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Sale of spaghetti sauce with local recipe benefits shrine to war veterans in LaSalle

By: Tom Dermody - February 12, 2020 - Featured Article Bob Lipka, Father Paul Carlson, Holy Rosary shrine, Hy-Vee, LaSalle, Msgr. Simon Bernardi, Pam Lipka, spaghetti sauce

Father Paul Carlson and Bob Lipka hold jars of Dalla Campanella, a newly marketed three-meat spaghetti sauce made from a traditional recipe from northern Italy perfected by the late Msgr. Simon Bernardi. Profits from its sales help maintain the Queen of the Holy Rosary diocesan shrine to war veterans in LaSalle, seen in the background. Lipka, his wife Pam, and Father Carlson -- pastor of the LaSalle Catholic parishes and rector of the shrine -- collaborated to bring the sauce to market. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

LASALLE — Before Lent begins, here’s a story with some meat to it. Tomato sauce, assorted vegetables, and spices, too. The LaSalle Catholic parishes have brought to market a three-meat spaghetti sauce, the sales of which help financially support the Queen of the Holy Rosary diocesan shrine to war veterans. More than 1,500 jars of […]

Hispanic Ministry offers a professional listening ear to area’s Spanish-speaking

By: Tom Dermody - August 28, 2019 - Featured Article Bloomington, Hispanic ministry, LaSalle, Olga Figueroa, psychotherapist, Sister Isabel Romero

Sister Isabel Romero, SCTJM, director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Peoria, is pictured with Olga Figueroa, her longtime friend from Mexico. Figueroa is a psychotherapist who offered workshops and private counseling in August to Spanish-speaking Catholics in LaSalle, Peoria, and Bloomington. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

As a priest from Mexico was hearing confessions for 14 hours during a retreat day for Spanish-speaking Catholics of the Diocese of Peoria last summer, Sister Isabel Romero, SCTJM, offered to help move things along. “Do you want me to tell them to be a little more quick — to just say their sins?” asked […]

Corpus Christi processions in diocese unite Catholics around eucharistic Lord

By: Jennifer Willems - June 7, 2018 - Featured Article Corpus Christi, Father Anthony Co, Granville, LaSalle, procession, Rock Island

Hundred of Catholics walk down Tonti Street in LaSalle in a Corpus Christi procession June 3 that included prayerful stops at all three Catholic churches in the city. In addition to uniting the parishes, the public demonstration of faith in praise of the Blessed Sacrament also brought together both English and Spanish-speaking Catholics. The LaSalle celebration was one of several processions on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. (Provided photo/LaSalle Catholic parishes)

ROCK ISLAND — Jesus desires to bring together people and that happened in parishes around the Diocese of Peoria as processions were held to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, on June 3. In Rock Island, members of Sacred Heart Parish left church after […]

Three Catholic school principals are retiring as school year comes to an end

By: Jennifer Willems - May 23, 2018 - Featured Article Champaign, Holy Cross School, Jerry Carls, Jodi Peine, Joe McDaniel, LaSalle, Peoria, principal, St. Philomena School, Trinity Catholic Academy

Joe McDaniel, Jodi Peine, and Jerry Carls are retiring, although not for the first time, as principals as the academic year comes to an end. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Three principals serving in Catholic schools of the Diocese of Peoria are retiring as the academic year comes to an end. Jerry Carls, principal of Trinity Catholic Academy in LaSalle for two years, and Joe McDaniel, principal of Holy Cross in Champaign, each stepped in on an interim basis until permanent principals could be found. […]

Trinity Catholic Academy’s Living Stations of the Cross a LaSalle tradition

By: Tom Dermody - March 26, 2018 - Featured Article Deb Myers, LaSalle, Living Stations of the Cross, St. Patrick Church, Trinity Catholic Academy

Jesus (Stevan Sanchez) meets his mother (Lauren Griggs) on his way to Calvary in a scene from the Living Stations of the Cross performed by Trinity Catholic Academy in LaSalle. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

LA SALLE — Deb Myers expects to shed a few tears when the eighth-graders of Trinity Catholic Academy here perform the Living Stations of the Cross during this Holy Week. She won’t be alone. The student production — set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, and 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, at St. […]

Pastor, teacher win dance competition and their school arts programs benefit

By: Jennifer Willems - December 13, 2017 - Featured Article Catholic schools, dance, Darcy Mollo, Father Jacob Rose, LaSalle, Peru Catholic, St. Michael the Archangel, Streator

The judges at "Dance Dance Dance for Charity" said they were looking for fun and showmanship from the six teams competing Dec. 10, and Darcy Mollo and Father Jacob Rose delivered with their Jive, performed to "Shake a Tail Feather" from "The Blues Brothers" soundtrack. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

LA SALLE — There wasn’t a mirror ball trophy in sight, but Father Jacob Rose and Darcy Mollo came away from “Dance Dance Dance for Charity” Dec. 10 with a much better prize. As the champions of the dance competition sponsored by OmniArts in Starved Rock Country, they will receive $1,500 for the arts programs […]

Veterans Day Mass at diocesan shrine in LaSalle includes gratitude, homework

By: Tom Dermody - November 8, 2017 - Featured Article LaSalle, Msgr. Prendergast, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Trinity Catholic Academy, Veterans Day

Leonard Hybki, a member of St. Valentine Parish in Peru who served in the U.S. Army during the Korea conflict, salutes as the National Anthem is sung outside Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine in LaSalle in ceremonies following a Veterans Day Mass on Nov. 8. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

LA SALLE — Students from Trinity Catholic Academy here got a Veterans Day homework assignment during a special Mass that drew military veterans as well as former priest military chaplains to the Diocese of Peoria’s shrine to war veterans here on Nov. 8. “On this Veterans Day, if you meet a veteran, I ask you […]

As Year of Mercy nears Nov. 20 end, its fruits are evident around diocese

By: Jennifer Willems - November 2, 2016 - Featured Article Champaign, conclusion, Diocese of Peoria, fruits, holy doors, LaSalle, Nauvoo, Normal, Peoria, Rock Island, Year of Mercy

Father Tom Otto opens the Holy Door at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Nauvoo at the conclusion of a 17-mile Walk to Mercy pilgrimage on Sept. 24. The Year of Mercy ends on Nov. 20. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

As the Jubilee Year of Mercy draws to a close, it is with grateful hearts that pastors, chaplains and pastoral ministers note that people of all ages accepted the invitation to experience God’s mercy for themselves and extend it to others. “I’ve had the grace of being the pastor of two Holy Doors — the […]

Masses set in LaSalle for first responders, in Quad Cities for medical personnel

By: Tom Dermody - September 29, 2016 - News Article blue Mass, LaSalle, white Mass

Police officers, firefighters and other first responders will be honored by the parishes of the LaSalle Vicariate at a Blue Mass on Thursday, Sept. 29. It will take place at 7 p.m. at the Shrine of the Holy Rosary, 529 Fourth St., in LaSalle. Sept. 29 is the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and […]

Fr. Rayson, Fr. Dittmer appointed new vicars for Champaign and LaSalle

By: Tom Dermody - June 21, 2016 - News Article Champaign, Dittmer, LaSalle, Rayson, vicars

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has named new vicars for the LaSalle and Champaign vicariates. In Champaign, Father Robert Rayson will succeed Father Joseph Hogan as vicar. Father Rayson has been pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Champaign, as well as St. Boniface, Seymour, since 2012. Father Hogan, who has served as vicar for three […]