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Little Disciples Preschool site is blessed at St. Mary, Pontiac; will open in August

Father Adam Cesarek, administrator, sprinkles holy water in blessing of the space that will house Little Disciples Preschool at St. Mary Parish and School next fall. A place of honor was reserved for the future preschoolers in front of the current students and parishioners after the Catholic Schools Week Mass on Jan. 31. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

PONTIAC — St. Mary Parish and School has taken the next step in building a strong community of disciples by blessing a space that will welcome the youngest among them. With Scripture, prayer and a sprinkling of holy water by Father Adam Cesarek, administrator, Little Disciples Preschool became the newest center for early childhood education […]

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Prayerful Pontiac March for Life ‘felt like Chicago’ for more than 40 participants

Christine Stark (foreground) and more than 40 other participants in a March for Life sponsored by the Ignite Youth Ministry of St. Mary Parish in Pontiac pass the church on their way to the steps of the Livingston County Courthouse on Jan. 11. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

PONTIAC — They were separated by 100 miles and a mix of winter precipitation, but a renewed March for Life through downtown Pontiac last Saturday prayerfully marked the same cause as March for Life Chicago, the largest pro-life event in the Midwest that also took place Jan. 11. (See related story on diocesan pilgrims in […]

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Priests’ ride across the diocese an adventure, like a life in God’s plan

The Priests Pedaling for Prayers and their companions prepare to start their 350-mile journey across the Diocese of Peoria on Sept. 30. Dipping their back tires into the Mississippi River are (from left) Axel Jimenez, Father Michael Pica, Deacon Matt Levy, Father Tom Otto, Father Adam Cesarek, Brother Benedict, CSJ, Chris Hebel, and Dr. Michael Cruz. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

As they dipped the rear tires of their bicycles into the Mississippi River at Schuler’s Shady Grove Boat Ramp in Rapids City on Sept. 30, Father Tom Otto, Father Adam Cesarek and Father Michael Pica had no idea what would happen in the 350 miles they would travel before getting to the Indiana state line […]

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Pedaling priests to again ride across diocese for vocation awareness, prayers

Members of the track team from Holy Cross School in Mendota ran with Father Michael Pica, Father Tom Otto, Father Adam Cesarek and Deacon Matt Levy as they completed last year's Priests Pedaling for Prayers ride across the Diocese of Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

As the Priests Pedaling for Prayers prepare to embark on their third bike ride across the Diocese of Peoria to raise awareness of and prayers for vocations, they’re looking to Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen for inspiration and support. The jerseys for the 2019 ride, which begins in Rapids City on Sept. 30 and ends […]

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Bishop Jenky leads prayers that ‘Gospel of Life with have victory in our time’

As the Mass for the Legal Protection of the Unborn began Jan. 25, a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the unborn, was carried down the main aisle of St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria by Aaron Rapp of St. Joseph Catholic Newman Center in Peoria, and Kevin Ellis, Will Gustafson and Sam Menacher of St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center in Normal. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

In the midst of all the activity that surrounds the anniversary of Roe v. Wade each January, respect life advocates took time to pray quietly before the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria and ask God for healing, forgiveness and the legal protection of unborn children. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, celebrated Mass […]

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Retreat speaker urges faithful to call on Mary during journey through Advent

Father Adam Cesarek encouraged those who attended an Advent retreat sponsored by the Bishop's Commission on Women in the Church and in Society to celebrate the season by preparing well, protecting their relationships with God and others, and deepening their spiritual lives through prayer and the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation. The retreat took place Dec. 1 at St. Vincent de Paul in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Advent can be a time of incredible grace with a little preparation, protection, participation and prayer, Father Adam Cesarek told those who attended a morning retreat planned by the Bishop’s Commission on Women in the Church and in Society. It took place last Saturday at St. Vincent de Paul in Peoria. Father Cesarek’s theme was […]

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Priests Pedaling for Prayers reach finish line, recall blessings of 275-mile trek

Members of the track team from Holy Cross School in Mendota ran with Father Michael Pica, Father Tom Otto, Father Adam Cesarek and Deacon Matt Levy as they completed last year's Priests Pedaling for Prayers ride across the Diocese of Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

After riding through snow, wind and rain for much of the first three days, the Priests Pedaling for Prayers started to pick up some sunshine on the fourth day of their 275-mile journey and finished strong on “a perfect day” in Mendota on April 20. That seemed appropriate in the middle of the Easter Season, […]

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St. Mary, Pontiac, to open Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium this fall

Kindergarten students from St. Mary School in Pontiac take part in a ceremonial groundbreaking on April 6 for a renovation project to create a learning space for the parish’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation process. Leading the blessing ceremony are Father David Sabel, pastor, and Father Adam Cesarek, parochial vicar. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

PONTIAC — Wearing hard hats and holding shovels and hammers that had been painted gold, the kindergarten students at St. Mary School “broke ground” for the new Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium that will open this fall. The ceremonial event, held in the school gym on April 6, left the floor intact but allowed […]

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‘Priests Pedaling for Prayers’ set to ride through diocese again April 16-20

A scene from the first leg of "Priests Pedaling for Prayers" last April shows (from left) Father Michael Pica, Father Tom Otto and Father Adam Cesarek tackling one of the major hills they encountered in central Illinois. They are preparing to ride again April 16-20, this time traveling from Nauvoo to Mendota. (The Catholic Post file photo/Jennifer Willems)

Here they go again. Three young priests of the Diocese of Peoria are preparing to climb on their bicycles and cross central Illinois to raise awareness of and prayers for vocations. This year’s route is expected to cover as many as 275 miles as it takes Father Tom Otto, Father Adam Cesarek and Father Michael […]

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From stress to holiness: young adults get seasonal advice at first “Fourth Watch”

Father Adam Cesarek offers suggestions on how to lessen pre-Christmas stress by keeping the focus on Christ during Advent. He was the featured speaker at the Diocese of Peoria's first "Fourth Watch" gathering on Dec. 4 that drew more than 60 young adults to the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Overwhelmed by the approach of Christmas? Father Adam Cesarek suggests making a different kind of list during Advent to “change your season of stress into a season of holiness.” “It’s hard to keep our eyes on the things that are most important as we prepare for Christmas,” said Father Cesarek, the featured speaker Dec. 4 […]

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