3 Minute Roundup

Call to conversion not about making people feel bad, says pope
VATICAN CITY — The Lenten call to conversion is not an attempt to make people feel bad about themselves, but to promote their true good, which is eternal life, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Celebrating Mass March 7 at the Rome parish of St. John of the Cross and reciting the Angelus at the Vatican afterward, the pope focused on the day’s Gospel story in which Jesus tells his followers they must convert or they will perish. At the parish, which was founded in 1989, the pope said Lent is “an invitation to the conversion of our lives and to doing appropriate acts of penitence.”
The crowd Jesus was addressing in the day’s Gospel story thought that people who met a sudden and violent death were sinners, while the fact that members of Jesus’ audience were still alive meant they had nothing to worry about, the pope said. But Jesus warned them that by not recognizing their own sins and not setting out on the path to conversion, they would not be saved, he said.
“During Lent, each one of us is called by God to make a change, thinking and living according to the Gospel, correcting things in our way of praying, acting, working and relating to others,” he said. (CNS)
 
St. Louis seminary exceeds goal in first capital campaign
ST. LOUIS — The first capital campaign in the history of St. Louis’ Kenrick-Glennon Seminary exceeded its goal by 21.7 percent, with $60.8 million in pledges. The goal had been set at $50 million to provide repairs, updates and physical improvements to a building that dates to 1931, while increasing its endowment.
St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, in a letter in the Feb. 26 issue of the St. Louis Review, archdiocesan newspaper, said donations to the “Faith for the Future” campaign are an expression of hope, especially during challenging economic times. The pledges are “a powerful statement of our hope in God’s providence,” he noted.
Archbishop Carlson also told the Review that the response to the campaign “shows the people’s belief that we have to form good priests for the future so we can be a eucharistic people.”
Frank Cognata, chief development officer of the archdiocese, said the seminary has formed more than 2,700 priests in the past, and the funds will help prepare even more in the future. He said it was especially noteworthy that the campaign was conducted in a down economy and that participation met expectations. More than 2,000 volunteers helped make the campaign possible, with many of them making personal visits to potential donors. (CNS)
 
Religious attacks by media must be rejected, say officials
VATICAN CITY — Anti-religious commentary distributed by media outlets can create tensions and incite violence and therefore must be rejected, said Vatican and Muslim representatives.
Attacking religion in the mass media especially via satellite television channels must be opposed considering “the dangerous effect” that these broadcasts can have on social cohesion and on peace between religious communities, said a statement issued after the annual meeting of officials from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and from al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. The Vatican released a copy of the statement to journalists March 2.
The Feb. 23-24 meeting in Cairo focused on the role religions can play in either causing or preventing religious violence. The al-Azhar meeting was chaired by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the pontifical council, and by Sheik Mohammed Abd al-Aziz Wasil, president of al-Azhar’s permanent committee for dialogue with the monotheistic religions.
The meeting’s final statement said greater attention must be paid to the fact that manipulating religion or religious beliefs for political or other interests can lead to violence. (CNS)
 
Diocesan Life Section

Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn (far right) takes notes during a meeting with (clockwise from left) Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville (not shown), Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, of Peoria, (across from Bishop Braxton), and Msgr. Carl Kemme, administrator of the Springfield diocese. Robert Gilligan, (upper left) director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, and Sean Vinck, the governor’s assistant, are also seated at the table.Over 1,000 Catholics from throughout Illinois packed the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield to overflowing March 3 for Mass that opened “Catholics at the Capitol” day in Springfield.

Holy Family Food Pantry in Springfield is preparing to provide dozens of families with Easter food baskets during the last days of the Lenten season.

Young Adult Mass ministry celebrates second year – ‘yam-iversary’

Katie Hines and McKinzie Oshesky enjoy pizza served before YAM’s second-year anniversary Mass Feb. 14 at St. Viator’s Chapel located in the Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield. The Springfield Area Young Adult Mass, popularly called YAM, recently observed its second anniversary at its new location — St. Viator Chapel in the Catholic Pastoral Center — with a pizza party and Mass on Feb. 14.

ALTON — The newly-named Serra Vocations Club of Madison County sponsored a vocations assembly at Marquette Catholic High School on Feb. 3 as part of the school’s Catholic Schools Week celebrations.

About 45 priests of the diocese participated in a Day of Prayer and Recollection on the Year of the Priest led by Father Ron Knott, Feb. 23-24 at the Best Western Inn, Carlinville.

ALTON — Father Delix Michel, pastor, will conduct a retreat from 7 to 8 p.m. nightly from Sunday, March 21 through Wednesday, March 24 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 717 State St.

The Springfield and Belleville dioceses will be the cosponsors of Wading Deeper 2010 — “Discernment: Conversion’s Partner in Christian Initiation” on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 at Holy Family Parish in Litchfield.

PEORIA Sister Mary Faustina Chesnut, OSF OSF, has professed perpetual vows as a member of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.  The profession of perpetual vows is an expression of ultimate commitment to God, to live more and more for Christ and for his Body, the church.  Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, presided at the Mass of Perpetual Profession at the East Peoria Motherhouse of the sisters on Feb. 11.  Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, major superior, received the vows in the name of the church.

