CHENOA — Father Carl LoPresti may be starting life as a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria on June 13, but he doesn’t consider it to be retirement. “My plans are to live in Fairbury and continue my ministry among the sick, the shut-ins, people in hospitals and nursing homes, and perhaps even expand […]
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Deacon Ryan Mattingly will be ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, at St. Mary's Cathedral during a 10:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday, May 26. (Provided photo/Nellie Photography)
Deacon Ryan Mattingly has spent six happy and “blessed” years preparing for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, but elements of his boyhood in a military family also helped ready him for what’s ahead. “First, I’m used to moving around frequently,” said Deacon Mattingly, whose father, Troy, had a career in the U.S. Air […]
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Deacon Andru O'Brien will be ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, at St. Mary's Cathedral during a 10:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday, May 26. (Provided photo/Nellie Photography)
Deacon Andru O’Brien says it’s probably a good thing he will have his face down when the priests of the Diocese of Peoria — one by one in a long line — prayerfully place their hands on his head during the Ordination Rite on May 26 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. “It’s a beautiful […]
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Mary Ebert and Vicky Lappin of Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee accept their certificates of appreciation from Msgr. Dale Wellman, spiritual adviser to the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Following are names and listings of just some of the activities of 54 parish volunteers honored at the Peoria Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on April 24 at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. ANNAWAN Mary Jagers, Sacred Heart: Member of the Altar and Rosary Society, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, […]
Continue readingEDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the full text of the homily given by Father Johnathan Steffen on April 28 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria following the annual diocesan Men’s March. Father Steffen is pastor of St. Mary Parish in El Paso and a chaplain at the St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center in Normal. […]
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Christina Capecchi
“Twenty Something” column / By Christina Capecchi When Oprah Winfrey was first asked the question, the talk-show queen was left tongue-tied. She was doing a live television interview with the late film critic Gene Siskel to promote her film “Beloved,” and he concluded by asking, “Tell me, what do you know for sure?” “I got […]
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Sister M. Clementia, FSGM, is pictured with her parents, Brenda and Carey Toalson. Mr. Toalson died suddenly on Feb. 25, 2018, at the age of 62. (Provided photo)
By Sister M. Clementia, FSGM A severe mercy. This is what C.S. Lewis described of death to his friend in the book with the same title. At the mourning of his wife’s untimely death, Sheldon Vanauken was struck by Lewis’ description: A mercy that was as severe as death, a death that was merciful as […]
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Father James DeBisschop
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the homily from the April 6 funeral Mass for Father James DeBisschop. (Read his obituary here.) The Mass was celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Moline and the homilist was Father Mark DeSutter, pastor. — Christians believe that Jesus is the template of our lives. Also, we feel that when people […]
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Father Richard L. Mullen
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is the homily from the March 28 funeral Mass for Father Richard Mullen, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria. (Read his obituary here.) The funeral was celebrated at Holy Cross Church in Champaign, and the homilist was Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. — The early Christians called themselves “The Living.” […]
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Sister Merlinda, FAS, greets Kim Terry and her third-graders from St. Joseph School in Pekin, who are decorating brown bags that will be used to serve lunch to patrons of Sophia's Kitchen at St. Joseph Church in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Say “pilgrimage” and people usually think of the Holy Land or Ireland or Spain. For students at St. Joseph School in Pekin, however, Peoria proved to be a wonderful destination when they celebrated their patron’s feast day on March 19. The entire student body — 131 students — boarded buses to travel to St. Joseph […]
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