Catholic parishes and institutions are drop-off sites in major drives for new or gently used shoes now taking place in the Bloomington and Peoria regions. Here are the details. SEEK 30,000 PAIRS OF SHOES IN AUGUST; 10 PEORIA-AREA PARISHES AMONG DROP-OFF SITES MORTON — Are there 30,000 pairs of shoes in closets around central Illinois […]
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With her hair tinted pink, the signature color of the Sophia Sunday celebration, Claire Crone stands next to the photo of Sophia Donald, while the girl's parents, Vicky and Barry Donald, stand to the right. Proceeds from the July 17 benefit go to Sophia's Kitchen in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
They come to the window of Sophia’s Kitchen for a meal every day, but the couple who attended the Sophia Sunday celebration on July 17 saved all week to buy the pork chop sandwiches, baked beans and chips that were being served. “They said it was their one chance to give back,” according to Claire […]
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Following Mass on July 17, Chorbishop Faouzi Elia carries the image of St. Sharbel from St. Sharbel Church in Peoria in a procession that led to the statue of the parish's patron saint for prayer and veneration. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Maronite Rite Catholics from around the world recently converged on St. Sharbel Church in Peoria to celebrate the Feast of St. Sharbel with prayer, processions, dancing and plenty of Lebanese delicacies. Chorbishop Faouzi Elia, pastor, said he was expecting as many as 1,700 visitors from Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Holland, Sweden, Germany and the Middle East, […]
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ATKINSON — A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 21 at St. Anthony Church for Father Gerard A. Verhoye, the priest with the most seniority in the Diocese of Peoria. Father R. Anthony Lee presided at the liturgy and Father Thomas R. Brajkovich gave the homily. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, was present […]
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Mary Wiesbrock of rural Streator stands on the farm she has called home for all of her 91 years. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
STREATOR — From her kitchen window, Mary Wiesbrock can see the fields of beans and corn on the farm she has called home for all of her 91 years. Also visible is Lostlands Cemetery, which is located down the road on land donated by her great-grandfather, Patrick Whalen. From her kitchen table, Mrs. Wiesbrock writes […]
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Sporting their World Youth Day 2016 t-shirts are members of the Conley family of St. Mark Parish in Peoria, who will join a pilgrimage to Poland that is leaving July 15. From left are Maddie, 21, Drew, 14, Jack, 18, mother D’Arcy, and Grace, 16. Prayer intentions they have collected in recent months fill a large bowl on the table. The Conleys are shown with an image of St. John Paul II, the Poland native who initiated World Youth Day, that hangs in their living room. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
“If you’re going to fundraise for one, why not fundraise for all?” So says D’Arcy Conley in explaining how she and her four children — members of St. Mark Parish in Peoria — have been working since February to raise money to travel to Poland this month for World Youth Day with Pope Francis. With […]
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School may be out for summer, but for five principals the break will be a little longer as they begin retirement this month. Looking to spend more time with family, traveling and taking up special projects and hobbies are Mark Csanda of St. Mary School, Bloomington; Steve Eisemann of Costa Catholic Academy, Galesburg; Daniel Schmitt […]
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In this provided photo from 1978, Tina Sipula sits with Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, who urged her to keep the "house of hospitality" she was planning in Bloomington small and personable, and to see the face of Christ in every person.
By the time Tina Sipula met Dorothy Day in New York, the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement was 80 and had largely withdrawn from public life. The older woman seemed to recognize a kindred spirit in her young visitor from Bloomington, however, and their week of encounters changed Sipula’s life forever. On June […]
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Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has named new vicars for the LaSalle and Champaign vicariates. In Champaign, Father Robert Rayson will succeed Father Joseph Hogan as vicar. Father Rayson has been pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Champaign, as well as St. Boniface, Seymour, since 2012. Father Hogan, who has served as vicar for three […]
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Father David Whiteside presided at the blessing for the new memorial, which is located in the chapel of St. Augustine Manor in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Families and friends of Catholic law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty have a new way to remember their loved ones in prayer. St. Augustine Manor in Peoria has placed a memorial to fallen officers from around the Diocese of Peoria in its chapel at 1301 N.E. Glendale Ave. It was blessed by […]
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