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Schools’ office names distinguished principal, pastor, and teacher of year

By: The Catholic Post - December 5, 2019 - Featured Article Bloomington, Central Catholic, Distinguished, James Taber, Msgr. Mark Merdian, Noreen Dillon, Pastor, Peoria d D, principal, Rock Island, St. Mark, St. Pius X, Teacher

Dr. Noreen Dillon is congratulated by students at St. Mark School in Peoria on Principal Appreciation Day after learning that she had been named Distinguished Principal of the Year by the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools. Also recognized were Msgr. Mark Merdian, pastor of St. Pius X School in Rock Island, as Distinguished Pastor of the Year, and James Taber, longtime science teacher at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, as Distinguished Teacher of the Year.

In the season of thanksgiving, the Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Peoria is recognizing three people who have given many years of service to Catholic schools. They are Msgr. Mark Merdian, pastor of St. Pius X School in Rock Island, Distinguished Pastor of the Year; Dr. Noreen Dillon of St. Mark School […]

Meet the fifth-grade artist who designed Bishop Jenky’s 2018 Christmas card

By: Jennifer Willems - January 31, 2019 - News Article artist, Bishop Jenky, Christmas card, Isabella Schmillen, Peoria, St. Mark

Isabella Schmillen of St. Mark School in Peoria holds her winning artwork that was chosen for the cover of the Christmas cards sent out by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. On the back she wrote her own sentiment: "Never forget to always love God." (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

She may only be a fifth-grader at St. Mark School in Peoria, but Isabella Schmillen is no novice when it comes to art. Anyone who received a Christmas card from Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has seen her drawing of the Nativity, which put Jesus, Mary and Joseph under a sky filled with gold stars. […]

Meet caring, joyful Msgr. Brian Brownsey: Distinguished School Pastor of the Year

By: Jennifer Willems - January 18, 2019 - Uncategorized Distinguished Pastor, Msgr. Brian Brownsey, Noreen Dillon, Peoria, St. Mark

While he doesn't get into the classroom as often as he'd like, Msgr. Brian Brownsey tries to get over to St. Mark School in Peoria a couple times during the week, even if it's just to walk through the cafeteria or see students on the playground. "When I go to school and see my kids, I get new life," he said. (Provided photo)

He might have been named the Distinguished School Pastor of the Year, but Msgr. Brian K. Brownsey, pastor of St. Mark Parish and School in Peoria, prefers to expand the spotlight. “I just did what everybody else does,” he said simply. “Our principal, Noreen Dillon, is top-notch. If there’s anything good at St. Mark’s, it’s […]

ACE teachers give two years, receive lifetime experiences in faith-filled service

By: Jennifer Willems - September 27, 2018 - Featured Article ACE Teachers, Chillicothe, Erin McNally, Lucy Enright, Luke Heineman, Maria Wnorowskii, Peoria Notre Dame, St. Edward, St. Mark

The Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellows working in the Diocese of Peoria strike a pose before leaving their summer classes at the University of Notre Dame to take their posts in central Illinois: (clockwise from upper left) Erin McNally, who is teaching at St. Mark, Peoria; Luke Heineman, St. Edward School, Chillicothe; and Maria Wnorowski and Lucy Enright, Peoria Notre Dame High School. (Provided photo)

If things had gone according to plan, Lucy Enright would be in medical school and Luke Heineman might be pursuing a doctorate in history or attending law school this year. Instead, she is teaching physics at Peoria Notre Dame High School and he is teaching English and language arts at St. Edward School in Chillicothe, […]

Diocese’s Catholic schools get creative in raising hurricane relief funds, prayers

By: Jennifer Willems - September 21, 2017 - Featured Article Catholic schools, Corpus Christi, hurricane, Hurricane Harvey, relief, St. Jude Catholic School, St. Mark

Holiding up a poster for their fundraiser to help students affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston are eighth-graders from St. Jude School in Peoria, from left, Genevieve Stickelmaier, Jessica Shane, Daniel Marcinak, Marcus Targos, and Carly Lindsey. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Catholic schools around central Illinois may not have been affected by Hurricane Harvey or the storms that followed, but they have been involved in helping their fellow students in Texas, Louisiana and Florida pick up the pieces and return to class. At the request of Dr. Sharon Weiss, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of […]