The SEEK Conference, held in Indianapolis from Jan. 3-7, was all about encountering something more. It was about encountering Jesus. The conference was hosted by FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, and offered so many amazing opportunities for college-aged Catholics. Every day included Mass, dynamic speakers, the opportunity for adoration and confession, and exploring the church deeper through many different vendors.   Read More

When I worked in Rome for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Commission received permission from the Holy Father to have episcopal conferences celebrate a National Day of Prayer for the victims/survivors of sexual abuse. Upon sharing this powerful healing opportunity, some responded saying the problem of sexual abuse did not exist in their country and having such a day of prayer would cause shame. Since sexual abuse exists everywhere, in every corner of the world, with the rich, the poor, the highly educated, the illiterate, the young and old alike, I personally felt a strong argument… Read More

What is your Passion? All women are invited to attend the 2019 Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Lenten retreat April 2-3 at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center on Lake Springfield. Presenters at the retreat are Father Michael Friedel, spiritual advisor of SDCCW and parochial vicar at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and Marlene Mulford, retired director of Communications for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and spiritual director to women. Read More

Springfield Dominican Sister Philip Neri Crawford, OP, died Feb. 26 at Sacred Heart Convent. She was born in Springfield, in 1931, and named Marilyn Marie by her parents, Louis and Florence (Christjansen) Crawford. She made her profession of vows in 1951 at Sacred Heart Convent. Sister Philip Neri dedicated 62 years of religious life to Catholic education. From her first assignment at St. Thomas School, Newton, to her final 14-year teaching position at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, she never lagged in her commitment to or energy for encouraging students and teachers. She also taught at Catholic elementary schools in Evergreen… Read More

I was shocked when, on visiting Ireland at Easter 1981, I discovered that St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin is Anglican (“Church of Ireland”), not Roman Catholic! I did, however, find some consolation at this cathedral. I had written my first high school term paper on a portion of Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (born at Dublin, 1667; died at Dublin, 1745). When I wrote the term paper, I consulted a number of commentaries on the book; what I did not do was read a biography of Swift. I kept wondering why the commentaries referred to him as “Dean Swift.” Read More

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Bishop Paprocki's public schedule for the weeks of March 17 and 24, 2019. Read More

Daily events occuring throughout the Diocese Read More

Hey, Father! Why can we not eat meat on Friday during Lent? Where in the Bible does it say that? Also, isn’t fish meat? That seems to contradict meatless Fridays.   Read More