Following are brief biographies of the valedictorians and salutatorians at the seven Catholic high schools and academies in the Diocese of Peoria. We congratulate them and all Class of 2019 graduates. The top students were invited to answer two questions: 1) “How would you describe the advantages of attending a Catholic high school?” and 2) […]
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Jacob Hopper, Kevin Ellis, Sam Menacher and Chase Stevens of the St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center in Normal carry the banner for the Diocese of Peoria during March for Life Chicago on Jan. 13. It says, “Life Plays in Peoria.” (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
CHICAGO — Respect life advocates of all ages proved that it takes more than a snow storm to keep them from standing up for the unborn when they gathered for March for Life Chicago last Sunday. The enthusiastic rally in Federal Plaza and walk through downtown Chicago proceeded, despite the storm on Jan. 12 that […]
Continue readingAN INTRODUCTION: To the Clergy, Religious, and Faithful of the Diocese of Peoria: My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: “Fear of the Lord” may seem to be a somewhat unusual topic for a “Festival Letter,” but I have my reasons. It seems to me that reverence and awe before Almighty God is necessary for […]
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Instead of walking away from school on March 14, students and employees at Peoria Notre Dame High School prayed the rosary between classes and then attended an all-school Mass. After the liturgy, principal Randy Simmons released 17 balloons -- one for each life lost during the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. (Provided photo)
As students around the country were planning to walk out of school to protest gun violence March 14, the Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Peoria asked students in central Illinois to consider taking another approach. “Our Catholic schools stand in solidarity with those who seek change and conversion in a culture of […]
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Little Alexis Ryken of Pekin is taking her first pro-life walk around the Federal Courthouse in Peoria in the arms of her big sister Ashly. The walk preceded the Sanctity of Human Life Rally sponsored by Central Illinois Right to Life on Jan. 22. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
Jason Jones didn’t know abortion was legal when he found out he was going to be a father two days shy of his 17th birthday. Once the shock of the unplanned pregnancy passed, he made plans with his girlfriend, Katie, and started thinking about what he wanted to give this child. That dream was cut […]
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Vicki Tyler, executive director of the Women's Choice Center of the Quad Cities, shows models illustrating human life from conception to birth to a group of young visitors to the center's mobile unit July 13 at St. Mary Church in Rock Island. The Women's Choice Center is a pro-life outreach located across the street from Planned Parenthood in Bettendorf, Iowa, which among its services has offered abortions for nearly two decades but may soon close. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
BETTENDORF, Iowa — The pro-life community in the Quad Cities is expressing optimism but vowing to continue their prayer and educational efforts after learning that the Planned Parenthood clinic here is expected to close. “Obviously we are very pleased with the announcement that Planned Parenthood would close four more clinics in Iowa, including our local […]
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Anne Kelley, president of the National Christ Child Society, admires a detail on a sleep sack with Judy Hayes, chapter president of the Christ Child Society of Central Illinois.
For love of the Christ Child, Mary Virginia Merrick made a layette to be presented to an infant in need, born on Christmas Day. That simple act of love and faith is repeated each day by the Christ Child Society, which she founded in 1887. Two chapters of the Christ Child Society cover the Diocese […]
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Photo Caption: Mike Hatfield, director of advancement for St. John’s Catholic Newman Center in Champaign, greets Father John Belmonte, SJ, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Joliet. School choice, school recognition and defense of marriage issues were among the topics covered when the superintendents and associate superintendents of the six dioceses of Illinois […]
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Photo Caption: State Rep. Mike Unes (R-91st) shares the story of why he got into politics during the Faith-Based Leadership Workshop in Peoria on March 29. By: By Tom Dermody Asked to boil down a morning of discussion on faith-centered leadership to just three words of advice, a group of students from the John Paul […]
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Photo Caption: Kay O’Brien, former principal of Holy Trinity School in Bloomington, was named the Diocese of Peoria’s 2011-12 Distinguished Principal. By: By Jennifer Willems BLOOMINGTON — It was never Kay O’Brien’s intention to become principal at Holy Trinity School here. She was perfectly happy teaching sixth grade math when her principal, Ed Heineman, asked […]
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