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Bishop Tylka begins ‘Welcome Tour’ with liturgies in Bloomington and Pontiac

By: Jennifer Willems - August 3, 2020 - Featured Article Bishop Louis Tylka, Bloomington, Pontiac

Kelly and Kel Krenz and eight of their 10 children and two grandchildren visit with Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka in the parish center of St. Mary Church in Pontiac. The opportunity to meet people followed the Mass for the Pontiac Vicariate on Aug. 2. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka started to get acquainted with his new diocese last weekend by celebrating Masses at St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington on Aug. 1, and at St. Mary Church in Pontiac on Aug. 2. He drew a joyful response by calling them the first stops on his “Welcome Tour.” “I think […]

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

By: Jennifer Willems - February 12, 2020 - Featured Article blessingk, Father Adam Cesarek, Little Disciples Preschool, Pontiac, Preschool, St. Mary

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 […]

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

By: Tom Dermody - January 16, 2020 - News Article Father Adam Cesarek, March for Life, Pontiac, Sam Alsdorf

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 […]

Art teacher turns priest’s vision into a big reality at St. Mary School, Pontiac

By: Jennifer Willems - October 23, 2019 - Featured Article Father David Sabel, Katy Sartoris, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pontiac, St. Mary School

Students, faculty and parishioners of St. Mary in Pontiac look on as Father David Sabel offers prayers of blessing for the new image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help that now graces the front of St. Mary School. (Provided photo/Danielle Gill)

PONTIAC — The fruits of prayer come in many different forms, in all shapes and sizes. The painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help that now graces the front of St. Mary School here is a testament to that. The idea for the painting came to Father David Sabel during a Holy Hour last spring, […]

Bank of Pontiac donates building as new home for the St. Vincent de Paul Pantry

By: Tom Dermody - June 20, 2019 - News Article Bank of Pontiac, Bill Kauffman, Eleanor Ribordy, Father David Sabel, Pontiac, St. Vincent de Paul Pantry

Bill Kauffman, right, president and CEO of the Bank of Pontiac, presents a symbolic key on June 13 to Evelyn Ribordy, director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society food and clothing pantry at St. Mary Parish in Pontiac. The bank has donated the building seen behind the group, the former offices of Dr. John Purnell at 401 E. Water St., to St. Mary as a new, more spacious home for the pantry. Also pictured are bank officials and pantry volunteers, from left, Amy Brummel, Frank Arnolts, Carol Schopp, Jenna Cassady, John Marshall, Kathy Campbell, Joe Baker, Marge Loughran, Kathy Duffy, Jane Kuerth, Nancy Verdun, Tina Trevino, Mike Haag, and Father David Sabel. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

PONTIAC — The Bank of Pontiac has given the St. Vincent de Paul Pantry a former medical office building at 401 E. Water St. to serve as a new, larger storage and distribution site for its food and clothing outreaches. “The bank has been well supported by the community and its churches,” said Bill Kauffman, […]

Transfer of Pontiac station expands the network, reach of Catholic Spirit Radio

By: Jennifer Willems - January 31, 2019 - News Article Bloomington, Catholic radio, Catholic Spirit Radio, Normal, Pontiac, WPJC

The coverage map for Pontiac-based WPJC, 88.3 FM.

NORMAL — Catholic Spirit Radio of Bloomington-Normal, WSPI 89.5 FM, is undergoing network expansion. Public Reality Radio, WPJC, 88.3 FM was transferred to WSPI ownership on Nov. 30. The talk radio station in Pontiac was deeded to Catholic Spirit Radio by Goodrich Radio, which simulcasts its sister flagship station WPRR from Grand Rapids, Michigan. WPJC began broadcasting in […]

Mergers this month affect parishes in Livingston, northern McLean counties

By: The Catholic Post - June 7, 2018 - News Article Campus, Chatsworth, Colfax, Cullom, Livingston, McLean, merger, Pontiac

With “a heavy heart” but also confidence that the changes “will help maintain the vitality of Catholic faith” in the region, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has announced a series of mergers affecting parishes in Livingston and northern McLean counties. In a letter read at 10 area parishes on the weekend of May 19-20, Bishop […]

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

By: Jennifer Willems - April 12, 2018 - News Article atrium, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Father Adam Cesarek, Father David Sabel, Kelly Krenz, Pontiac

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 […]

Trivia night to benefit St. Mary’s, Pontiac, student diagnosed with brain tumor

By: Tom Dermody - February 24, 2017 - News Article Jonathan Becker, Pontiac, St. Mary, trivia night

Jonathan Becker

PONTIAC — A trivia night to benefit a fifth-grader at St. Mary School here who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Mary Parish hall. Jonathan Becker, the son of Matt and Marie Becker, was diagnosed in January and is currently undergoing […]

Explanatory Masses at two parishes offer insights into ‘something heavenly’

By: Tom Dermody - February 13, 2017 - Featured Article Explanatory Mass, Father Sabel, Msgr. Brownsey, Peoria, Pontiac, St. Mark Parish

Celebrating explanatory Masses in recent days were Msgr. Brian Brownsey (left) at St. Mark Church in Peoria and Father David Sabel at at Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Mary Church in Pontiac. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

“What’s happening before your eyes is something heavenly,” said Msgr. Brian Brownsey prior to beginning the Eucharistic Prayer. “This is the most important meal of our lives,” reminded Father David Sabel upon reaching the Liturgy of the Eucharist. For one day at St. Mark Church in Peoria and St. Mary Church in Pontiac, the pastors […]

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