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Five-year strategic planning process aims to strengthen diocesan high schools

By: Jennifer Willems - June 17, 2021 - Featured Article Alleman High School, Central Catholic High School, Marquette Academy, Partners in Mission, Peoria Notre Dame High School, Schlarman Academy, The High School of Saint Thomas More

Dr. Bob Tift of Partners in Mission talks with Brooke Rick, principal of Marquette Academy in Ottawa, and her team during the "soft launch" of a new strategic planning process for Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Peoria on June 10. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Peoria have begun a strategic planning process with the goal of not only growing stronger in terms of Catholic identity and living their mission, but also supporting their mission in new and creative ways over the next five years. A “soft launch” of the collaboration between Partners in […]

March for Life high school pilgrims from diocese tell of ‘life changing’ experience

By: Tom Dermody - January 30, 2020 - Featured Article Central Catholic, high school, March for Life, Marquette Academy, Peoria Notre Dame, Pro-life, Schlarman Academy, The High School of Saint Thomas More

The center spread of the Feb. 2 issue of The Catholic Post included photos and brief comments from diocesan Catholic high school pilgrims to the Jan. 24 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Some of the young pro-life pilgrims share their experience in greater detail below.

By plane, metro trains, buses, and some very crowded automobiles, hundreds of pilgrims from the Diocese of Peoria traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in the Jan. 24 March for Life and related events. Among them were contingents from five Catholic high schools in the diocese — Peoria Notre Dame, Central Catholic in Bloomington, […]

Class of 2019 being sent forth with prayers, challenges, gratitude

By: The Catholic Post - May 23, 2019 - Featured Article commencement, Father Spohrer, graduation, Msgr. Merdian, nursing, Schlarman Academy

Kara Spear of Hanna City receives a “Blessing of Hands” from Father Dennis Spohrer during the Baccalaureate Mass May 18 at the Peoria Civic Center for graduates of the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. Spear was one of 93 students earning a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Father Spohrer is assistant chaplain at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. Also administering the blessing were Msgr. Mark Merdian, diocesan episcopal vicar for healthcare, and Deacon Joseph Knapp, pastoral care manager at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Whether they are graduating from a Catholic college, high school, or grade school, members of the Class of 2019 in the Diocese of Peoria are being asked to stay close to the Lord and share Christ’s love wherever life takes them in the future. “Your love of God brings an additional quality to your professional […]

The best ever? Schlarman girls repeat as state basketball champions, leave legacy

By: Tom Dermody - February 27, 2019 - Featured Article Anaya Peoples, basketball, Danville, Father Bowan Schmitt, Janiah Newell, Schlarman Academy, state champions

It takes two hands to symbolize Danville Schlarman's historic accomplishment in winning back-to-back IHSA Class 1A state championships. Here the Hilltoppers pose after their 62-36 title win over Lanark Eastland at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

DANVILLE — If winning was the only goal of the Schlarman Academy girls basketball team, then the Hilltoppers’ repeat state championship earned last Saturday at Redbird Arena in Normal would be the latest in a long line of historic ways they achieved it. After all, the seniors on this talented squad never lost a home […]

Area students at national March for Life know they’re on ‘right part of history’

By: Tom Dermody - January 31, 2019 - Featured Article Central Catholic, D.C., March for Life, Marquette Academy, Peoria Notre Dame, Saint Thomas More, Schlarman Academy, Washington

The 46 students and chaperones from Central Catholic High School in Bloomington pose for a group photo outside the U.S. Capitol on the day they took part in the national March for Life in Washington, D.C. (Provided photo)

Whether it was their first time among the more than 100,000 at the March for Life in Washington, D.C., or their 16th, the immense annual peaceful demonstration against legal abortion left a lasting impression on the hundreds of high school participants and co-travelers from the Diocese of Peoria. “I really wanted to see the scale […]

Class of 2018 top high school graduates share their memories, plans, gratitude

By: The Catholic Post - June 6, 2018 - Featured Article Alleman, Central Catholic, Class of 2018, Marquette Academy, Peoria Notre Dame, Saint Thomas More, Salutatorian, Schlarman Academy, St. Bede Academy, Valedictorian

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following are photos and 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 graduates. The top students were invited to answer two questions: 1) “How would you describe the advantages of attending a Catholic high school?” and […]

State champions! Schlarman Academy girls let their light shine, big time

By: Tom Dermody - February 28, 2018 - Featured Article Ayana Peoples, basketball, Danville, Gail Lewis, Janiah Newell, Schlarman Academy, state championship

The state champion Schlarman Hilltoppers, coaches, cheerleaders, and school officials pose on the floor of Redbird Arena in Normal after the team rolled past Stockton 53-31 on Saturday to win the IHSA Class 1A girls basketball title. In the front row, from left, are cheerleaders Sarah Switzer, Sarah Lukas, Winne Zheng, Jayden King, Jessalyn Gonzalez, Regina Hinkle, Tamara Kriening, and Ainslee Johnson; second row, from left, are athletic director Phil Sexton and players Janiah Newell, Destiny Dye, Anaya Peoples, and Sydney Gouard; third row, from left, are players Suzet Sermersheim, Cece Damilano, McKaylee Allen, Emma Bogen, Ana Fitzgerald, Tannah Ceader, Capria Brown, Elizabeth Stimac, and Father Bowan Schmitt, chaplain; back row, from left, assistant coach OJ Harrison, head coach Keith Peoples, assistant coaches Jerry O’Neill, LaTana Lillard, David Gouard Jr., and Mollie DeBord, and Gail Lewis, principal. (Provided photo/David Calkins, Schlarman Academy)

DANVILLE — The girls high school basketball team from Schlarman Academy here prays before every game. Well, more than that. “Before each game, before each practice, after each game, and after each practice we pray,” said junior Anaya Peoples. In the locker room at Redbird Arena in Normal on Feb. 24 prior to the biggest […]