COLLINSVILLE — Catholic inspirational singers and speakers Annie Karto and Matthew Baute will highlight the Women’s Day entitled “Blessed Art Thou” Among Women at Ss. Peter and Paul Church and Parish Center at 207 Vandalia St. on Saturday, April 17. Doors open at 8 a.m. and the program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

QUINCY — The four Catholic elementary schools in Quincy will host “kindergarten round-ups” between Friday, March 12, and Monday, March 22 for parents of children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1. Parents and their prospective kindergartners will have the opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers and aides and tour facilities at each of the schools.

St. Teresa to present Suessical

Sunday, 14 March 2010

St.-T-principal-reads-Seus-008DECATURSeussical the Musical will be presented by the drama department at St. Teresa High School at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 12 and 13.

Shown is an architect’s rendering of proposed changes to Sacred Heart-Griffin High School’s west campus. The project will include an upgraded weight room, remodeled office and kitchen space, new female locker rooms, heating and air conditioning systems and an energy efficient entryway. A St. John’s Hospital AthletiCare sports-medicine facility will be established on the west campus of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield as a result of a long-term collaboration between the two Catholic institutions. The new 3,800- square-foot facility will provide patients and SHG student athletes with licensed physical therapy services, athletic trainer support services, and access on site to local orthopedic surgeons.

Diocesan Datebook

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Daily events occuring throughout the Diocese.

Sister Cristina Martinez, of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart ad Gentes, watches Msgr. Carl Kemme, diocesan administrator, ratify the names of catechumens from St. Alexius Parish in Beardstown. Sister Cristina instructs the Spanish-speaking RCIA sessions.Some 400 persons wishing to become Catholic or be fully initiated in the church participated in the Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion of baptized candidates, held Feb. 20 and 21 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

DAEC-logoThe 2010 Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 7 and Monday, Nov. 8. This year’s DAEC will be held at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel, breaking from the traditional Springfield venue.

St. Patrick Catholic School in Springfield will close at the end of the academic year due to financial difficulties, according to its board of directors.The nearly 100-year-old St. Patrick Catholic School on Springfield’s southeast side will close at the end of this school year.

lenten-season-guide-ctPeople in the Springfield diocese and beyond who want to learn more about the Lenten season now have one more resource available to them. A new Lenten resource page is currently on-line at www.dio.org/lent.

Obituary - Sister Julia Becker, OSU

Sunday, 28 February 2010

Sister Julia Becker, OSUALTON — Ursuline Sister Julia Becker (Sister Mary John) died Feb. 12 at the Ursuline Queen of Peace Healthcare Community, age 95.

ALTON — Ursuline Sister Grace Jokerst, born Inez Julia Jokerst, died Feb. 9 at the Ursuline Queen of Peace Healthcare Community, age 95.

Seminarian David Curtin

Sunday, 28 February 2010

Chiola-RichardFather Richard Chiola, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Springfield and director for the ongoing formation of priests for the Springfield diocese, was elected the next president of the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy at their 37th annual meeting in San Mateo, Calif., Feb. 10.  His term will begin in February 2011, and until then he will act as president-elect and a member of the governing board for NOCERCC.

Seminarian David CurtinST. MEINRAD, Ind. — David Curtin, a seminarian for the Springfield diocese, received the ministry of lector on Feb. 9 in St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, OSB, of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, installed the lectors.

Official Appointment

Sunday, 28 February 2010

Official appointment from the office of the Diocesan Administrator.

Sacred Heart-Griffin High School’s Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) team has been approved for the Illinois Department of Transportation: Operation Teen Safe Driving grant. The group received $2,000 to create a campaign that encourages teens to buckle up and drive safely. The campaign is called “Safely Drive to Stay Alive!”

BETHALTO — The parish family of Our Lady Queen of Peace will host a Lenten mission from 7 to 8 p.m. each evening from Sunday, March 7 through Thursday, March 11. The mission will be led by Father Frank Sherry of the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy from the monastery in Auburn, Ky.

Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha, former bishop of the Springfield diocese, will return to Springfield shortly after Easter to celebrate confirmation at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Diocesan Datebook

Sunday, 28 February 2010

Daily events occuring throughout the Diocese.

Catholics from throughout Illinois will be in Springfield on Wednesday, March 3, for the second Catholics at the Capitol. Cardinal Francis George, OMI, from the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Illinois bishops of the dioceses of Rockford, Joliet, Peoria and Belleville, and the administrator of Springfield are the hosts for the event sponsored by the Catholic Conference in Illinois (CCI), the public policy legislative arm of the Illinois bishops.

The season of Lent begins this year on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, and ends just prior to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 1, when the Easter Triduum begins. Lent is the principal penitential season in the church year.

CLINTON — Paul “P.D.” Long, father of Father Jeffrey Long of the Springfield diocese, died Jan. 28 at Manor Court, age 68.

Maxine Murphy presents the CHFS Church Grant Award certificate to Father Pat Jakel, pastor of St. Jerome Parish.TROY — Catholic Holy Family Society (CHFS) recently announced that St. Jerome Parish was selected to receive a $3,000 Church Grant Award.

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Diocese of Springfield in Illinois