In 2010, Danielle Loftus of Springfield was involved in a jet-ski accident that left her with a severe brain injury — unable to speak or eat and limited in her movement. Over the past nine years, the Loftus family, parishioners at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield, have asked the community for prayers and relied on their faith and humor to care for Danielle, who is now 23. Catholic Times Editor Andrew Hansen sat down with the Loftus family, parents Lynell and Jeff, and their other daughters Taylor and Rachel, to talk about how Danielle is doing today, how prayers have helped,… Read More

Newman Center at SIUE impacts college students from across diocese It’s a Wednesday morning on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). For most college students, that means class, grabbing something to eat, or maybe sleeping in. But for dozens of Catholic students, it means praying the rosary and celebrating Mass on campus at the Fuller Dome. “Mass on Wednesday is great because you get to recharge your faith life in the middle of the week, which is super awesome and helps me get through the week,” said Nick Berkenbile, a student from Edwardsville. “Confession, adoration, you name it,… Read More

On April 28 the Dominican Sisters of Springfield capped a week of common study, prayer and contemplation — called a General Chapter — by electing to leadership the sisters who will animate their common life and mission for the coming five years. Earlier during the meeting, they signaled the direction for ministry for the coming five years by affirming A Prayer for the Life of the World. Re-elected as prioress general of the congregation is Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, who has led the Springfield Dominican Sisters during the 2014-2019 term. Sister Rose Miriam Schulte, OP, was elected as vicaress, and Sisters… Read More

Sister Maureen O’Connor, OSF, has been elected for a second term as provincial superior of the American Province of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. In addition, Sister Christa Ann Struewing, OSF, was elected provincial vicaress and Sisters Rosily Menachery, OSF, and Janice Schneider, OSF, were elected for a second term as provincial councilors. They will serve a term from 2019-2023. Read More

EJ Kuiper has been selected to serve as the president and CEO at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. He has been serving in this role as interim since November 2018 after the former president and CEO, Dr. Charles Lucore, left HSHS for a position in New York. Kuiper joined HSHS when he was appointed president and CEO of the HSHS Central Illinois Division (CID) in November 2013. He will continue to serve in this CID role in addition to his new appointment at St. John’s. Read More

TEUTOPOLIS — Recently, Joan Eggers and Lawrence Carie, both of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Effingham, and Michael Brummer of St. Aloysius Parish, Dieterich made their profession as secular Franciscans in the Secular Franciscan Order at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Teutopolis. Father Frank Folino, OFM, celebrated the Mass. Read More

Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) recently announced that Dr. Marc E. Shelton has accepted the offer to become the vice president and chief physician executive of HSHS. HSHS has 15 hospitals and three physician practices with 230 clinics in Illinois and Wisconsin. Shelton joined Prairie 25 years ago as an interventional cardiologist. He has been part of the HSHS family since 2008 when Prairie officially became part of HSHS. He has served as the president of Prairie Cardiovascular since 2008. Read More

ST. LOUIS — Sister Barbara Becnel, OSU, known for a time as Sister Marie Sarto, died peacefully May 3, at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. She served in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois in the 1960s and 1970s. The daughter of Albin J. Becnel and Ione Anderson Becnel, she was born Oct. 23, 1937, in New Orleans. She graduated from Ursuline Academy in New Orleans and entered the Ursuline Sisters in July 1955, making her vows in January 1958. Read More

Official appointments from the Office of the Bishop.   Read More

Jean Vanier, a groundbreaking and profoundly influential Catholic activist, died in Paris, France, on May 7, at age 90. Born to Canadian parents, Vanier told them, when he was 13, that his interest was in naval affairs. Accordingly, he proceeded to prepare for a naval career in England and had spent time with the British Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy by the time World War II ended in 1945, the year he turned 17. Read More

The Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) recently announced the names of five young women from the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois who each were awarded 0 scholarships. “What a wonderful group of young active women we have in our diocese,” says Myrna McKee, chair of the SDCCW scholarship committee. “In all, 75 young women applied for the scholarships and they are all winners — scholars, musicians, artists, talented athletes, active in church, schools and community, loving daughters and sisters. They are the future of the Catholic Church and are already disciples of Jesus. We offer congratulations to the five… Read More

The first of two phases of discernment is to recognize God as the center of my life. There are primarily two entities involved: God and me. In discerning, we ask ourselves: What type of thoughts or feelings direct me most toward God? What type of thoughts or feelings enclose me in my own world where I choose only my will? Read More

Bishop Paprocki's public schedule for the weeks of May 27 and June 2. Read More

Daily events occuring throughout the Diocese Read More

With June and the his celebration of 70 years as a priest fast approaching, Father John Ostdiek, OFM, remembers a life-changing event that happened to him 80 years ago, when he was just 16 years old. I suspect that like me, many of you can also pinpoint some event/occasion/person in your life which brought about a significant change in direction in your life. Here’s mine. Read More