Father Johndamaseni Zilimu
KEWANEE — As a young boy growing up in Tanzania, Father Johndamaseni Zilimu enjoyed going to church with his mother and 11 siblings. As he watched the priest celebrate Mass, he knew that’s what he wanted to do, too. Now the pastor of Saint John Paul II Parish and providing spiritual care at OSF Saint […]
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Bishop Tylka's coat of arms and episcopal motto, "Go Make Disciples"
EDITOR’S NOTE: Each bishop has his own coat of arms bearing his episcopal motto — usually a quote from Scripture — and symbols that have some personal significance. These coats of arms are used on documents and letterhead and other items pertaining to that bishop. Bishop Tylka’s coat of arms was designed by Father Guy […]
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St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington (Aug. 1), left, and St. Mary Church in Pontiac (Aug. 2), are among the first to host vicariate Masses with Coadjutor Bishop-elect Louis Tylka.
In the weeks to come, newly ordained Bishop Louis Tylka will have an opportunity to meet and pray with the people of the Diocese of Peoria at Masses of Thanksgiving in each of the 12 vicariates. Receptions are also planned in each location, followed by opportunities to interact with area priests in many cases. In […]
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This invitation to view the July 23 livestream of Coadjutor Bishop-elect Louis Tylka’s episcopal ordination Mass is being shared across social media.
While acknowledging it is “unfortunate” that attendance at the episcopal ordination of Coadjutor Bishop-elect Louis Tylka will be limited on July 23 because of coronavirus pandemic guidelines, Msgr. Jason Gray takes the optimistic view. Because the Mass will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Peoria’s website (cdop.org) and Facebook page, he said, “in a certain […]
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Schlarman Academy’s Capria Brown is cheered by teammates and fans after a steal early in the Hilltoppers’ state championship win in 2019. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
The Catholic Post received four awards for journalistic excellence in judging of 2019 content announced July 2 by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. Editor Tom Dermody received first place for Best Sports Photo (above) and third place for Best Editorial on a National/International Issue for “Like Paris firefighters, she preserved […]
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Father Thomas Kelly is pictured at Independence Village in Peoria in 2016 prior to observing the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
A private funeral Mass was planned at St. Anthony Church in Bartonville for Father Thomas F. Kelly, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria and a former pastor of St. Anthony Parish as well as St. Columba Parish in Ottawa. Father Kelly, who also served for 14 years in campus ministry at the University […]
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The handwriting of U.S. Army chaplain Father Herman G. Felhoelter, OFM, is seen in an excerpt from a letter to the Biggs family, members of St. Boniface Parish in Peoria. The letter, dated Feb. 25, 1945, was penned in France and tells of his ministry to soldiers during World War II. Father Herman would be killed five years later while tending to wounded soldiers on a battlefield in Korea.
By Alexis Lavin EDITOR’S NOTE: The author is an adjunct professor of history at Illinois Central College and a volunteer at the Archives of the Diocese of Peoria. When I tell my students that history is fascinating, I am usually confronted by distinct expressions of disbelief. The majority of them think that history is boring, […]
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Even though the Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi will no longer own St. Joseph Nursing Home, the facility they founded in Lacon 56 years ago, they will continue to work and provide ministry on the campus.
LACON — Lacon Rehab and Nursing will become the new owners of St. Joseph Nursing Home on July 15. The Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi, who founded the home 56 years ago, said the decision to sell was difficult and came after “an extensive discernment process.” “It is important to know that even though […]
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Volunteers are pictured with one of several pro-life billboards created and installed at several locations in the Champaign area. Among those pictured is Father Fredi Gomez Torres, who blessed the sign and site. (Provided photo)
Teams of volunteers are creating and installing billboards with pro-life themes along roads in the Champaign-Urbana area. The billboards, designed by a volunteer graphic artist from St. Patrick Parish in Tolono, are placed on donated land. “We’d love to put up as many as possible to foster a stronger culture of life,” said Renee Mullen, […]
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This year has been memorable for many reasons, including a global pandemic that changed everyone’s lives in ways no one could imagine. Despite everything, however, four priests of the Diocese of Peoria are giving thanks to God for blessings received during 25 years of priesthood. Father Patrick DeMeulemeester, Father Joseph Dondanville and Father John Verrier […]
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