By: Jennifer Willems - September 13, 2018 -
Featured Article
Father Dustin Schultz, India, Indian, Our Lady of Good Health, St. Patrick Church of Merna, statue, Vailankanni
The statue of Our Lady of Good Health (Vailankanni, India) is carried throughout St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington, while members of the assembly pray the rosary as they follow in procession. Taking the Blessed Mother to a place of honor in the church are (from left) Carlo Selvaraj, Francis Gonsalves, Paul Prabhu, and Joachim Roshan. Not seen on the far side are Xavier Madanu and Christuraj A. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
BLOOMINGTON — As she always has, the Blessed Virgin Mary brought people together and then pointed them to her Son as the Indian Catholics of Bloomington-Normal celebrated the feast of her nativity on Sept. 8 at St. Patrick Church of Merna. The Mass included the blessing of a statue of Our Lady of Good Health, […]
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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, […]
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By: Tom Dermody - October 4, 2017 -
News Article
anniversary, Bloomington, deaf, Marriage, Meisenbach, St. Patrick Church of Merna
Judith Meisenbach signs “I do” as she and her husband of 50 years, George, renew their marriage vows at the Diocese of Peoria’s Anniversary Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Sept. 24. Both Judith and George, members of St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington, have been deaf since childhood. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)
When nearly 100 golden and silver anniversary couples renewed their marriage vows at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on Sept. 24, George and Judith Meisenbach of Bloomington — standing in a front pew — were the only ones not to voice “I do” to one another. They signed it. Both George and Judith, members of […]
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By: Tom Dermody - July 28, 2017 -
Featured Article
Caylee Kennedy, Jacob Martini, St. Patrick Church of Merna, Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus participants take part in an exercise of trust led by team member Jacob Martini in this 2017 file photo from St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington.
BLOOMINGTON — During her college career at Bradley University, Caylee Kennedy’s summers have been spent spreading God’s love to youth throughout the diocese as a team member of the youth faith formation program known as Totus Tuus. “The kids and teens I work with inspire me and give me so much hope for our Church,” […]
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By: Tom Dermody - September 27, 2016 -
News Article
Bloomington, cancer, Msgr. Greg Ketcham, prayer, St. Patrick Church of Merna
Msgr. Greg Ketcham is pictured with his sister, Clarisse Slater, in Houston, Texas, where the pastor of St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington and St. Mary, Downs, has been receiving treatment for brain cancer. Their t-shirts bear the slogan Msgr. Ketcham has emphasized throughout his treatment, that "Jesus reigns." (Photo from stpatrickmerna.org)
BLOOMINGTON — Saying “I feel strong and am excited to be with you soon,” Msgr. Gregory Ketcham is returning to his parishes today during a break in his treatment for brain cancer. Msgr. Ketcham, pastor of St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington and St. Mary in Downs, has been at MD Anderson Cancer Center […]
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