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First-ever diocesan Respect Life Conference draws 600 of all ages

By: Jennifer Willems - September 15, 2019 - Featured Article Cecilia Soñé, Father Alfred Cioffi, Kevin Burke, Respect Life Conference, Ryan Bomberger, Sister Mary Angela Alexander, Sister Marysia Weber

With the Knights of Columbus ever vigilant, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, poses with the coordinator and some of the speakers from the Diocese of Peoria's inaugural Respect Life Conference after the closing Mass on Sept. 14. They are (from left) Cecilia Sone, director of Respect Life Ministry for the diocese; Sister Mary Angela Alexander, RSM; Kevin Burke; Sister Marie Paul Lockerd, RSM; and Sister Marysia Weber, RSM. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

(Updated Sept. 25, 2019) Hearing about threats to human life and the God-given dignity of every person, nearly 600 people who attended the Diocese of Peoria’s first-ever Respect Life Conference explored what they could do to care for those who are most vulnerable. Not only did that include the unborn, but also people at the […]

Illinois abortion vote ‘an appalling step in the wrong direction,’ says Bishop Jenky

By: Jennifer Willems - June 5, 2019 - Featured Article abortion, Bishop Jenky, Cecilia Soñé, Illinois, Msgr. Merdian, Reproductive Health Act

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, leads a rosary outside the former abortion clinic in Peoria in this file photo. In a message for the 2020 Respect Life Month, the bishop says the right to life is the first of all our human rights, and "the destruction of human life in the womb is an intrinsic evil." (The Catholic Post file photo/Tom Dermody)

By passing the Reproductive Health Act, the Illinois General Assembly has shown a disregard for the value of human life and the beliefs of the majority of people in the state — and the nation, according to Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. “They describe a human baby in the womb as a thing, as an […]

Life Advocacy Day draws hundreds to Springfield to meet with legislators

By: Jennifer Willems - March 21, 2019 - Featured Article Cecilia Soñé, Life Advocacy Day, respect life, Zach Wichmann

State Sen. Chuck Weaver, R-37th, listens as Erin Earl, a member of the Teens for Life at Peoria Notre Dame High School, makes a point during a meeting on Life Advocacy Day in Springfield on March 20. Looking on is club moderator Diane Means and John Swann of Sherrard, Richland Grove Township supervisor and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Allouez Council 658, in Rock Island. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

(Updated March 27) SPRINGFIELD — Legislators representing people from districts in the Dioceses of Belleville, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield received visits from hundreds of their constituents on March 20, who urged them to vote “no” on what is being called the most extreme abortion legislation ever introduced in Illinois. The Life Advocacy Day was sponsored […]

Diocese sets conference Aug. 18 to revisit ‘Humanae Vitae’ on its 50th anniversary

By: Jennifer Willems - July 19, 2018 - Featured Article Cecilia Soñé, Humanae Vitae, Msgr. Mark Merdian, Sister Ana Pia Cordua

Pope Paul VI is pictured in this undated photo. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the late pope's landmark encyclical, "Humanae Vitae," the Diocese of Peoria is sponsoring a daylong conference Aug. 18 to explain why the teaching remains more relevant than ever. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

It may be 50 years old but don’t let the age of “Humanae Vitae,” the groundbreaking document by Pope Paul VI, fool you. It’s more relevant today than ever before, according to diocesan officials who are planning a conference for Saturday, Aug. 18, to help people understand why. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Respect […]

Pilgrims from diocese celebrate, defend life at 2018 March for Life Chicago

By: Tom Dermody - January 18, 2018 - Featured Article bus, Cecilia Soñé, March for Life Chicago, Shirley Plaag, Sister Silvia, St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center

A group from the St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center at Illinois State University in Normal sings as they process up Dearborn Avenue with thousands of other participants in March for Life Chicago on Sunday, Jan. 14. Those pictured include, from left, Ayla Kibler, Hannah Carroll, Sister Silvia Maria, SCTJM, Maria Castiblanco, Noelle Ortega, Kristin Anderson, and Alex James. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

CHICAGO — Pilgrims from the Diocese of Peoria to March for Life Chicago on Jan. 14 knew the seriousness of their cause but also found ways on a sub-freezing January day to reflect the joy of their faith and belief that “Love Saves Lives.” Many of the 35 college students and staff from the St. […]

Hundreds March for Mary in rain at diocese’s culminating Fatima celebration

By: Jennifer Willems - October 12, 2017 - Featured Article Bishop Jenky, Cecilia Soñé, Fatima, March for Mary, Mother Adela

Those who filled St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria for the March for Mary raise their candles and sing as the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which was carried throughout the church, returns to the sanctuary. Despite the rain that fell on the pilgrims during the march, coordinator Cecilia Soñé said the experience left her in awe. "The miracle of the sun would occur not as the 'sun' but the 'Son' in the holy sacrifice of the Mass." (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

If prayers for a sunny day went unanswered last Saturday, they may have been only a few of the petitions that weren’t during the March for Mary through the streets of downtown Peoria. The event was the Diocese of Peoria’s culminating celebration for the 100th anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s appearances to three shepherd children […]

All are invited to ‘March for Mary,’ a diocese-wide Fatima event, on Oct. 7

By: Jennifer Willems - September 11, 2017 - Featured Article Cecilia Soñé, Diocese of Peoria, Fatima, March for Mary

The actual march begins at 2:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 103 Richard Pryor Place, and ends a mile and a half later at St. Mary's Cathedral, 607 N. E. Madison Ave. (Catholic Post photo illustration)

Catholics of all ages from across central Illinois are being asked to “take to the streets” in Peoria on Saturday, Oct. 7, in a show of love for Mary, the Mother of God. Intended as the Diocese of Peoria’s culminating event for the 100th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima, Portugal, this March for […]

Cecilia Soñé has busy months ahead as diocese’s new director of Respect Life

By: Tom Dermody - August 23, 2017 - Uncategorized Cecilia Soñé, Diocese of Peoria, respect life, Sone

Cecilia Soñé

The answer to what St. John Paul II and others have called the “culture of death” can be found in the Diocese of Peoria, according to the new Director of Respect Life. “We have a response here and we have the providers — health care, psychological, and spiritual,” said Cecilia Soñé. “It’s just a matter […]

Bishop names three new directors for Curia offices in the Diocese of Peoria

By: Tom Dermody - August 23, 2017 - Featured Article Cecilia Soñé, Curia, Diocese of Peoria, evangelization, faith formation, Hispanic ministry, respect life, Shirley Plaag, Sister Isabel Romero

Three women have been appointed by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, to lead departments in the Diocese of Peoria’s Curia overseeing evangelization and faith formation, Hispanic ministry, and respect life efforts. Shirley Plaag is the new Director of Evangelization and Faith Formation. A Peoria native and a 2009 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with […]