Archives

Newman Center, Hall name has deeper meaning for pilgrims to canonization

By: Tom Dermody - October 23, 2019 - Featured Article canonization, Father Robert Lampitt, pilgrimage, Rome, St. John Henry Newman, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, University of Illinois, VaticanehrNewman

Student pilgrims from St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois are pictured outside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican prior to the canonization Mass for St. John Henry Newman and four other new saints. From left, they are Anthony Burkhardt, Nicole Nussel, Aleesha Roessler, and James Kabbes. (Provided photo by Father Robert Lampitt)

CHAMPAIGN — Anthony Burkhardt will never say “Newman Hall” the same way. Not after the sophomore molecular and cellular biology major at the University of Illinois spent five days in Italy with a contingent from St. John’s Catholic Newman Center and attended the Oct. 13 canonization Mass for five new saints, including St. John Henry […]

Newman Hall resident director, athlete, and new Catholic is on the right tracks

By: Tom Dermody - September 25, 2019 - Featured Article Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, Jenna Fesemyer, Newman Hall, Paralympic Games, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, Tristan Pisarczyk, wheelchair racing

Jenna Fesemyer, resident director at Newman Hall of St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign, wears medals she earned while competing for Team USA at the Parapan American Games last month in Lima, Peru. (Provided photo)

CHAMPAIGN — Jenna Fesemyer is a world class wheelchair athlete with hopes of representing the United States at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. But those who know the 22-year-old resident director at Newman Hall here would award “our Jenna” gold medals for joyful attitude, academics, leadership, and witness of her newfound Catholic faith. “She’s […]

To enter religious life, Champaign woman seeking help through #ProjectMiracle

By: Jennifer Willems - August 16, 2019 - News Article Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, weDignify

Shortly after arriving in the Diocese of Peoria in 2015, Pamela Rose Suresca (kneeling fourth from left) attended a celebration of consecrated life at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria. Also pictured is Sister Theresa Lee, FMA (kneeling sixth from left), who is now vocations director for the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, the community Suresca hopes to enter in September. (The Catholic Post file photo/Jennifer Willems)

CHAMPAIGN — Miracles can be hard to come by, but Pamela Rose Suresca isn’t letting that stop her from pursuing one as if the rest of her life depends on it. Suresca, who recently ended her job as director of mission formation for weDignify in Champaign, hopes to enter the Daughters of Mary Help of […]

Pair’s ‘Bearded Wisdom’ podcast shares faith, humor at U of I . . . and beyond

By: Jennifer Willems - November 21, 2018 - Featured Article Bearded Wisdom, Champaign, Heath Morber, podcast, Shawn Reeves, St. John's Catholic Newman Center

Shawn Reeves, left, director of religious education at St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and Heath Morber, director of music, have a rapport that makes their new podcast, "Bearded Wisdom," easy to listen to. (Provided photo)

CHAMPAIGN — It’s not often that talk about baseball cards leads to a deeper discussion about faith, but somehow Shawn Reeves and Heath Morber make it work during their new podcast, “Bearded Wisdom.” “Providing insights on Catholic culture and faith,” the podcast is part of Catholic Illini ministry at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center. Reeves […]

Champaign marathon offers priest an opportunity to sacrifice for others

By: Jennifer Willems - May 10, 2018 - News Article Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, marathon, St. John's Catholic Newman Center

Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, assistant chaplain at St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois, runs in the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon on April 28. (Illinois Marathon photo)

CHAMPAIGN — More than 1,100 people ran in the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon this year, but only one of them wore a black clergy shirt with a white tab collar and the words “Catholic Illini” printed on the back while doing it. “Marathon culture is a fun culture and people often dress in costume, so […]

3 Pierced Heart Sisters bring the gift of religious life to Newman Center at U of I

By: Jennifer Willems - April 11, 2018 - Featured Article Newman Center, Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sister Clara Maria, Sister Lucia Maria, Sister Mary Rachel, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, University of Illinois

Sister Clara Maria Malay, Sister Lucia Maria Sol, and Sister Mary Rachel Hart stand near the courtyard of St. John's Catholic Newman Center on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign. The members of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary joined the pastoral staff there in January. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

CHAMPAIGN — Faith is a great gift, but if students don’t know their faith they could fall for anything that glitters and Sister Clara Maria Malay, SCTJM, said everything on a college campus glitters. “If they encounter Christ here, it can change the trajectory of their lives,” according to Sister Clara, who in January joined […]

Msgr. Ketcham’s influence on vocations recalled by young priests, seminarians

By: Jennifer Willems - March 1, 2018 - Featured Article Danny McShane, Father Joe Baker, Father Kyle Lucas, Father Lee Brokaw, Msgr. Gregory Ketcham, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, vocations

Msgr. Gregory Ketcham celebrates Mass at St. John's Chapel in Champaign in this file photo from St. John's Catholic Newman Center. Msgr. Ketcham, who died Feb. 8 at the age of 50, was known for promoting vocations in the way he lived the Gospel and celebrated Mass. (Provided photo/Greg Taylor)

In more than two decades of ministry, Msgr. Gregory Ketcham touched countless lives. Among them were the many students at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center in Champaign who discerned their vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life and holy marriages from the way he celebrated Mass and boldly proclaimed the Gospel with his life during his […]

Cardinal Cupich talks Lent and takes students’ questions at U of I Newman

By: Jennifer Willems - March 1, 2018 - Featured Article Cardinal Blase Cupich, Coffee with the Cardinal, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, University of Illinois

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago gives the homily during a Mass at St. John's Catholic Chapel in Champaign on Feb. 24. During his visit to St. John's Catholic Newman Center, the cardinal also took students' questions during a "Coffee with the Cardinal" session in Lewis Lounge. At right, Junior Turner Rives poses a questions about mysticism in the Catholic Church. (Provided photo/Ariel Majewski and The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

CHAMPAIGN — Cardinal Blase Cupich shared messages of hope, inclusion, encouragement and God’s love with Catholic Illini when he visited St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois last Sunday. While he had been to the nation’s largest Newman Center before, this was his first visit since being named the spiritual leader of […]

Services in Bloomington and Hancock County for Msgr. Gregory Ketcham, 50

By: The Catholic Post - February 8, 2018 - News Article Bloomington, funeral, Msgr. Ketcham, St. John's Catholic Newman Center, St. Patrick Church of Merna, University of Illinois

Msgr. Gregory Ketcham

BLOOMINGTON — A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Patrick Church of Merna here on Monday for Msgr. Gregory Ketcham, 50, pastor emeritus who died at the parish rectory on Feb. 9, 2018 — 20 months after being diagnosed with brain cancer. “Grace flowed through him,” said Father James Seitz of Msgr. Ketcham, […]