KEWANEE — Standing in the middle of her kindergarten classroom at Visitation Catholic School, Vanessa Fite somehow manages to keep in check five little boys and girls with boundless energy, affirming them for good decisions and gently guiding them away from decisions that could be better. In the end they have so much fun that […]
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Patsy Santen, principal at St. Vincent de Paul School in Peoria, enjoys being in the classroom when she can. Here she is working with fifth-grader Patrick Rodgers, who is reading about the life of Henry Ford. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
It isn’t unusual to see Patsy Santen leave the principal’s office at St. Vincent de Paul School in Peoria with a clipboard in her hand. With so many requests and things to document as part of a routine day, she doesn’t want to forget anything needed by her “family.” “I’ve been blessed to have — […]
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During a visit to Tuyen Witt’s second grade classroom, Father Paul Joseph Langevin, OFM Conv., talks over a math problem with Payton Blocker. He also talked to the students about their First Communion this spring. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Father Paul Joseph Langevin, OFM Conv., developed a love for Catholic education very early in life, as well as a desire to enter the priesthood. It would take God’s own timing to bring those two vocations together, however. Now the pastor of Holy Family Parish and School in Peoria, Father Paul Joseph works hard to […]
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Father James Henning, OFM Conv.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the full transcript from the homily given Jan. 6 at the funeral Mass for Father James Henning, OFM Conv. The Mass was celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church in Clinton and has been archived for viewing here. The homilist was Father Paul Joseph Langevin, OFM Conv. — My dear friends […]
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Father Robert Spilman
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the transcript of the homily given at the funeral Mass for Father Robert Spilman, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria who died on Christmas Day at the age of 74. The funeral was Dec. 29, 2021, at The Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Spring Valley and is archived […]
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The Nativity of Our Lord is depicted in this section of a larger stained glass window from the Chapel of the Sacred Heart at the Diocese of Peoria's new Sacre-Coeur Retreat Center in Magnolia. It is one of nine windows from Germany that formerly adorned Sacred Chruch in Rutland and have now found a new home in the retreat center's main chapel. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
Once again, we find ourselves prepared to welcome Christ in the celebration of Christmas. We have decorated our tree, wrapped the presents, and prepared our homes and meals. But more importantly, we have spiritually readied ourselves to welcome the truth of this holiday — our Savior has been born! Each time we delve into the […]
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Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka fields questions from Emmaus Days Session IV participants at Peoria Notre Dame High School. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
God-willing, there were future priests in Sessions III and IV of Emmaus Days in July. But during their respective question-and-answer sessions with Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka in Peoria Notre Dame’s Livingston Auditorium, they sure sounded like future journalists. Participants peppered Bishop Tylka with about 25 questions in each 40-minute session. They ranged from the basic […]
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Father Joseph Mai-Chi-Thanh
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is a transcript of the homily given by Father Joel Phelps at the July 29 funeral Mass at St. Matthew Church in Champaign for Father Joseph Mai-Chi-Thanh, pastor emeritus of St. Mary Parish in Pesotum. Father Mai-Chi-Thanh, 92, died in Champaign on July 25. His obituary is found here. — It’s a […]
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Father J. Thomas Henseler
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the text of the homily given at the Mass of Christian Burial on July 19 for Father J. Thomas Henseler, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria and a pioneer leader in the diocese’s Cursillo and permanent diaconate programs. The Mass was celebrated by Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka at St. […]
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Carol Romanowski (center), the new president of the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois, is flanked by the members who were recognized for their service to the organization during the annual meeting on May 19. They include (from left) Pam Tomlianovich; Elaine Mills; Therese Peck, immediate past president; and Ingrid Ruscheinski. Not present was Pat Grove. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
While the pandemic made it more difficult to meet in person, it didn’t stop the members of the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois from helping families in need who chose life for their child. “Our members kept making quilts at home and sewing and knitting and crocheting, so we have lots of hats. One […]
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