — 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 readingCHAMPAIGN — A funeral Mass was to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, at St. Patrick’s Church in Urbana for Father J. Eugene Kane, a senior priest of the diocese and former pastor of parishes in Peoria, Rock Island, Elkhart and El Paso. Father Kane, who also served at Marquette High School in […]
Continue readingIn the weeks before schools re-open, state and diocesan Catholic officials are asking parents and all supporters of Catholic education to do an important homework assignment: write to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. The message they want sent is a request that the governor use discretionary funding or other avenues to restore “draconinan” budget cuts made […]
Continue readingToday’s generation of young Catholics is a bountiful harvest of souls that Christ has prepared for the church — all that is needed are laborers filled with faith and joy to bring in the harvest. About 120 adult leaders of Teens Encounter Christ came from across the United States and internationally to the Diocese of […]
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, […]
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